CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/22
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
03179146
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
10
Document Creation Date:
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date:
October 31, 2019
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
Publication Date:
February 22, 1956
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740156].pdf | 278.32 KB |
Body:
'Pr* 17/ZerIA
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
C03179146r
TOP SECRET
22 February 1956
et/
Copy N�. 103
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS EL
CI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 9.-01 0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE. 714. tO REVIEWER
ack
3.3(h)(2)
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.5(c)
/000/
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21
C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
tink
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C031179146
a JLJ&Ld
NI110
CONTENTS
2.
PARTY
CRISIS IN POLISH COMMUNIST
(page 4).
3. CONSEQUENCES OF WESTPHALIAN GOVERNMENT
CHANGE (page 5).
4. SINGAPORE CHIEF MINISTER BELIEVED TO HAVE
LOST ACTIVE BRITISH SUPPORT (page 6).
5. AMNESTY DEMAND FOR CYPRIOT TERRORISTS
UNACCEPTABLE TO BRITAIN (page 7).
6. BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO VISIT
PEIPING (page 8).
22 Feb 56 ,
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
0111k I 'Jr3L-CITZT
22 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
7_12E-SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Sof Visj'
2.
PARTY
CRISIS IN POLISH COMMUNIST
The Polish United Workers (Commu-
nist) Party is in the midst of a seri-
ous internal crisis which has put the
politburo on the defensive,
a group of approximately 250 senior party officials
is opposed to party policy on many issues. This group
is I demanding greater freedom of the press
and of internal party criticism, decentralization of the
economy, and democratization of the party.
� Comment The relaxation of police controls
since the fall of Beria has apparently
encouraged criticism of regime policies in several of
the Satellites.
The Polish politburo appears to be
attempting to meet some of the complaints by lessening
restrictions on the press, by encouraging more criticism
on the part of party members, and by cautious appeals to
Polish nationalism such as the rehabilitation of prewar
Communist leaders. These measures, although intended
to mollify discontented party members, may actually en-
courage them to push for further concessions.
22 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
Approved for for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Altk f4 IDEIN-1-1-Akr- Oik
3 CONSEQUENCES OF WESTPHALIAN GOVERNMENT
CHANGE
officials in Bonn consider
that, although overthrow of the
Christian Democratic state govern-
ment of North Rhine-Westphalia de-
71/4�prives Chancellor Adenauer of his two-thirds majority
in the national Bundesrat (upper house), federal defense
legislation is unlikely to be jeopardized They also be-
lieve that unless other state governments are overturned,
the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is likely to remain in
the Bonn coalition.
Comment The Adenauer government is left with
only 21 assured votes out of 38 in the
Bundesrat, but the five votes of the Bavarian delegation,
which would make a two-thirds majority, can probably be
counted on in any foreign policy or rearmament issue
A two-thirds majority is necessary for passage of certain
constitutional amendments affecting rearmament, but
Adenauer's Christian Democratic Party has maintained
that these amendments are not legally essential for the
rearmament program.
The chancellor has said that his party's
executive will consider, on 24 February, the question of
retaining the FDP in the coalition. The decision will be
strongly influenced by the fact that the FDP federal cabi-
net ministers have condemned the actions of their party
in Westphalia and that there is strong opposition to the
Westphalian right-wing group throughout the national FDP.
22 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
77-rwrffi-FAIW41�TIAL
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
*INV
4. SINGAPORE CHIEF MINISTER BELIEVED TO HAVE
LOST ACTIVE BRITISH SUPPORT
David Marshall, chief minister of
Singapore, appears to have lost active
British support, according to Ameri-
can officials in Singapore who have
gained this impression from British
and local sources. One British of-
ficial stated recently that Marshall's
behavior has become so erratic that
it is impossible to judge the basis of his decisions and
movements. However, the British apparently are not
trying to unseat the chief minister at this time.
Comment
Since he assumed office in April,
Marshall has been kept almost con-
tinually off balance by the tactics of the Communist-ma-
nipulated People's Action Party. The political situation
has been particularly fluid since November and opposition
strength in the Singapore legislature is now equal to that
of the government. Marshall's poor health and tenuous
political position have reduced his effectiveness as chief
minister. None of his prospective successors appears
likely to provide vigorous anti-Communist leadership.
The British would probably prefer a leading local Chinese
as chief minister of Singapore in the event of Marshall's
resignation.
22 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
SECRET-
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
JtA..:Kt. 1 Ask
5. AMNESTY DEMAND FOR CYPRIOT TERRORISTS
UNACCEPTABLE TO BRITAIN
The British Foreign Office feels
that yielding to Cypriot Archbishop
Makarios' 2 February demand for
full amnesty for all arrested persons
is out of the question while violence in Cyprus continues,
according to the American embassy in London. Governor
Harding, however, is unlikely to invoke the death penalty
against any terrorists because of the recent British
parliamentary vote against capital punishment.
London has indicated it would not ob-
ject to having a Greek legislative majority under a new
Cyprus constitution but cannot give a firm commitment be-
fore consulting Turkish and other Cypriots on means of
protecting minority rights.
Although the Foreign Office is "de-
pressed" over the talks and Harding has told Makarios
that London may publish their correspondence at any
time, the embassy believes that publication may be de-
layed to deny Makarios a pretext for accusing the British
of rupturing the negotiations.
Comment London is still prepared to persist in
the effort for a settlement, but Makarios
remains suspicious of British intentions and offers.
22 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
--4PPW1192
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
IrEI ANEMIA %/WI A
*awl 4410
6. BELGIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO VISIT
PEIPING
The Belgian parliament has accepted
an invitation from the Chinese Commu-
nist National people's Congress to send
a parliamentary mission to visit Corn-
'�munist China next fall, according to Belgian foreign min-
ister Spaak's personal secretary. Spaak reportedly made
it clear to the Chinese deputy extending the invitation that
while he saw some reasons for establishing diplomatic re-
lations between the two countries, Belgium had no intention
of doing so, because of its friendship and alliance with the
United States,
Spaak's secretary commented that
parliamentary pressure for this visit wa,s very great,
that Spaak was willing to go along with the American poli-
cy of nonrecognition but still considered such contacts
useful, and that pressures were perhaps heightened by
Belgian interest in trade with Communist China.
Comment The success of a Belgian business mis-
sion to Communist China in securing
an unprecedentedly large fertilizer contract earlier this
month may have had an influence in the parliament's de-
cision to accept the invitation.
The Chinese apparently want this visit
to coincide with Communist China's national day in October
at which time the Chinese will probably use the presence
of foreign visitors in their propaganda for recognition.
Spaak told American representatives
last September that he felt the time had come for recog-
nition of Communist China, but agreed to make no move
in this direction without US acquiescence. Spaak was
warned by his Socialist Party congress, however, that the
party could not support his position indefinitely.
22 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146
I
Aft
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 22 February)
the Syrian gov-
ernment has opened a $22,000,000 letter of credit through
an Arab bank for Czech tanks, antitank guns and ammu-
nition for both. This figure appears to be too high, either
by mistake or as a Syrian plant intended to exaggerate the
size of Syria's actual purchases.
indicate that Damascus has contracted for military
equipment from Czechoslovakia worth about $6, 500,000 in-
cluding 15,000 submachine guns and 60 T-34 tanks complete
with accessories, ammunition and replacement parts for
three years. Syrian interest in
Czech armored vehicles, antiaircraft guns and antitank guns.
Contracts for such equipment may be negotiated in the future.
A large number of the submachine guns and some of the spare
parts and accessories for the tanks have already been de-
livered to $y,ria.
Israeli press comment on Prime Minis-
ter Ben-Gurion's public statement that Israel will postpone
work on its Jordan water diversion project beyond 1 March
has emphasized that this promised delay is conditional on an
early return of Eric Johnston to the Near East. One usually
well-informed paper has commented, "If Johnston arrives
within two or three weeks, we will wait. But if he does not
come, we will consider ourselves free to resume work."
Ambassador Lawson notes that this press reaction is in
line with Foreign Minister Sharett's statements to him.
22 Feb 56
-�����
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03179146