CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/04/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179871
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: April 7, 1955

frozooffiee Approved foTOfr Relea,3seifa0g
7 April 1955
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Documwr NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
[I DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVEW DATE 0 /0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: 8/i/eta REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
/
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
94
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SUMMARY
SOUTHEAST ASIA
I. Comment on truce extension in Saigon (page 3).
2. Vietnamese premier reported seeking closer ties with India (page 3).
3. Indonesian dissident group reportedly plans operations during Afro-
Asian conference (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Israel seeks top-level meeting with Egypt (page 4).
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 6)
* * * *
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
1. Comment on truce extension in Saigon:
The truce extension to 12 April, which
Premier Diem accepted at the urging
of General Collins, still leaves unre-
solved the basic dispute between the gov-
ernment and the Binh Xuyen rebels.
Diem remains determined to remove Lai
Van Sang, a leading Binh Xuyen figure, from the position of direc-
tor general of national police. General Collins concurs, but Gen-
eral Ely is opposed on the ground that such action might provoke
"civil war." The French have failed to point out, however, why
the problem of a gangster-controlled police force can be more
satisfactorily resolved at some future time. The Diem govern-
ment will continue to lose face so long as it is prevented from
meeting the Binh Xuyen's challenge.
Ely now agrees with Collins that joint
French-American pressure on Bao Dai to support the removal of
Sang would be a constructive move. Previously the French had
insisted that Diem and his opponents, including the Binh Xuyen
gangsters, be treated as equals.
2. Vietnamese premier reported seeking closer ties with India:
r Diem was said to have informed India that such a develop-
ment was necessary in connection with his desire to make Vietnam
a "democratic and socialist state."
Comment: Each of the Associated States
seeks the support of India not only because of its chairmanship of
the International Control Commission but also because of its posi-
tion as a leading non-Communist power in Asia.
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Statements of Nehru and other Indian
officials suggest that New Delhi considers Laos and Cambodia
within the Indian sphere of influence. The Indians' tendency to
regard Ho Chi Minh as the authentic voice of Vietnamese nation-
alism, however, suggests that they would do nothing to prevent
Vietnam's falling within Communist China's sphere.
3. Indonesian dissident group reportedly plans operations during
Afro-Asian conference:
Comment: Although either political or
military activity by the fanatical Darul Islam could be embarrass-
ing to the Indonesian government, it would be unlikely to affect the
outcome of the conference.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Israel seeks top-level meeting with Egypt:
Israeli prime minister Sharett asked Am-
bassador Lawson on 4 April to request the
American government to arrange a discussion
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between "top-level Egyptian and Israeli representatives" on the
Gaza border situation. Sharett said that the Israeli cabinet had
held an extraordinary meeting earlier in the day to consider the
Intolerable situation in the Gaza area and a request to the United
States to persuade Egypt to stop its "provocative border actions."
Sharett added that defensive action by
Israeli forces will be taken if provocative border incidents in-
spired by Cairo continue, and that Israeli military patrols are
in this area to protect settlers and will not be withdrawn.
Comment: Despite Sharett's assurance
to Lawson that the proposed discussions would deal only with the
Gaza situation, Egypt would probably refuse to meet with Israeli
officials for fear that such talks would be used by Tel Aviv to pro-
mote an over-all peace settlement. Cairo is more likely to in-
sist that all contacts between the two governments on this ques-
tion be kept within the framework of the UN Mixed Armistice
Commission.
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THE FORMOSA STRArTS
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Formosa Straits Problem
This report is based on information received in Washington
up to 1100 hours 6 April 1955.
1. Analysis by USAF interpreters of photographs taken on
4 and 5 April reveals that work is progressing on two major air
bases and that the newly constructed airfield at Luchiao is opera-
tional.
A completely new airfield, which probably will have a
concrete runway 6220 by 240 feet, is under construction at a site
six miles northeast of Swatow. Present information is insufficient
to estimate its time of completion. Construction of this new field
indicates that Swatow airfield, which is still unserviceable, will be
abandoned.
At Nantai near Foochow, 35 miles from the Matsus and
100 miles from Taipei, major construction activity is proceeding
on a concrete runway 6000 by 100 feet. Taxiways and revetments
are being repaired and various buildings are under construction.
It is estimated that the runway will be serviceable by early June if
construction activity continues at its present rate. (The extent
of this new construction requires revision of previous estimates
that Nantai could be made serviceable in 5 to 10 days. These were
based on the assumption that only essential repairs would be made
to the existing 4200-foot water-bound rock runway.)
The photographs confirm the occupation of Luchiao air-
field. The photographs showed 41 jet fighters present on 4 April.
The field has a concrete runway 6200 by 205 feet, parallel taxiway
and alert aprons at either end of the main runway. The photographs
also revealed 31 revetments and a POL area with partially buried
tanks.
Initial evaluation of these developments indicates a Chi-
nese Communist intention ultimately to establish a coastal chain of
modern air bases.
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3. Chinese Communist propaganda has again charged that
the US is planning to involve the British Commonwealth in "its war
of aggression against China�" It denounced suggestions that Britain
might support the US in its Formosa policy if the Nationalists would
withdraw from the coastal islands, asserting as usual that tension
"would be instantly eased" if the US would withdraw its armed
forces from Formosa the Pescadores, coastal islands, and the
Formosa Straits.
4. A summary of Formosa Straits Reports for week ending
6 April is attached.
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WEEKLY SUMMARY
FORMOSA STRAITS REPORT
(6 April 1955)
1. No significant military operations occurred during the
week, bad weather being the general rule in the area.
2. What appeared to be a significant Chinese Communist
sealift capability reported massing along the coastal area opposite
the Matsus was unsubstantiated by subsequent reports. The only
naval redeployment was a minor increase in small craft and the
acceptance for the first time of two LST's in the Foochow area.
3. Chinese Nationalist defenses in the Matsu Area Defense
Command continued to improve. If the present rate of improve-
ment can continue for 30 days more, the garrison should be able
to give a good account of itself. The Chinese Communists will re-
main capable, however, of seizing the Matsus against Nationalist
opposition alone.
5. Two significant Chinese Communist air force develop-
ments were revealed during the week by interpretation of aerial
photography; a) Nanchang New airfield, previously considered a
training field and assembly site for Soviet-furnished trainer air-
craft, is revealed as a modern well-equipped air depot. Until now
no installation of this type, essential to the conduct of sustained air
operations, has been known to exist this far south; b) construction
is underway on what may be a strong chain of modern air bases
along the coast. Photography reveals concrete runways in excess
of 6000 feet, along with other construction, completed or in progress
at Luchiao, Nantai and a new airfield site six miles northeast of
Swatow.
Chinese Communist comment on Formosa and the offshore
islands has continued to follow standard lines reaffirming the inten-
tion to "liberate" all Nationalist-held territory.
7 Apr 55
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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