CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/08/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03185133
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: August 9, 1956

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP-5Er7MV-
3.5(c) /e;d
9 August 1956 3.3(h)(2)
Copy No.
105
DOCUIV1ENTNO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIEIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TO-P�S-Erit-ET-
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REVIEWER:
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CONTENTS
1. EGYPT REPORTEDLY WILL REFUSE INVITATION TO
LONDON CONFERENCE (page 3
2. HUNGARIAN BORDER CONTROLS REMAIN STRONG
(page 5).
3. VISIT OF LAOTIAN PREMIER TO PEIPING REPORTED
IMMINENT (page 6)0
4. ADENAUER'S PARTY SPLIT ON SENDING PARLIAMENTARY
DELEGATION TO MOSCOW
(page 7).
9 Aug 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITifATION
(page 8)
* * * *
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
(page 10)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. EGYPT REPORTEDLY WILL RE FUSE INVITATION
TO LONDON CONFERENCE
Egypt's plans for further diplomatic ac-
tion to counter Western moves include an appeal to the UN
Security Council on the ground that Western threats consti-
tute a threat to peace. It will also attempt to place the ques-
tion of internationalization of all international waterways
before the UN General Assembly. Meanwhile, Egypt is urg-
ing countries not invited to the conference to raise objections.
In regard to military action, 100,000
reservists reportedly have been called up. Egyptian engi-
neers have studied means of blocking the canal and believe
they can do it so effectively it will take from one to three
years to reopen. An Egyptian officer has been sent to Syria
to organize fedayeen attacks on oil pipelines, and Jordanian
fedayeen have been instructed to be ready to blow up oil in-
stallations in Kuwait, Dhahran and Bahrein. On 7 August
Nasr allegedly outlined final plans for underground resist-
ance, each of his lieutenants being given responsibility for
organizing action in a specific geographic area.
Comment The American embassy in Cairo reported
on 7 August that inspired editorials were
giving increasing prominence to the idea of placing the dispute
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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in UN hands. Other portions of these reports--the diplo-
matic action to be taken in regard to countries not invited
to the conference,
It seems doubtful that the reported plans
for underground resistance, except for a resumption of
guerrilla warfare in the canal zone, would be taken very
seriously by the Egyptians themselves. The Egyptians also
have probably exaggerated their ability to block the canal for
a very prolonged period of time.
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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Name CONTThrfi trtibiL *glow
2. HUNGARIAN BORDER CONTROLS
REMAIN STRONG
Despite the removal of some mines and
barbed wire fences, Hungary's control
over its border with Austria apparently
is as strong as that which existed before
the 9 May announcement of a plan to re-
move all technical barriers. Two high-
level Austrian officials who recently
toured the border region announced that
in most areas little or no progress is be-
ing made on this highly advertised example
of the lifting of the iron curtain.
Other Austrian officials have recently re-
ported that the Hungarians have greatly increased the number
and armament of border guard troops along the entire border.
The American embassy in Vienna reports that only 41 Hun-
garian refugees entered Austria in June�slightly less than
the average of the preceding three months- thus providing
further evidence that border controls remain strong.
The propaganda value of Hungarian and
Czech efforts to remove the more obvious border barriers
has been negligible. Recent border incidents have inflamed
anti-Satellite sentiments among the Austrian public.
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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Nue
3. VISIT OF LAOTIAN PREMIER TO PEIPING
REPORTED IMMINENT
Laotian premier Souvanna Phouma is
planning to leave Laos for an official
visit to Peiping about 19 August,
negotia-
tions between the royal government and the Pathet Lao
will probably not have ended by that time, and that such
a visit would give the Chinese Communists a chance to ex-
ert heavy pressure for a settlement favorable to the Pathet
Lao and themselves.
Comment Chou En-lai invited Souvanna to visit
Peiping last May, but the Laotian pre-
mier has consistently indicated he would not go until the
�Pathet issue was resolved. A wide measure of agreement
in principle has been reached between the government and
the Pathet Lao representatives in Vientiane. Agreement on
the details of such key issues as the restoration of the gov-
ernment's authority in northern Laos, elections, and the in-
tegration of Pathet personnel into the royal army and civil
administration may, however, be protracted.
In connection with the May invitation,
Souvanna has stated that any trip to Peiping would be in the
nature only of a "courtesy visit!' Discussions with the Chi-
nese Communists at this time, however, might influence the
Laotian government to adopt a more generous attitude toward
the Pathets, and would probably accelerate establishment of
relations with Peiping.
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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4. ADENAUER'S PARTY SPLIT ON SENDING
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO MOSCOW
There is disagreement within Chancellor
Adenauer's Christian Democratic Party
(CDU) on the advisability of accepting the
�Soviet invitation to send a Bundestag dele-
gation to Moscow. While Chancellor Adenauer has apparently
tried to settle the matter in advance by publishing an article
against acceptance, other influential members of his party
in the Bundestag favor going.
Comment
The Bundestag is scheduled to act on the
invitation in September after its summer
recess. In view of the increasing concern within the CDU thAt
theparty is vulnerable to opposition attacks on its firm pro-
Western policy, Adenauer may find it hard to maintain his po-
sition in the face of considerable resistance from his own
Bundestag group.
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 8 August)
isruei is 4ppruacmng an governments mvitea
to the 16 August conference on the Suez to present Israel's demand
that any final arrangement on the canal allow transit of its ships,
according to the American embassy in Tel Aviv. The embassy
stated that the Israeli government will suffer domestic censure if
increased rights for Israeli passage in the canal do not emerge
from the present situation.
The American air attache in the Netherlands
reports that an Israeli-Dutch agreement for purchase by Israel
of 10 surplus Meteor jet aircraft was reached on 13 July. He said
that two would be overhauled in June, four in July and four in
August, and that they were to be ferried to Israel by Israeli pi-
lots. He stated that annarenthr nnnp havp hppn dplivArpri va al
to date.
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
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Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
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CONFIDENTIAL
view
BIWEEKLY SUMMARY
(26 July-8 August 1956)
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
� Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Taiwan Strait Problem
1. There were no significant developments in the
area during the period.
9 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
CONFIDENTIAL
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