CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/03/03

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179150
• 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 3, 1956

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CURRENT
/ INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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3 March 1956
Copy No: 103
DOCUMENT NO
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ID DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS 8 C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: O (0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: / en% 10 REVIEWER, '
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY �
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1 C.11 LA-1(1_,
CONTENTS
1. JORDAN DISMISSES BRITISH COMMANDER OF ARAB
(page 3).
2. FRENCH OPINION ON ALGERIAN CRISIS
(page 4).
3. CYPRUS TALKS SUSPENDED
4. SITUATION IN SINGAPORE
* * * *
3 Mar 56
(page 6).
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
page 5).
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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A A
I_ JORDAN DISMISSES BRITISH COMMANDER OF
ARAB LEGION
Comment on:
King Hussain's dismissal of the British
commander of Jordan's Arab Legion,
General Glubb, as well as the chiefs
of ordnance and intelligence and eight
unit commanders,is almost certainly
a prelude to the gradual elimination of
some 70 British personnel attached to
the legion.
Britain now fears the possibility oi an alliance between
Jordan and Syria and Egypt, which could cut off access to
Middle East oil supplies, the
relief of all British personnel now serving with the Arab
T�paion would tprmir7.te all British influence in Jordan.
the situation as very critical and is pre-
pared to airlift British paratroops from Cyprus to Jordan
on short notice. if sufficient
British aircraft are not available, it would expect assist-
ance from the United States.
The king's action will be viewed in the
Arab states as a victory for Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who
are seeking to replace the British as the dominant influence
in Jordan.
The diminution of British influence in
Jordan will increase Israel's anxieties since Tel Aviv has
regarded the British presence there as a restraining element.
The stationing of Egyptian units in Jordan would arouse even
greater Israeli concern. An eventual abrogation of the Anglo-
Jordanian treaty, removing British protection from Jordan,
would make the Israelis less hesitant to reply forcefully to
border incidents with Jordan.
3 Mar 56
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....ill V I I L L.A A V I 1 .1-11. l-.4
2. FRENCH OPINION ON ALGERIAN CRISIS
many in-
formed Frenchmen consider this problem the most
serious that the National Assembly has faced since
World War II and even fear that the Fourth Republic
could not survive the loss of Algeria. The government
has increased its parliamentary difficulties by its re-
luctant decision to abandon moderate measures in fa-
vor of a threat of firmness. Many die-hard Socialists
have been shocked by this decision, and rightist ele-
ments in Paris and Algiers remain critical of the gov-
ernment's continued inaction.
Comment Mollet is expected to force the issue
in the assembly by asking for a con-
fidence vote on his recent request for special powers to
handle the problem.
The Communists have already ex-
pressed their hostility to the government's Algerian
policy, but their refusal to support the government would
handicap their campaign for a popular front. Right-:center
party leaders, unable to perceive any alternative govern-
ment, may be willing to let Mollet take the blame for any
unpopular measures in Algeria.
3 Mar 56
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�.
3. CYPRUS TALKS SUSPENDED
Comment on:
The failure of Archbishop Makarios
and the British to reach agreement
on the political development of Cyprus
suggests that Makarios believes he can
obtain further concessions. However, the inconclusive
suspension of talks on 1 March is likely to increase the
influence of Cypriot extremists over Makarios and further
limit his freedom of action in any future negotiations. The
simultaneous British resumption of extensive security op-
erations and publication of the record of the talks as planned
may harden attitudes and make a settlement more difficult.
Makarios apparently interpreted the
sudden visit to Nicosia of British colonial secretary Lennox-
Boyd as an opportunity for further bargaining. Makarios
renewed demands for a general amnesty, although he had
implied to the American consul on 27 January that the only
remaining difference concerned the British refusal to guar-
antee a legislature with an elected Greek-Cypriot majority.
The British say they envisage such a
legislature but cannot make any commitment without invit-
ing serious repercussions from the Turks. After meeting
with Lennox-Boyd on 29 February, the leader of the Turkish
community reiterated the demand for equal representation
with the island's Greek majority. On the same day, the
Turkish foreign minister also sharply attacked Greece over
the Cyprus issue in a speech to the Turkish parliament.
3 Mar 56
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4. SITUATION IN SINGAPORE
Comment on:
The continuing increase in Commu-
nist subversion in Singapore, com-
bined with the weakness of the present
government, has aroused serious con-
cern among British officials in the
colony and foreign observers. New Zealand and Austra-
lian officials there tend to accuse the British colonial of-
fice of being unrealistic. The Indian representative in
expressing his government's concern referred to Nehru's
firm handling of Indian Communists.
The British appear particularly con-
cerned over the wisdom of continuing plans for accelerat-
ing Singapore's progress toward self-government in the
absence of a strong non-Communist party or a competent
non-Communist local leader.
Although plans to hold London talks
on self-government in April and to try to strengthen the
present Singapore government continue, tentative alter-
native schemes are being simultaneously explored by the
British. One is to include Singapore as the twelfth state
in the separately administered Federation of Malaya, where
the government is much stronger and where Communist sub-
version has not developed to the extent it has in Singapore.
Also being discussed is the suspension of the Singapore con-
stitution and the reimposition of direct British rule.
The American consul general in Singa-
pore has the impression that the British are improvising on
a day-to-day basis.
3 Mar 56
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�1fC71"�SECITL4-1
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 2 March)
the
Egyptian flag vessel Khedive Ismail sailed from Alexandria
for Lattakia, Syria, with a cargo of Soviet tanks. The ship
was due to arrive in Lattakia on 1 March. For security rea-
sons, the British master of the vessel was replaced prior to
sailgby a young EgyptnvaLofficer.
Syria had signed a contract with Czechoslova ia or
$5,880,000 worth of arms including 60 T-34 tanks complete with
accessories, and replacement parts for three years. The tanks
were to be delivered within four months of the time of the sign-
ing of the contract.
I The reported meeting oi hgyptian prime
minister Nasr, King Saud of Saudi Arabia, and President
Quwatli of Syria will be held in Cairo beginning 6 March,
--King Hussain of Jordan
reportedly has been invited but no reply has yet been received.
Nasr reportedly called the meeting partially in answer to
Hussain's request for a meeting of Arab chiefs of state. The
original site, Aswan, was changed when
the news leaked to the forei re orts have indi-
cated both Aswan and Luxor,
The Egyptian 4th Coast Artillery battery
at Sharm el Sheik on the Gulf of Aqaba informed coast artillery
headquarters in Alexandria on 28 February that the "test has
been completed successfully and the battery is completely ready."
Saudi
Arabia and Egypt are co-operating in plans to improve the Saudi
3 Mar 56
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airfields at Tebuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, just east of
the Gulf of Aqaba and south of Jordan, and also probably at Al
Kharj, 44 miles southeast of Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
Improvement; of these minor air-
strips may be connected with the recent Saudi negotiations with
Egypt to obtain jet aircraft.
concern with aircraft overflights of the Tebuk area.
3 Mar 56
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