CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/03/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161849
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: March 7, 1956

r/31/
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP SECRET
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS 131
El DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 3- 010
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE A. 311%. tO REVIEWER:
7 March 1956 3.5(c)
Copy No. 103
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
� Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
�r
W./
CONTENTS
1. ISRAEL MAY BE SEEKING TO IMPROVE RELATIONS
WITH USSR (page 3).
2. YUGOSLAVIA INDICATES READINESS TO ESTABLISH
PARTY RELATIONS WITH USSR (page 4).
� 3. WET MINH FACES MAJOR POLICY DECISION IN LAOS
(page 5).
4. SUSPENSION OF CYPRUS TALKS WIDENS GREEK--
TURKISH BREACH (page 6).
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SIT7ATION
page 7)
7 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
11)P�PIRC-44-RT
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Alok UUNI1Diiiv I 1AL, 1647
1. ISRAEL MAY BE SEEKING TO IMPROVE RELATIONS
WITH USSR
Israel may be moving away from a
pro-West foreign policy, according
to the American embassy in Tel Aviv.
The speaker of the Israeli Knesset
announcea on ebruary that an exchange of parliamen-
tary delegations between the USSR and Israel will soon
take place. Israel notified the representative of the UN
technical assistance board on 23 February that Israel will
gratefully accept such additional equipment and aid as may
be supplied from the USSR contribution or other sources.
When it was pointed out that this could open the way for
Soviet technicians, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman
replied that Israel understood this.
Moderate Israeli newspapers are be-
ginning to support a line previously taken only by leftist
newspapers that if arms are not delivered by the US, they
should be sought elsewhere. One independent newspaper
has suggested that "Israel can recognize the fact of Soviet
regional penetration and request a Soviet status quo guar-
antee in the area similar to the France-UK-US declaration.
An even better solution would be a Soviet joining of the tri-
partite declaration." The paper also said that the "Arab
states are not the only ones which can take a neutral stand
between the two giant blocs fighting one another."
Comment Israel followed a foreign policy of non-
identification with the Western and Soviet
blocs for several years after its establishment in 1948. The
main drawback to a return to such a policy is the possibility
that the contributions from world Zionism, on which Israel
is economically dependent, might be jeopardized.
7 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
r-r..."1.�T1-111-11r.ALT,1,1 I I
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
���� No, �a aa.,aaa Av.
2. YUGOSLAVIA INDICATES READINESS TO ESTABLISH
PARTY RELATIONS WITH USSR
Comment on:
A speech by Vice President Kardelj
on 29 February to a regional Yugo-
slav Communist Party meeting indi-
cates that Belgrade is now ready to
establish party-to-party relations with the Soviet Com-
munists. ICardelj called the events at the Soviet party
congress,and particularly the affirmation of the "various
roads to socialism" thesis, "a clear basis for democratic
co-operation and relations between countries which are on
the path to socialism, as well as between their leading
socialist forces," the latter a term that includes Commu-
nist parties.
Kardelj's number-two position in the
Yugoslav hierarchy lends authority to his policy pronounce-
ments His statement that "the congress proves once more
how very correct our orientation was, in new circumstances,
to establish friendly relations and co-operation with the
USSR and with its leading force, the Communist Party," may
mean that interparty relations have already been established,
possibly before the congress. Yugoslav spokesmen, as late
as 23 February, said that party relations had "not yet" been
established.
Belgrade's willingness to go beyond state-
to-state relations indicates that it no longer fears this would
lead to domination by Moscow and that it believes it can now
persuade the West that interparty relations do not mean
Yugoslavia has returned to the Orbit.
7 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
MINIFIIVNTI A I
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
IurCRIT
3, VIET MINH FACES MAJOR POLICY DECISION
IN LAOS
the Viet Minh
fears that under a general attack, Pathet Lao strong-
holds would be lost and the political-military structure
destroyed. The generally deteriorating situation ur-
gently requires greater participation of the Viet Minh
o bolster the Communist effort, but the Viet Minh is
reluctant to commit more personnel for fear of induc-
ing censure by the international truce commission and
of exploding the fiction that the Pathet Lao is conducting
its own revolution.
The Pathet Lao and its Viet Minh
backers foresee a long-term struggle for Communist
control of Laos, with widescale guerrilla action neces-
sary to retain the north, and an increased political strug-
gle throughout the remaining provinces.
Comment
has been reflected
The growing success of the Laotian
government's own guerrilla program
Military harassment of the Pathet
Lao and the government's encouragement of popular hos-
tility to the Communists reportedly have forced the Pathets
to commit large numbers of troops to guard duty along
their supply lines and apparently have also resulted in
considerably lowered morale. The Viet Minh is more
likely to commit more personnel in support of the Pathet
Lao movement than to permit its collapse.
7 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
rr,r tay rIeN 11 VI'
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
4. SUSPENSION OF CYPRUS TALKS WIDENS GREEK-
TURKISH BREACH
Comment on:
Athens' decision to review "the en-
tire question" of Greek relations
with Turkey reflects Greek frustra-
tion over the collapse of the Cyprus
negotiations and resentment at Tur-
key's role in limiting British freedom
of action in dealing with Archbishop
Makarios, leader of the island's Greek
majority. The Greek ambassador in Belgrade says this
review is necessitated by the Turkish criticism of Greece
voiced by Foreign Minister Koprulu before the Turkish
parliament on 26 February.
The ambassador intimated that Greece
would withdraw its consent to an early meeting of the Bal-
kan pact ministerial council and said a council meeting
could not succeed while the British and Makarios still dis-
agree on Cyprus.
Greece will not par-
ticipate in NATO exercises with Turkey or attend a Balkan
pact meeting until Ankara gives more adequate compensation
to the victims of the anti-Greek riots in Turkey last Septem-
ber.
Greece would again refer the Cyprus issue to the United
Nations if Britain did not resume negotiations soon.
Greece expects Cypriot terrorist attacks against the
British to continue indefinitely.
7 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 6
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
TOI ,
UL
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 6 March)
An Israeli spokesman has announced
that Israel will call the attention of the UN Security Council
to "the worsening situation in Palestine," but does not intend
to ask the council to meet. (Press)
the incidents of 3-4 March involving Israeli recon-
naissance parties on the eastern shore of Lake Tiberias may
have been deliberate provocations, since the Israeis already
knew the disposition of Syrian forces in that area.
the preliminary investigation by UN truce observ-
ers indicates some of the Israelis may have been in Syrian ter-
ritory when they were killed.
re-
ports of Israeli troop movements toward Lake Tiberias and
the belief of UN personnel in Jerusalem that Israel would launch
a full-scale attack against Syria in "two or three days."
the Syrian ambassador in
Washington urged his government to maintain an uncompromis-
ing position on the Jordan waters dispute. The ambassador, who
has displayed a vehement anti-Western attitude, argued that the
United States, Britain and France are "strongly opposed to the
occurrence of fighting of broad scope" and that "Israel's depend-
ence upon the tripartite nations compels her to be bound by theAl
policy."
had learned of the arrival at Tel Aviv ot an American ship car-
rying heavy antiaircraft guns. the Is-
raelis were awaiting the arrival ot anotner snipment consisting
7 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849
Nee
of antitank guns, and it concluded "America has agreed to
supply Israel with defense weapons only, and they have be-
gun to ship them
Egypt ig ready to sell Saudi Arabia 25
'Vampire jet fighters,
five of these British-designed aircraft
could be delivered at once, and delivery of the others would
begin in two months. Since Egypt is known to have only 19
Vampires, it presumably would have to buy the aircraft from
abroad before selling to the S,audis.
7 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
�TOP�SEC�RFT
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161849