CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/12/06
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Collection:
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03169435
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U
Document Page Count:
9
Document Creation Date:
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date:
October 31, 2019
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Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 6, 1956
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15742185].pdf | 285.28 KB |
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This document contains classified information affecting
the national security of the United States within the
793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an un-
meaning of the espionage laws, US Code Title 18, Sections
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CONTENTS
I. g'UNGARIAN WORKERS CALL FOR NEW ANTI-SOVIET
DEMONSTRATIONS (page 3).
2. BOHLEN ASSESSES SOVIET INTERNAL SITUATION
(page 4).
3. VATICAN APPOINTMENTS IMPLY RECOGNITION OF
POLAND'S RIGHT TO GERMAN AREAS
(page 5).
4. BRITAIN MAY CONTINUE SUBSIDY TO JORDAN
(page 6).
NASR REGIME MOVES AGAINST POTENTIAL OPPOSITION
LEADERS (page?).
6. AFGHAN-PAKISTANI TALKS
6 Dec 56
(page 8).
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1. HUNGARIAN WORKERS CALL FOR NEW ANTI-
SOVIET DEMONSTRATIONS
Following four days of public demon-
strations against the Kadar regime and
Soviet domination, worker groups in
Hungary have called for a "mass demon-
stration" on 6 December, "St. Nicholas
Day!' Some observers fear that this might
lead to an outbreak of armed conflict.
Some leaflets circulating in the capital
have called for a new armed uprising,
but others appear to be aimed primarily
at renewing the general strike in protest
over Kadar's rebuff of the political demands
of the workers councils.
Kadar has announced abolition of the revo-
lutionary councils which had come into being during the revo-
lution. These apparently have acted as "opposition groups" to
Kadar and have fought his efforts to reassert control over gov-
ernmental ministries, local government organs and youth and
intellectual groups.
Resistance has been stimulated by Soviet
conduct in attempting to disperse a group of demonstrators on
2 December and the strong-handed manner in dealing with the
women's demonstration on 4 December. Many workers con-
tinue to believe that further concessions can be wrung from the
government and thatiheir_be cmsA______Irse is to continue anti-Soviet
demonstrations.
6 Dec 56
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E.
NEW
2. BOHLEN ASSESSES SOVIET INTERNAL SITUATION
Ambassador Bohlen, assessing the im-
pact of Eastern European events on the
Soviet internal situation, believes that
these developments pose a long-term
problem for the Soviet leadership rather than an imminent
threat necessitating radical changes in domestic or foreign
policy.
Bohlen reports that the Satellite situation
has produced no discernible threat to the stability of the re-
gime. He believes, however, that symptoms of restlessness
among the intelligentsia and particularly among the students
could presage greater difficulties, particularly if new explo-
sions occur in the Satellites.
The embassy sees no significant change
in Soviet domestic policy as enunciated at the 20th party
congress. There are indications, however, particularly in
the ideological, educational and cultural fields, of a tendency
to crack down on any "excesses!' There have also been some
inconclusive indications that less attention is being given to
heavy industry and somewhat more to the consumer goods pro-
gram.
Bohlen believes that the combination of
workers' grievances and discontent among the intelligentsia
in the Satellites constitutes a warning to the Soviet leaders
in regard to policies at home. As a result, some form of
economic concessions along with stricter party control over
the intelligentsia may be forthcoming. The regime does not
appear to envisage a return to Stalinist methods, however, as
part of its general policy.
While the current crisis makes personnel
changes in the leadership much more likely than at any time
since Malenkov's demotion in February 1955, the embassy has
no reliable information on this possibility. Recent Soviet ac-
tions indicate that any division within the leadership has not
been so critical as to paralyze it. There has also been no sign
that the Soviet military, despite its action in Hungary, has per-
manently enhanced its influence in policy making, and "certainly
none" that the military is developing or seeks to develop into a
cohesive political force in opposition to the party.
6 Dec 56
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Aare 4444441114E2NEFAL �110
3. VATICAN APPOINTMENTS IMPLY RECOGNITION OF
POLAND'S RIGHT TO GERMAN AREAS
The Vatican's appointment of five bishops
in Poland's western territories and in that
portion of former East Prussia now occu-
pied by Poland, implies Vatican recogni-
tion of Polish sovereignty over these ter-
ritories. The Vatican since 1945 had refrained from appoint-
ing bishops in these territories because such action was
considered contingent upon a final settlement of Germany's
boundaries.
This action of the Vatican, which the Polish
news agency has described as "confirmation of the inviolability
of the frontiers of the republic on the Oder and Neisse and the
Baltic," will strengthen Polish popular support for the Gomulka
regime. These appointments followed the reinstatement of
Cardinal Wyszynski as primate of Poland, and represent a ma-
jor step in the re-establishment of normal relations between
the Vatican and a Communist state. A Polish radio announce-
ment of 4 December that religious instruction will be intro-
duced in the public schools goes even further in lulfilline the
aspirations of the predominantly Catholic Poles,
6 Dec 56
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4. BRITAIN MAY CONTINUE SUBSIDY TO JORDAN
Comment on:
The British government appears likely
to continue its subsidy to Jordan, at
least until Jordan's intentions regard-
ing termination of the Anglo-Jordanian
treaty become clearer. According to the American embassy
in London, the Foreign Office working level supports the
British ambassador's recommendation that Britain provide
the sterling equivalent of $2,240,000 to cover the Jordanian
army's December requirements.
While the Jordanian government announced
on 27 November that it would abrogate the treaty, the British
ambassador at Amman has said that any negotiations for termi-
nation could be "dragged out" if desired.
While high British officials have recently
displayed pessimism about Britain's position in Jordan, Lon-
don may calculate that it is desirable for the moment to retain
a means of influencing Jordanian policy as it has done in
Lebanon by filling some of the urgent requests for military
equipment.
The British have recently been paying the
subsidy to Jordan in weekly instead of monthly installments.
The Jordanian government is reported to be in financial straits
and dependent on the subsidy to meet its army payroll. Al-
though King Hussain is resigned to eventual termination of the
treaty, he does not appear anxious to take any action now which
might end the subsidy. He has privately expressed doubts of the
reliability of Egyptian, Syrian and Saudi offers to replace the
subsidy, and King Saud has said that he has counseled Hussain
against abrogation.
6 Dec 56
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NW"
5. NASR REGIME MOVES AGAINST POTENTIAL
OPPOSITION LEADERS
During the past week Egyptian police
have arrested about 150 persons on the
charge of "spreading rumors" against
the Nasr regime,
Among those arrested were a number who were
prominent politically under the monarchy, particularly in
the old Wafd party. Those arrested were released after an
hour's detention, the arrests were
intended as a warning.
Possible reasons for the Nasr regime's
increased concern for security at this time are suggested
that the general public finally appears to comprehend the ex-
Egyptian military fiasco.
that public attitudes toward the regime are fatal-
istic, and there is no appreciable group which would support
the return of the monarchy or Wafdist rule.
6 Dec 56
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6,, AFGHAN-PAKISTANI TALKS
The visit of Afghan prime minister Daud
to Karachi from 24 November to 2 Decem-
ber, although carried on in a spirit of mutual
cordiality, has apparently resulted in no
progress toward settling outstanding issues between Afghanistan
and Pakistan. The American embassy in Karachi points out
that, contrary to expectations, no decision was made to ex-
change ambassadors and the talks apparently never got beyond
Pushtoonistan. The embassy states that Daud insisted on
"settling" this issue before discussing other problems, such
as transit and economic relations between the two countries,
The Pakistanis refused to agree to self-determination for
the Pushtoons, but in the joint communique of 2 December
agreed for the first time to official mention of Pushtoonistan.
The American embassy feels, nevertheless,
that neither side wishes, to close the door. Pakistani prime
minister Suhrawardy has been invited to visit Kabul sometime
after King Zahir's visit to Pakistan in January.
6 Dec 56
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