CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/09/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03178375
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: September 23, 1956

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23,September 1956
Copy No. 105
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
AUTH: H 70-
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS "
1. OUTCOME OF SECOND S1TEZ CONFERENCE THREATENS
MOLLET GOVERNMENT (page 3).
20 SOVIET-SPANISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS MAY BE
ESTABLISHED SOON (page 4).
3. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT
SOMOZA (page 5).
4. SOVIET BLOC TO SUPPORT ARMS DELIVERIES TO JORDAN
(page 6).
5. BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES STATE OF SIEGE
(page 7).
* * ,
23 Sept 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 8)
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1. OUTCOME OF SECOND SUEZ CONFERENCE THREATENS
MOLLET GOVERNMENT
The American embassy in Paris reports
that the French public and government of-
ficials are disillusioned and discouraged
by the second London conference and now
believe the only course open is referral of the Suez question
to the UN. The embassy expects the National Assembly to
hold a bitter and prolonged debate when it convenes on 2
October, with Suez likely to become the focal point of grow-
ing exasperation and frustration on a variety of problems.
The embassy emphasizes there is a worsen-
ing social climate as workers, fprmers and business men be-
come increasingly antagonistic over price rises and wage
problems.
Comment Foreign Minister Pineau won grudging
cabinet support for the new Suez Canal
users' association with the proviso that France maintain
freedom of action to refuse co-operation in any measures
it considers contrary to its essential interests. Premier
Mollet had received nearly unanimous non-Communist sup-
port in early August for his strong stand against Egyptian
nationalization of the canal, but he has been running into in-
creasing political opposition at home as France and the West
have avoided recourse to force.
Success for Nasr is likely to further
weaken France's position in Algeria and Mollet may seek
more direct American and British support in North Africa.
23 Sept 56
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20 SOVIET-SPANISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS MAY BE
ESTABLISHED SOON
Comment
Resumption of diplomatic relations be-
tween Spain and the Soviet Union has been
under consideration for some time. Madrid probably antici-
pates increased trade opportunities and wider acceptance in
international circles to result from formal relations with
Moscow, but no change is expected in Spain's relations with
the United States or in its anti-Communist policy.
General Franco had reportedly demanded
as preconditions the return of Spanish war prisoners and
restitution of Spanish gold sent to the Soviet Union by the
Republican government during the civil war. About 500 Span-
ish civilian refugees from the civil war are scheduled to em-
bark from Odessa this week, the first of an estimated 1,300
who have received exit permits from the USSR.
23 Sept 56
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CONFIDENTIAL
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'41.01 Nier
3. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF NICARAGUAN
PRESIDENT SOMOZA
Comment on:
The attempted assassination of Nicaraguan
president Somoza on 22 September by a
member of an opposition party will prob-
ably result in serious repression of the
opposition. Somoza's condition is serious
but not critical. Should Somoza die, a
chaotic situation would probably develop.
Martial law has been declared in the en-
tire country.
Leaders of the opposition Conservative
Party have long considered the assassination of Somoza the
only way to bring about a change in government. Somoza,
Nicaraguan strong man since 1934, Was planning his "re-
election" to another six-year term next February.
It is not known whether the assassination
attempt was co-ordinated with the revolutionary plans of ex-
iles outside Nicaragua. Some of these exiles, who were re-
cently reported in Costa Rica and Mexico, probably include
Communist sympathizers.
Even if the assassination attempt were -
purely of alocal political n'ature, the Nicaraguan government will
probably seek to implicate Somoza's hated enemy, President
Figueres of Costa Rica, and, even in the absence of conclu-
sive evidence of Costa Rican complicity, might go so far as
to launch an attack on Costa Rica. The Nicaraguan exiles in
Costa Rica and high Costa Rican officials were involved in
the April 1954 attempt to assassinate Somoza. Figueres feels
impelled to lead the fight against the dictators of the Caribbean
area and, is known to have given
moral and financial support in a recent effort to have the presi-
dent and security chief of Venezuela assassinated.
23 Sept 56
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4. SOVIET BLOC TO SUPPORT ARMS DELIVERIES
TO JORDAN
Comment
Syria is to act as the intermediary in
this latest e4ension of bloc arms sup-
ply to the Arab states by procuring about $7,000,000 worth
of arms through its purchasing mission in Prague and for-
warding them to Jordan. The cost of this deal is to be
borne chiefly by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria, with pro-
visions for other Arab states to contribute to the program.
Although bloc pricing policies on arms
sales in the Middle East in many cases bear little relation
to cost, the discount feature indicates a Soviet desire to in-
fluence the uncertain alignment of Jordan. The British have
warned Jordan that they would have to reconsider the Anglo-
Jordan treaty if substantial numbers of non-British arms
were acquired.
23 Sept 56
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" La A
"NW
5. BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES STATE OF SIEGE
The Bolivian government has declared
a state of siege as a result of civil dis-
orders in La Paz on 22 September. Anti-
government elements had organized a hunger
march and a crowd set fire to the progovernment newspaper
building and the government radio station. Other fires and
rioting reportedly resulted in eight deaths.
The antigovernment action during the day
was reported led by Unzaga de la Vega, leader of the major
ightist opposition party, while disorders occurring on the
night of 22 September were directed by a member of a
leftist splinter party. The Communists were apparently not
involved.
Bolivia's spiraling inflation -- in which
the already high cost of living rose 17 percent between April
and June of this year � has been generally recognized as
the major problem facing the new government which took
office on 6 August. Although the government won over 80
percent of the total vote in last June's election, its chief
opposition polled about 40 percent of the vote in the inflation-
plagued urban areas. A monetary stabilization council, made
up of high-ranking Bolivian officials with an American adviser,
was recently set up.
No one of Bolivia's three armed groups--
the civilian militia, the carabineros, or the army -- appears
to have defected to the opposition. Consequently, the govern-
ment is believed capable of maintaining itself in power.
23 Sept 56
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THE ARAL-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1.700, 23 September)
Jordanian forces were reported to have
killed six persons and wounded 23 others inside Israel on
23 September, apparently for approaching prohibited mili-
tary zones in the Jerusalem area. In one incident, accord-
ing to an Israeli military spokesman, Jordanian machine
gun fire killed three and wounded 17 members of an Israeli
archeological convention who were part of a group viewing
tombs within Jordan from a water tower in Israel. Apparently
referring to a separate incident, a Jordanian military source
announced with "deep regret" that three French tourists in
Israeli territory were killed and six wounded when they ap-
proached a prohibited military zone. The shootings possibly
indicate a breakdown in discipline among the bitter, poorly
led and poorly equipped Palestinian Arabs of the Jordan Na-
tional Guard, the force which mans the border,
it is
y WA. Luc recultmou. liUctru -cnat is, Palestinians
recruited during the last two months" � who are on guard in
Jerusalem. Tension in West Jordan soared following two
Israeli raids during the second week of September, bringing
forth new pressure for revenge against Israel. The recently
publicized decision by Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia to supply
arms to the National Guard, and the arrival of at least token
shipments in Jordan, may also have promoted cockiness in
West Jordan. The incidents raise the prospect of a serious
new round of Israeli retaliatory raids, and confront the Amman
government with a test of its ability to maintain control in West
Jordan.
Jordan has requested that the Iraqi army
chief of staff, General Rafiq Arif, join the current Iraqi
-
Jordanian military talks in Amman,
Nun i stated that ne haci consented to
this, and added that Iraq had already supplied Jordan with
1, 000 rifles from its limited arms sunnily hut had tin a ddi=
tonal small arms in reserve.
Zti oept
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