CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/07/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161773
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: July 11, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/23 C03161773
TOP SECRET I
3.5(c)
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
11 Ju y 95
Copy No. 105
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. ES'
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S Club
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUT H 70-
DATE REVIEWER: _Eini!
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TUP SECRET- .1,ffA
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i .f.1,1.,1`1,C, I
CONTENTS
I. SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT POSSIBLY ILL
(page 3).
2. EAST GERMAN PARTY BOSS ULBRICHT RUMORED
PURGED ) (page 4).
3. EXPULSION OF LIBERAL PARTY LEADERS MAY BRING
DISTURBANCES IN HONDURAS (page 5).
II July 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 6)
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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1. SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT POSSIBLY ILL
A report from the American air attach�
in South Korea suggests that President
Rhee is ill, and that this fact is being
withheld from even his close associates.
The attach�eports that on 7 July he was
the only person allowed to greet the president prior to flying
him out of Seoul, and that unusual precautions were taken to
shield the president from the view of onlookers. The attach�
states that Rhee's face was badly swollen, and that both his
physical and mental condition appeared poorer than at any
time in the past two years.
Comment
11 July 56
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1 EAST GERMAN PARTY BOSS ULBRICHT
RUMORED PURGED
rumors are cir-
culating that First Secretary Ulbricht
and Justice Minister Benjamin have been removed from their
posts and arrested.
Comment
Even though Ulbricht is widely hated in
the party, there appears to be little
possibility that internal opposition alone could bring about
his downfall, since he is in firm control of the regime, in-
eluding the secret police and armed forces.
Benjamin was recently under fire for her
connection with past trials and sentences in East Germany
which are now being repudiated.
11 July 56
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3. EXPULSION OF LIBERAL PARTY LEADERS MAY BRING
DISTURBANCES IN HONDURAS
Acting with the approval of his cabinet,
Elonduran chief of state Lozano on 9 July
exiled to Guatemala Liberal Party chief
Villeda Morales and two other Liberal
leaders, Francisco Milla Bermudez and
Oscar Flores. This action reportedly
followed Milla Bermudez's attempt to pro-
mote a general strike for 25 July. A
number of sttident arrests reportedly were ordered after stu-
dents voted to begin a three-day strike on 9 July.
Comment The Liberal Party, with Villeda as its
presidential candidate, polled 48 percent
of the vote in the 1954 elections. � Since May 1956 Villeda's
Communist-influenced faction of the party has been increas-
ingly aggressive in attacks on the government. A threatened
general strike in mid-June was probably promoted by Villeda
and Gonzalo Carias, son of an ex-dictator, who apparently
have a working agreement to oust Lozano.
Key armed forces officials declared their
loyalty to the Lozano government on 13 June.
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 10 July)
Secretary General Hammarskjold has an-
nounced that he will visit Jerusalem on 19-20 July, and Cairo
on 21-22 July. (Press)
The American air attache in Moscow re-
ported on 7 July that 9 sub-
marines, 6 destroyers and 60 coastal and mine vessels are
scheduled for delivery to Egypt by the Soviet bloc.
3 subs, 3 destroyers and 4 coastal mine layers have
already arrived in Egypt. On 10 July a Cairo paper with official
connections stated that Egypt is to receive "several" submarines
from abroad within the next few days. No submarines are known
to have been delivered to Egypt, however, although they are re-
portedly involved in the Soviet bloc arms deal. Egypt is known
to have received 2 destroyers and 4 coastal mine sweepers
from the Soviet bloc.
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