CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/25
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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
03161847
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U
Document Page Count:
11
Document Creation Date:
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date:
October 31, 2019
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Case Number:
Publication Date:
February 25, 1956
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740230].pdf | 271.27 KB |
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Cjilmeept;r
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TOP SECRET
V
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
25 February 1956
DOCUMENT NO. S
NO CHANGE IN CLASS �%
Ll DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2-01
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE't 0
REVIEWER:
Copy No. INV teL,'
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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I WI 6JL.A.0.1%.1-4 1 CONTENTS
. SYRIA CONCENTRATES FORCES ON ISRAELI BORDER
(page 3).
-2. AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONTEMPLATING PRO-
TEST TO BONN ON BALLOON OVERFLIGHTS (page 4
3. PROLONGED VIET IVIINH DROUGHT MAY RUIN SPRING
CROP (page 5).
4. INDONESIAN CABINET TO RESIGN 2 MARCH
(page 6).
t)"5. INDONESIAN CHARGE' IN PEIPING SEES NO CHINESE
DISSATISFACTION WITH SOVIET MOVES IN ASIA
(page 7).
L-'6. SOVIET AMBASSADOR SUGGESTS RE-ESTABLISHING
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL
(page 8).
t 7. SOVIET EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN MEXICO TO MAKE SECOND
TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA (page 9).
25 Feb 56
* * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 10)
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1. SYRIA CONCENTRATES FORCES ON ISRAELI BORDER
Damascus has moved Major
elements of the Syrian army to positions
close to the Israeli frontier, with strength
centered in the Quneitra-Qatana area. These elements in-
clude half an armored brigade, half an infantry brigade for-
merly stationed in northern Syria, and portions of another
brigade normally based in the
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24 FEBRUARY 1956
60224 2
northwest. Other units have
also been brought up Iron' far
rear areas to where they can
be more readily available.
these moves were made be-
cause of Syria's weakness in
transport and Israel's capabilicy
of interdicting the roads in case
hostilities should break out.
a secret "all-out" mo-
bilization has been ordered,
no reserve re-
mains to cope with the eventuality of a major Israeli break-
through. Syrian public opinion never-
theless demanded that a maximum force be at the frontier.
Comment
This concentration of Syrian force,
which reflects Syrian leaders' fear that
Israel plans some action on or about 1 March, creates an
unusually explosive situation and increases the danger that
a local incident might draw in major units and thus lead to
large-scale hostilities. The Israelis are almost certainly
aware of the concentration of Syrian forces
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONTEMPLATING
PROTEST TO BONN ON BALLOON OVERFLIGHTS
Austrian foreign minister Figl told
American officials in Vienna on 23
February he was contemplating a
protest to the West German govern-
ment on propaganda balloon overflights of Austrian
territory. He referred to charges in the Soviet press
that the United States had violated Austrian neutrality
by troop movements and overflights of military planes
and balloons. He said he would deny the charge on
troop movements and hoped to avoid commentinpon
overflights, but added that the balloon issue was a very
uncomfortable one for Austria.
American officials believe the balloons
are not only embarrassing the Austrian government but
are causing anti-American feeling in Austria and that
Austria might terminate Radio Free Europe activities
there.
Comment Vienna is very sensitive to any criti-
cism of Austria's conduct of its policy
of neutrality. Action against Radio Free Europe would
offset the expulsion of the Communist-sponsored World
Federation of Trade Unions early this month. A protest
to Bonn would counter Soviet charges that Austria's neu-
trality is being violated without protest from Vienna.
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
SECRE
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3. PROLONGED VIET MINH DROUGHT MAY RUIN
SPRING CROP
Showing no signs of a letup
after 16 months of drought and two years
of crop failures, the severe shortage of
rain has again ruined seedling rice and has necessitated
widespread replanting, the drilling of at least 10,000 wells,
the allocation of military manpower to irrigation projects,
and the formation of a "Central Drought Committee" by
the premier.
All of North Vietnam's provinces have
been affected. In many areas hit by the September 1955
typhoon, fresh water for irrigation is still not available.
An increase in Soviet bloc assistance
to the area is suggested by a rise during February in de-
liveries of Burmese rice under the Soviet aid program.
(Prepared by ORR)
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. INDONESIAN CABINET TO RESIGN 2 MARCH
The central committee of the Masjumi
party, which heads the Indonesian coa-
lition cabinet, decided on 23 February
that the cabinet should resign its man-
date on 2 March. This decision has been reported to Presi-
dent Sukarno. Just before the decision, the committee
voted overwhelmingly in favor of Vice Chairman Sukiman's
more nationalistic policies as opposed to those of Chairman
Natsir.
the 23
� February vote means that Sukiman will direct Masjumi
policy during the formation of the new government, and that
the timing of the decision to resign will make co-operation
easier between the Masjumi on the one hand and the Nation-
al Party and the Nandlatul Ulama on the other.
Comment The new parliament is expected to be
seated sometime between 10 and 20
March. The change in de facto Masjumi leadership would
probably serve to increase the possibility of Masjumi
participation in the next cabinet. Sukiman is personally
more acceptable to the opposition National Party and the
Nandlatul Ulama and also to President Sukarno than is
� Natsir. He is also reported to be more skilled at po-
litical maneuvering.
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
CONFIDENTIA-L--
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5. INDONESIAN CHARGE IN PEIPING SEES NO CHINESE
DISSATISFACTION WITH SOVIET MOVES IN ASIA
Comment
Representatives of foreign govern-
ments in Peiping are almost unani-
mous in the opinion that there are no signs of policy di-
vergence between the USSR and Communist China. Yugo-
slav officials, however, have usually emphasized that
Peiping is relatively independent of Moscow and that the
potential exists for an increase in China's freedom of
action.
Despite the possibility that more direct
participation by the USSR in Asian affa,irs rivals Peiping's
bid for leadership in Asia, the Chinese Communists public-
ly supported the recent Soviet moves toward Asian coun-
tries. They publicized the concept of Chinese Communist-
Soviet-Indian solidarity On international matters, identi-
fied the USSR as a member of the Asian community, and
"welcomed" the offers of Soviet assistance to other Asian
couhtries.
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
�"}:"01)--SteRELT
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6. SOVIET AMBASSADOR SUGGESTS RE-ESTABLISHING
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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JC.L.AE. 1
7. SOVIET EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN MEXICO TO MAKE
SECOND TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA
Ambassador Kulazhenkov and First
Secretary ICazantsev of the Soviet
embassy in Mexico City are sched-
uled to depart by air on 27 February
ior Argentina,
Comment The Argentine ambassador in Wash-
ington stated recently that the two
Soviet representatives were planning an "immediate"
four-day visit to Buenos Aires as guests of the Soviet
ambassador there. The Soviet ambassadors may be
planning to co-ordinate their efforts for future ap-
proaches on the diplomatic level to Latin American gov-
ernments in support of Soviet premier Bulganin's public
bid on 16 January for diplomatic and economic relations
with Latin America.
Kulazhenkov and Kazantsev visited
�Ecuador two months ago on their first trip in Latin
America outside of Mexico. They expressed interest
in establishing diplomatic relations and reportedly made
"attractive" offers of arms and economic assistance to
the Velasco government.
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence ISulletin Page 9
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OE-A,I 1..EJ New
� THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 24 February)
An exchange of fire between Egyptian
and Israeli patrolsIalong the Gaza strip has been reported
by Cairo. (Press)
Syrian chief of staff Shuqayr told the
American army attach�n 22 February that an agreement
in principle has been reached with Czechoslovakia to supply
arms. All that remains to be done is to select the types
and quantities desired. Shuqayr said the total amount of
money involved was not knnwn hiif he hplieyerl Syria would
get all the arms it needs.
25 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
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