CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/12/13

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03169439
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: December 13, 1956

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13 December 1956
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
Copy No. 1i
44"
140 .
HANGE 114 CLA
�DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. VOSGES) NO: *TS
NEXT FIEVIEW DATE:
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This document contains classified information affecting
the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws, US Code Title 18, Sections
793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an un-
authorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States
or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detri-
ment of the United States.
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000N 01141
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CONTENTS
1. INDIAN AMBASSADOR REPORTS ON CONDITIONS IN
HUNGARY (page 3).
2. NEHRU'S VIEWS ON CURRENT WORLD PROBLEMS
(page 5).
3. UNREST IN EAST GERMANY
4. VIOLENCE IN POLAND
(page 6).
(page 7).
5. PARTY LEADER ADMITS UNREST IN LITHUANIA
(page 8).
6. HAITIAN RULER FORCED TO RESIGN
7. USSR GRANTS ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO RUMANIA
' (page 10).
8. PEIPTNG PRINTS FULL TEXT OF TITO'S CRITICISM OF
SOVIET SYSTEM (page 11).
(page 9).
9. LAOTIAN ASSEMBLY SEEN LIKELY TO APPROVE INCLU-
SION OF PATHET LAO LEADERS IN CABINET
(page 12).
10. .NASR REGIME MAY REPLACE KEY ADVISERS (Secret Noforn)
(page 13).
11. DEVELOPMENTS IN JORDAN
12. BRITISH INFLUENCE IN KUWAIT DAMAGED
* * * *
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
(page 16)
13 Dec 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
(page 14).
(page 15).
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'two,
1. INDIAN AMBASSADOR REPORTS ON CONDITIONS
IN HUNGARY
The Indian ambassador to Moscow,
K.P.S. Menon, who visited Budapest
at Prime Minister Nehru's orders,
reported
"There is no doubt that the
revblution was essentially nationalist. . . that Soviet inter-
vention, especially in the second stage, was ruthless!'
Menon added, "The atmosphere in Budapest is reminis-
cent of our civil disobedience days, except that the Hun-
garians have to face tanks. Almost all demand free elec-
tions. . . the demand for the withdrawal of Soviet troops is
universal!'
Menon intends to im-
press the gravity of the situation on Soviet leaders.
Comment Ambassador Menon's comparison of
events in Hungary to those in India
during the freedom movement will probably strike a sym-
pathetic chord in Nehru% mind�especially since Nehru
has already indicated annoyance over the Kadar govern-
ment's failure to answer his letters.
Krishna Menon's proposal in the UN on
10 December that Secretary General Hammarskjold be sent
to Moscow also reflects New Delhi's belief that the Hungar-
ian problem must be solved by attempting to get the Soviet
leaders to change their policy.
The USSR will continue to attempt to
offset its loss of prestige on Hungary in Asia with "explana-
tions" of its actions. The Soviet leaders, however, will
13 Dec 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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remain willing to use force to hold Eastern Europe, what-
ever the effect on the Asian countries. This was clearly
illustrated by Bulganin's statement concerning the Satellites
on 1 December to the Indonesian ambassador in Moscow that
"If there are further attempts of the imperialists to attack
and set up imperialist regimes, the USSR is determined to
fight!"
Should India's efforts to resolve the Hun-
garian situation be rejected by Moscow, Nehru in the future
will probably be less co-operative with the USSR. However,
he will probably remain reluctant to believe that the USSR
has completely abandoned its "liberalization" policy, which
he feels has been a major contribution to peace.
13 Dec 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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2. NEHRU'S VIEWS ON CURRENT WORLD PROBLEMS
Prime Inister Nehru feels that India
must remain in the center of the rela-
tionship between the United States and
the USSR and try to influence the swing
of the "pendulum" between the two great
accoraingto Frank Moraes, editor of the Times of
India and author of a recent biography of Nehru.
Moraes, who had a long talk with Nehru
on 9 December, said that he had never seen Nehru display
such temper as when the Baghdad pact was mentioned. Nehru
insisted that it was impossible for the United States and India
to work together in the Middle East if the United States sup-
ported the pact. He emphasized, however, that he did not
want either Arab nationalism or the USSR to fill the power
vacuum in that area.
Moraes described Nehru as "unsettled"
about India's relationship with Britain and said that Nehru
"half hopes and half fears" that the United States may bridge
the gap caused by India's weakened ties with London. Nehru
said, "I will never know what madness prompted Eden to act
as he did."
Nehru showed little interest in talking about
Communist China "since everyone knew that in time China would
be admitted to the UN!' On Hungary, he said merely that he was
"not especially surprised over Soviet moves. . . but deeply dis-
turbed!' His face was "ashen" as he listened without comment
to Moraes' statement that Krishna Menon, through "viciousness
and bad manners," was doing great damage to Indian foreign
policy.
Moraes believes that India's economic prob-
lems are among the items Nehru hopes to discuss with Presi-
dent Eisenhower.
13 Dec 56
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-CONFIDENTIAL
3. UNREST IN EAST GERMANY
A West Berlin labor leader on 11 Decem-
ber told an American official that the
call by Hungarian workers' councils for
sympathy strikes would not be answered
with an appeal fora strike in East Ger-
many. He voiced the opinion that East
Germans have never hated the USSR more
than now but are keeping cool heads and
will not provoke military action, though
"when the time comes," East German
workers will rise as one man.
Recent East German press reports indi-
cate that continuing student and worker unrest is causing
the regime serious concern. The first known instance in
which the East German press reported worker resentment
against the Soviet Union occurred on 30 November when a
Wismar newspaper noted that workers blamed the Soviet
contractor for the lack of work at the local shipyard. The
seriousness of student unrest was indicated on 2 December
when an official press report condemned "attempts of hos-
tile forces to disrupt the unity of youth organizations" and
warned that "unprincipled discussions" would not be toler-
ated. Party first secretary Ulbricht on 29 November spoke
out against student excesses "which must now be correctedP
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1-4 11-1.1 I
Smos, NOY'
4. VIOLENCE IN POLAND
Further violence has occurred at scat-
tered localities in Poland. According
to the official party paper of 12 Decem-
ber, in the northern midlands area
municipal offices were demolished at
Nowy Ciechocinek, a party secretary
was beaten at Nieszawan in the north-
ern midlands, and a crowd attacked a
police building at Olecko in northeast
Poland.
In Stettin (Szczecin), where severe riot-
ing on 10 December culminated in a mob attack on the
Soviet consulate, a government-sponsored "workers' and
students" militia has been established, according to Radio
Warsaw on 11 December. Three companies of the militia
are said to be patrolling the city. Radio Warsaw on 11
December reported that workers in Stettin had adopted
resolutions stating that the rioters there "must be punished
especially severely!'
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5. PARTY LEADER ADMITS UNREST IN LITHUANIA
The statement by Lithuanian party boss
Antanas Snechkus that the Hungarian re-
bellion has encouraged bourgeois nation-
alist elements to "raise their heads" and
attack the Lithuanian Communist Party
is the first admission by a ranking Soviet
official that recent events in the Satellites
have had serious repercussions inside the
Soviet Union.
Speaking before the Lithuanian Supreme
�Soviet, Snechkus charged that educational institutions have
fallen under the influence of the bourgeois nationalist philoso-
phy and that certain intellectuals have begun to attack Soviet
art and science. He singled out students and youth as being
most apt to believe "lies spread in an attempt to separate the
Lithuanian and Russian peoples!' This tends to confirm earlier
reports that university students led anti-Soviet riots in Vilnyus
and Kaunas in November.
Snechkus' remarks indicate that action against
dissident elements may be in preparation. Calling for strength-
ened ideological work in order to expose all instances of bour-
geois nationalism, he stated that "we cannot remain passive
while certain elements are imbuing Lithuanian youth with false
and idealized views of bourgeois life."
13 Dec 56
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6. HAITIAN RULER FORCED TO RESIGN
Comment on:
Haitian chief executive General Paul
Magloire has resigned in favor of Joseph
Nemours Pierre-Louis, president of the
supreme court, in the face of a successful
general strike in the capital city and a de-
teriorating political and economic situation.
Magloire was returned to power only a week
ago by the army after his resignation as
president.
The surrender of power to Pierre-Louis,
who would have been Magloire's legal successor prior to the
"palace revolution" of 6 December, probably is intended to
return the country to constitutional order. Senatorial and pres-
idential elections which had been set for early 1957 may now be
held on sdhaclule.
Whilethe resignation of Magloire may ease
the tense situation, political conditions are likely to remain un-
settled for some time. The public, which remained generally
calm, apparently was determined to return to constitutional
government.
The new chief of state, coming from a highly
respected family, has long been one of Haiti's senior jurists,
and served as a delegate to the United Nations in 1951.
13 Dec 56
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TL 11511.41 N A A.LAIJ
No, NNW
7. USSR GRANTS ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO RUMANIA
In a review of the economic provisions
of the 4 December joint Soviet-Rumanian
declaration, Rumanian prime minister
�Stoica in an 8 December radio address
said the USSR has reduced payments on
the Soviet share in former Soviet-Rumanian
joint trade companies by $716,000,000 and
has suspended for four years repayment
since 1949. The USSR will make "supple-
mentary deliveries" of industrial materials in 1957 on a long-
term credit basis. It also granted a $68,500,000 10-year
credit for such industries-..as chemicals andigetrifileum and has
made a loan of 450,000 tons of wheat.
Comment Contrary to earlier indications regarding
the joint Soviet-Rumanian communiqu�
the total financial benefits to Rumania apparently are greater
than those which Poland obtained from the USSR during Gomulka's
visit to Moscow.
The reduction of the Rumanian debt together
with the other benefits indicates that Moscow recognizes the
necessity of propping up the Rumanian economy. Economic
failures have contributed to the civil unrest in past weeks.
13 Dec 56
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_L ./L 11-1.."1-1_L V JO_ .11-1.1.-1
i4.00 ',quo%
8. PEIPING PRINTS FULL TEXT OF TITO'S CRITICISM
OF SOVIET SYSTEM
Comment on:
Peiping newspapers on 12 December
printed the full text of the speech criti-
cizing the Soviet system made by Tito on
11 November. Within the bloc, only Hun-
gary had previously published the full
text. Poland had printed the key elements of the speech with-
out distortion. The rest of the bloc, including the USSR, has
printed only distorted summaries or selected passages de-
signed to support the Kremlin's position. Belgrade has been
publicly challenging the bloc to print the full text.
The Chinese Communists since late Octo-
ber have consistently suggested their sympathy for the ef-
forts of Eastern European states to achieve a greater degree
of freedom in their relations with the USSR. Chinese support
of the Soviet armed intervention in Hungary has been justified
by Peiping on the ground that the Nagy government intended to
establish a non-Communist state outside the bloc.
The Chinese may soon publish an authorita-
tive clarification of their views on bloc relationships in gen-
eral and on Tito in particular. Thus far Peiping has indicated
that the Chinese regard the ideal relationship with the USSR as
the one which they themselves enjoy. It is probable that Pei-
ping, in discussing Tito, will be critical of him but will not
agree fully with the Soviet position in the argument.
13 Dec 56
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Noe Nere
9, LAOTIAN ASSEMBLY SEEN LIKELY TO APPROVE
INCLUSION OF PATHET LAO LEADERS IN CABINET
Laotian premier Souvanna Phouma asked
the cabinet's approval on 10 December to
broaden its membership to include two
Pathet Lao officials, one of whom would
be Pathet chief Souphannouvong. He has
indicated that in return the Pathet Lao movement would be
formally "dissolved," and that Souphannouvong would make
a public declaration that he is not a Communist and provide
written guarantees on the restoration of government author-
ity' over the two provinces and integration of Pathet forces.
The American embassy in Vientiane be-
lieves that sentiment for national union is so widespread that
both the government and the assembly are likely to approve
Souvanna's proposal, even at the risk of losing Western sup-
port
Comment Souphannouvong's entry into the cabinet
would be a major gain for the Pathet Lao
and would not in itself settle the rhaty issues' involved. De-
spite sweeping guarantees on the two provinces and integra-
tion of Pathet forces, these and other problems will remain
unresolved until details of implementation have been nego-
tiated.
Souphannouvong's "dissolution" of the
Pathet Lao movement would in reality have little effect
on the activities of hard-core members orclandeStine cells
and front organizations, and would not eliminate Pathet ties
to the Viet Minh. It would, however, serve to allay further
public fears of the Pathet Lao and create a favorable climate
for a final settlement in which Laotian independence might
be risked to gain "national unification."
13 Dec 56
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10,, NASR REGIME MAY REPLACE KEY ADVISERS
Indications are multiplying that the
Nasr regime is planning a major
shake-up, especially in the economic
field,
A number of the present economic planners
who advocate closer Soviet ties are renortedly slated for
replacement. Nasr has vigor-
ously criticized the civilian ministers in the cabinet for mak-
ing too-frequent visits to Soviet and Satellite embassies in
Cairo.
Comment Nasr may plan to dismiss or transfer
his leading civilian economic advisers,
Including conservative finance minister Kaisuni, but his
motive is more likely to be to find "goats" for Egypt's poor
economic situation than to eliminate pro-Soviet influences.
Except for Kaisuni, the most influential of these advisers
have advocated developing extensive barter arrangements
with the Soviet bloc. Their replacement would probably be
used by the regime's apologists as evidence that Nasr is
turning his back on the USSR.
13 Dec 56
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Nvol %we
11. DEVELOPMENTS IN JORDAN
Comment on:
Recent developments suggest that Jordan
is preparing to draw still closer to Syria
and Egypt. A major shake-up of Jordanian
government personnel, reportedly involv-
ing removal of some allegedly pro-British
sub-cabinet officials, was initiated on 12
December.
At the same time, cooling relations with
Iraq, as a consequence of its identification with British inter-
ests, culminated in the withdrawal of the 3,500-man Iraqi bri-
gade group from Jordan on 11 December. An additional factor
in the removal was the unwillingness of Iraq to place its forces
in Jordan under the Arab Joint Command.
Over 5,000 Syrian troops and 500 to 800
Saudi Arabian troops apparently will remain in Jordan. Syrian
forces are concentrated in the north near the Syrian border,
guarding key Jordan River bridges, and in the Nablus area of
West Jordan.
a Syrian armored unit may occupy the area evacuated
by the Iraqis in the vicinity of Mafraq. The Saudi regiment is
reported preparing to move from its present position south of
Amman to the Jericho area in West Jordan.
13 Dec 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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Agile Nee
12. BRITISH INFLUENCE IN KUWAIT DAMAGED
As a consequence of their intervention
in Egypt, the British have largely lost
the capability of influencing the internal
affairs of Kuwait, according to the Amer-
ican consul there. The British political
agen s norma contacts with the ruler of Kuwait have been
suspended, and moderate leaders in Kuwait who formerly co-
operated with the British have been alienated. The consul
concludes that over the long term the British must rely on
the support of feudal chiefs and on force to preserve their
position in Kuwait.
Comment The British regard access to Kuwait oil,
which is owned jointly by British and
American interests, as of crucial importance. Kuwait nor-
mally produces about 1,200,000 barrels of oil a day and is
thus the largest producer in the Middle East. Britain has
recently increased its troop strength in the Persian Gulf
from negligible numbers to 1,800.
The success of Egyptian agents in sabo-
taging some Kuwait oil installations on 10 December is likely
rther decline of British prestige in the area.
13 Dec 56
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Noe'
BIWEEKLY SUMMARY
(28 November-12 December 1956)
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Taiwan Strait Problem
1. There were no significant combat operations in the
area during the period.
2. Tracklaying on the Trans-Fukien Railroad was com-
pleted to Amoy on 9 December. After a shakedown period of
three to six months, the new line will be able to handle 4,000
to 5,000 tons of cargo each way a day and greatly increase the
Chinese Communists' ability to deliver supplies to the Taiwan
Strait area. While the railroad will eventually enhance the
value of Amoy as a commercial port, at present ships enter-
ing Amoy would be within range of Nationalist artillery on the
Quemoys.
13 Dec 56
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TAIWAN STRAIT SITUATION
12 DECEMBER 1956
CHINESE COMMUNIST AIRFIELD LEGEND:
DESIGNATIONS
PRIMARY AIRFIELD
CONSIDERED MOST IMPORTANT IN
AREA WITH PREPARED RUNWAY
GENERALLY 5000 FEET OR LONGER.
SECONDARY AIRFIELD
AUXILIARY OR EMERGENCY BASES
OR FIELDS OF LESSER IMPORTANCE.
RUNWAYS GENERALLY LESS THAN
5000 FEET.
ACTIVE BASE FOR MILITARY 8. CIVILIAN AIR�
CRAFT. SOME BASES USED BY PISTON TYPES
MAY BE USABLE BY JETS
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OPERATIONAL
INACTIVE BASES CAPABLE OF USE BY AIRCRAFT
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UNKNOWN
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OF SUPPORTING SUSTAINED OPER-
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