CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/04/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03181192
• 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 16, 1955

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94
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
F.1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: .e0LCI
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE:CV/Ma REVIEWER.
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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Noe Nary
SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
1. New large-caliber field guns observed in Moscow (page 3).
FAR EAST
2. Hatoyama reported willing to resign (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Comment on situation in Syria (page 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Comment on results of Soviet-Austrian talks (page 5).
5. Faure insists on meeting on East-West talks before deposit of
Paris accords (page 6).
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 7)
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Now
SOVIET UNION
1. New large-caliber field guns observed in Moscow:
The American army attach�n Moscow
reports that a new model Soviet field
gun was observed on 12 April in what
appeared to be a rehearsal for the annual
May Day parade. The new weapon is
estin(ated to be of 240mm caliber, with a barrel length of 30 to
34 feet. It is mounted on a carriage with four dual wheels, towed
by a new, heavy prime mover.
Comment: The USSR is considered capa-
ble of having a nuclear projectile by mid.-1955 which could be fired
from a gun of this caliber, but such a projectile is not believed to
have been tested as yet.
The new gun appears to be larger than
any field gun previously used by the Soviet army, although
howitzers up to 305mm have been employed. Czech-made 210mm
guns, with a barrel length of approximately 33 feet and range up to
20 miles, were used by the Soviet army during World War II, but
have not been in evidence in recent years. -Con-
curred in by OSI)
FAR EAST
2. Hatoyama reported willing to resign:
The American embassy in Tokyo reports
that Prime Minister Hatoyama may be
ready to retire if necessary to bring
about conservative unity. The embassy
believes that the 12 April statement to this effect by Buldchi Mild,
a key official in Japan's Democratic Party, was made with the
prior knowledge of Hatoyama and may have been a serious offer
to facilitate a merger with the Lilberals.
Several other persons close to Hatoyama
report the prime minister is prepared to turn his office over to
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Liberal Party president Taketora Ogata if satisfactory terms
can be arranged.
Comment: The government is expected
to face bitter attacks during the current Diet session, and the
Democratic offer could be intended to soften Liberal criticism.
Hatoyama may feel that his popularity
is on the wane, and success in bringing about a conservative
merger would enable him to retire with honor. While many
Democrats as well as Liberals would support an Ogata-led
coalition, it is unlikely that a complete merger of conservative
forces can be effected.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Comment on situation in Syria.
Reports from Damascus and Baghdad
indicate that neither a coup in Syria nor
Iraqi military intervention is likely at
this time, although the situation remains
highly volatile.
The leftist, anti-Western forces sup-
porting Syrian foreign minister Azm's pro-Egyptian policy appar-
e ntly have for the time being gained the upper hand in their
struggle with conservative forces.
Azm, who is backed by army chief of
staff Shuqayr, the extremist Arab Socialist-Resurrectionist Party
and the Communists, seems to have compelled the cabinet to
approve plans for concluding a defense pact with Egypt and Saudi
Arabia. Pro-Western Syrians apparently remain too factional-
ized to oppose Azm and his clique effectively.
Iraq, having failed to obtain Western
approval, will not intervene militarily for the time being. How-
ever, Turkey believes that, in concert with Iraq and the West, it
must take measures short of armed intervention to reverse the
trend of events in Syria.
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The situation is expected to remain
quiet at least until after the Arab delegations arrive at the Afro-
Asian conference. There, Syrian, Egyptian and Saudi Arabian
officials will probably continue to discuss Cairo's projected pact,
and Turkey expects them to sign it.
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Comment on results of Soviet-Austrian talks
The Soviet Union made several major con-
cessions to the Austrians during the Moscow
talks, while leaving vague the nature of
its demands for four-power guarantees of
Austrian independence and neutrality. Any
new obstacles which Moscow might raise
to a treaty in a conference would probably
concern these guarantees and perhaps
sanctions to enforce them.
Austria agreed not to join any military
alliances or permit foreign bases on its territory. The Soviet Union
had originally sought an Austrian pledge of "neutrality," but finally
accepted an Austrian commitment to pursue "in relation to all states
a policy of independence.,, The Soviet press chief, however, inter-
preted "independence" to mean political, economic, diplomatic,
and military neutrality between East and West.
The Austrian press is enthusiastic over
the results of the talks and the Austrians will be impatient to con-
firm their diplomatic success at a four-power conference. There
will be considerable pressure against any Western attempt to delay
a conference, particularly in view of the USSR's expressed willing-
ness to discuss the Austrian treaty separate from the German
question.
In Bonn, coalition politicians feel that the
Soviet concessions on the Austrian treaty have been largely adopted
for their impact on the West German people. These politicians
fear that Western endorsement of an Austrian treaty based on
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would cause domestic neutralist sentiment to soar.
Despite their fears, such a reaction in West Germany would
probably be short-lived unless Moscow is also willing to yield
its hold over East Germany through free elections.
5. Faure insists on meeting on East-West talks before deposit of
Paris accords:
French premier Faure insisted to British
minister Reilly on 14 April that in no
event would he deposit the French instru-
ments of ratification of the Paris treaties
until a threepower working group had begun preparation for talks
with the USSR. Ambassador Dillon believes this statement by Faure
"must be considered seriously and not treated as a bluff,"
Earlier on 14 April Faure had given Dillon
an aide-memoire proposing a three-power working group meeting
as soon as possible this month, with French deposit of the Paris
treaties to follow on 7 May.
Comment: Faure maintains that in order
to get Council of the Republic approval of the Paris agreements,
he undertook a commitment to press for early East-West talks.
It is probable, however, that his main concern is to leave the
Mendes-France faction of the Radical Socialist Party no grounds
for attacking his record as premier when the party congress is
held on 4 May.
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TOFSEGRET
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
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 15 April 1955,
1. Photography of 14 April has confirmed the presence of
39 BUTCHER (IL-28) jet light bombers and 42 BAT (TU-2)
reciprocating engine light bombers at Hangchow. The original
movement of BUTCHERS (IL-28's) from Manchuria to the
Shanghai area was reported in Formosa Straits Report No. 22,
10 April 1955. The presence of this number of jet light bombers,
more than normally assigned one bomber regiment, means that
in all probability a full division of 65 light bombers is moving
south from Manchuria, and will operate from Hangchow. This
new count is almost double the number (22) of BUTCHERS (IL-
28's) previously believed to be at this base
it means that the Chinese Communists
1.ave moved their latest bomber equipment and most experienced
combat crews into position from which direct attacks on Formosa
or the offshore islands can be made.
2. The new Communist airfield in the Quemoy area re�
ported yesterday will probably be operational by September.
Photography of 14 April reveals the airfield area to be about
8850 x 1390 feet. This would permit an installation comioarable
to the newest Chinese Communist air base at Luchiao.
3. Photography has revealed more jet fighters in the
Shanghai area than previously estimated
The 14 April Tonotographs
s owe FALCONS (MIG-15's) on Chiangwan and 56 FALCONS
(MIG-15's) on nearby Chiahsing. This count at Chiangwan
indicates that the 2nd Division, which has been based there for
over a year, has equipped its second regiment with jet fighters.
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MINA -FORMOSA SITUATIM
15 April 1955
Nautical miles �
Stdtute miles 0
50 100
100 , AC)
1.50
Selected road
I ill Railroad
+ _I_ Proposed railroad
� A
� A
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-22
OPEN AT I ONAL
SERVICEABLE
UNKNOWN
4,104
111 V ., Hong Kong
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144o � ...;�
COMMUNIST AIRFIELD LEGEND
USEABILITY
MIG-15, BIG-I?, TU-4, IL -28
TU-2, IL-10, LA-9/1I, LI-2, etc.
unknown
Fields not considered capable of
sylaport leg
at present.
sustained operations
* NATIONALIST AIRFIELD
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EH
HANKOW
NA CHANG
SUICHUA
� 'Port.)
(� HUAINING
DESIGNATIONS
PRIMARY: considered most important in area, with prepared runway
generally 5000 feet or longer.
SECONDARY: auxiliary or emergency bases, or fields of lesser
importance- runways generally less than 5000 feet.
OPERATIONAL: consistently used by military & civilian aircraft.
SERVICEABLE: capable of use by aircraft.
UNKNOWN: current status urtdetermincd.
OTHER: under cons tract ion, abandoned, or unserviceable.
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114
AMMMIMMII.
PRESENTATIONS DIVISION
116
118
120 122
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