CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/24
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03161846
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Document Release Date:
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Publication Date:
February 24, 1956
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
C03161846,
TOP SECRET
DOCUMENT NO. 30
NO CHANGE IN CLASS RI
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE. 2.0 I 0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: ill Tar" 50 REVIEWER:
24 February 1956
Copy No.
103
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.5(c)
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401,
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I �-�
CONTENTS
1.. FREE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPLITS OVER CHANGE
IN WEST PHALIAN GOVERNMENT (page 3
2. EX-PREMIER PINAY REPORTEDLY FAVORS CO-
OPERATION WITH POUJADISTS (page 4)..
3. FRENCH OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE COMMUNIST ROLE IN
NORTH AFRICA (page 5).
fr-4. MOSCOW MAKES ECONOMIC OVERTURES TO LEBANON
(page 6).
* * * *
24 Feb 56
THE ARAB- ISRAE LI SITUATION
(page 7)
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
(page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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-44
1. FREE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPLITS OVER CHANGE IN
WEST PHALIAN GOVERNMENT
The announcement by the four Free
Democratic Party (FDP) cabinet minis,
ters, including Vice Chancellor Bluecher,
of their secession from the FDP prob-
ably resulted from the failure of this
pro-Adenauer group to come to an agree-
ment with FDP chairman Thomas Dehler.
Party moderates resent the action of
Nestphalia's right-wing group in over-
throwing the Christian Democratic government of that state
on 20 February, but there is evidence that Dehler has re-
fused to use the power of the national party to reverse the
actions of its Westphalian branch. On the contrary, a
statement by party headquarters has exploited the Westphalian
situation to demand greater concessions by Chancellor
Adenauer to the FDP.
August-
Martin Euler, FDP chairman for the state of Hesse, Euler
had earlier stated that he would leave the FDP and form a
new conservative party. Euler added that the FDP would
lose the financial support of many industrialists if it formed
a coalition with the Socialists in Westphalia, and hinted
that he might continue to receive such support if he left
the party there was a rumor
current within the FDP that Adenauer had given Euler funds
amounting to over $350,000 to form the new party.
Thus far the four cabinet ministers and
16 of 49 FDP Btmdestag deputies have announced their seces-
sion from the party. While it is too early to determine the
exact dimensions of the split, this group will probably act
as a magnet for the large liberal element of the FDP.
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
SgERET
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4-11-avil. VI., 1
2. EX-PREMIER PINAY REPORTEDLY FAVORS
CO-OPERATION WITH POUJADISTS
Former French premier Antoine Pinay
favors strengthening unofficial ties be-
tween the right-center and Poujadist
deputies,
Pinay
feels that although it has controversial aspects, Poujadism
is a growing popular movement which is fundamentally anti-
Communist.
Comment The right-center with Poujadist support '
narrowly defeated a left-center move on
17 February to force early debate of the church sthool issue.
The right-center has cast between 75 and 100 votes against
expulsion of the three Poujadist deputies who have been
ousted from the assembly.
Pinay may hope to draw the Poujadists
into a broadened right-center as he did the ex-Gaullists in
1952. Among the factors which could have contributed to
Pinay's reported position are the right-center's opposition
to Mendes-France and his Republican Front, and the grow-
ing support for Poujade reported within conservative
circles.
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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TOP SVCRE T
-"OIL
3. FRENCH OFFICIALS EMPHASIZE COMMUNIST ROLE
IN NORTH AFRICA
French premier Mollet told Ambas-
sador Dillon on 21 February that
Communist methods are becoming
clearly apparent in the actions of
guerrilla bands in Algeria and that
Communist-indoctrinated military
leaders are taking over from the
original leaders of the revolt� He
said he now considers the establishment of Soviet em-
bassies in Tunisia and Morocco inevitable.
Mollet urged that it is important for
the United States, Britain, and France to develop a com-
mon policy to face the problems arising as a result of the
new Soviet interest in North Africa.
On 22 February a spokesman for
Robert Lacoste, French minister residing in Algeria,
told Consul General Clark in Algiers that he believed
the Russians were using Arab nationalism to attack the
North African flank of NATO by way of Egypt.
Comment The French have recently expressed
concern over the influx of Soviet bloc
arms into Near Eastern states, which permits an in-
crease in the smuggling of arms from Egypt to North
African nationalists.
The French ambassador in Washington
has pointed out to Paris his belief that Americans are
susceptible to arguments based on the threat of Communism.
The French government probably is exaggerating the po-
litical role of Communists in North Africa to win American
support.
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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I
4. MOSCOW MAKES ECONOMIC OVERTURES TO LEBANON
The arrival in Lebanon on 21 February
of a "survey team" of six high-level
Soviet engineers is the latest move in
the USSR's campaign to participate in
development programs of Arab states.
The Soviet engineers reportedly are
interested in oil refineries and storage
tanks, textile factories, construction
of harbors, bridges and railway lines. The similarity of
this list to the industries covered in a detailed market
survey made by Czechoslovakia several months ago sug-
gests that the Soviet "survey team" will probably attempt
to negotiate detailed contracts on terms attractive to the
Lebanese.
In the last several weeks Beirut has
signed trade agreements with Poland, Rumania and Com-
munist China. (Prepared by OFtR)
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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onik
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 23 February)
An Israeli spokesman alleged that
Syrian riflemen opened fire on Israeli fishing boats near
the northeastern sector of Lake Tiberias on 23 February.
No casualties were reported. An Israeli spokesman also
said that Egyptians had fired on an Israeli patrol in the
Gaza strip on 22 February, wounding five Israelis.
Syria is increasing its strength on the
Syrian-Israeli border. Twelve tanks, six half-tracks,
and six trucks were reported moving toward Quneitra on
20 February. The American army attach�eports that
Syrian troops at or near the frontier appear to be at full
strength�four brigades--and that th7 iiiici1 fnrrp nf 11 nr
12 tanks may now have been doubled.
UN truce supervisor General Burns
told the American consul general in Jerusalem on 23
February after an interview with Israeli foreign minister
Sharett that he was "confronted on all outstanding subjects
with a negative attitude on the part of Israel." Burns said
that Israel has (1) taken no steps to implement the UN
secretary general's proposals which it had "accepted un-
conditionally," (2) rejected his suggestion to discontinue
daylight motor patrols along the Gaza strip, (3) shown no
interest in his suggestions for improving the situation at
Lake Tiberias, and (4) reasserted its "right" to resume
work at Banat Yacov unless the Arabs agree to the
Johnston plan.
Major Sarraj, head of Syrian army intel-
ligence and leader of the dominant junior officer clique
which advocates a tough policy against Israel, in a talk
with the American army attach�n Damascus appeared to
be much less warlike than before his visit to Cairo. Sarraj
was most impressed with the growing strength of the
24 Feb 56
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V' 1 'ii I Li 1 I I I 1-1 La
Egyptian army and its new equipment. He said that the
military talks with Egypt had been satisfactory, that
Egypt and Syria had a full understanding, and that an
Israeli attack would bring rapid retaliation whether
launched against Syria, Jordan, or Egypt. Sarraj did
not believe that� Israel would attack Lebanon.
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official
has inquired whether a change in policy is indicated by
the lifting of the American embargo on arms to the Near
East and Britain's statement that it proposes to continue
shipments. Because of the depressed condition of the in-
dustry following the virtual cessation of American orders,
Japanese businessmen have been searching for new
markets. An Israeli mission is now visiting Japan, re-
portedly in the hope of purchasing arms and military equip-
ment.
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
rtrstfti9E-Psi-T-1,42____
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. A
BIWEEKLY SUMMARY
9-23 Feb 1956
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Taiwan Strait Problem
1. Unfavorable weather restricted military ac-
tivity in the offshore island area during the period.
Ground force activity remained confined to sporadic
artillery shelling. There was no significant air or naval
activity,
2. The presence of 152-mm weapons on the Peil-
ing Peninsula has been confirmed. These weapons are prob-
ably 152-mm gun/howitzers, which are capable of firing on
all of the Matsu Islands except for the southern part of Matsu.
3, a new Chinese
Communist air force regional headquarters in4y have-,been _es-
tablished at Foochow. Establishment of this headquarters may
presage activation of the new coastal airfields and would pro-
vide for better co-ordination of Communist air operations in
the Taiwan Strait area.
4. it now appears that
the Nationalists may not intend to evacuate the Wuchiu Islands.
50 Chinese Nationalist shipping of supplies to the off-
shore islands has improved markedly during the past year.
Backlogs in Taiwan have been reduced to the minimum practi-
cal level, and a 60-day stockpile of almost all supplies is be-
ing maintained on all major islands. In the event of a Com-
munist attack, the Nationalist supply level on the offshore
islands will not be a critical factor.
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
TOP SECRET
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6. On the propaganda front, Peiping continued to
emphasize its "peaceful liberation" line, with calls for the
"patriotic" defection of military and political personnel
from Taiwan.
7, Chou En-lai is reported
to have stated I
that Taiwan would be taken during 1956 and Hong Kong
and Macao at a later date. Chou's remark, if made, is prob-
ably a psychological warfare move. Similar statements were
attributed to Chou with respect to "liberation" of Taiwan in
1955.
24 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
-SFtelitEr
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9.9aw
TAIWAN STRAIT SITUATION
23 FEBRUARY 1956
CHINESE COMMUNIST AIRFIELD LEGEND:
DESIGNATIONS
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CRAFT. SOME BASES USED BY PISTON TYPES
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INACTIVE BASES CAPABLE OF USE BY AIRCRAFT
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