CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/05/25

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03194454
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: May 25, 1955

Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03194454
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25
May
1955
17;37
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
zo/
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Copy No. 94
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. 42 V
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
CI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE "..?"9/0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE:-.9.1//e3C2 REVIEWER:.
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
I. Comment on establishment of new Soviet foreign trade agency
(page �3).
FAR EAST
2. Japanese favor withdrawal of American troops (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Vietnam discusses tactics for proposed four-power Saigon confer-
ence (page 4).
4. Comment on Vietnamese policy toward dissidents (page 5).
5. Chinese commander in Burma asks permission to enter Laos
(page 6).
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SOVIET UNION
1. Comment on establishment of new Soviet foreign trade agency:
The USSR has recently established a
new trade agency, TECHNOPROMEXPORT, responsible for plan-
ning technical aid for the construction of industrial installations
and other economic enterprises abroad. According to the April
issue of the Soviet publication Foreign Trade, the new agency is
charged with preparatory work for such planning, including geo-
logical and aerial surveys, as well as with the planning function
itself, the inspection of construction under way, and the training
in the USSR of "national cadres" from the countries which re-
ceive Soviet technical assistance.
Comment: The formation of this special-
ized organization probably results from increased Soviet commit-
ments over the past 18 months to provide tecimical aid to Commu-
nist China and North Korea and to a number of economically under-
developed countries outside the Sino-Soviet bloc. It suggests an
intensification of the Soviet technical aid program,
FAR EAST
2. Japanese favor withdrawal of American troops:
bassador Allison reports that a major-
ty of Japan's political leaders, including
hose most friendly to the United States,
re publicly and privately advocating the
thdrawal of American forces from Japan�
An official of the Ministry of Finance has
stated that the Japanese economy could bear the consequent reduc-
tion in dollar income, and that the departure of American forces
would strengthen the Japanese defense agencies' request for finan-
cial support. Shinsuke Kishi, influential member of the govern-
ment party, also told Allison recently that a withdrawal would be
the most important single action to improve US-Japanese relations.
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Comment: An independent study in 1954
of the attitudes of the important leadership groups and the public
in japan showed that a desire to feel independent and free of Amer-
ican "domination" was a primary factor in shaping attitudes toward
the United States.
Recently, strong opposition attacks in the
Diet have emphasized Japanese apprehension that atomic weapons
might be stored in Japan and that the use of Japanese bases by
American forces might involve Japan in future hostilities. Prime
Minister Hatoyama has said he desired the eventual withdrawal of
American forces, but has not indicated a desire for a quick de-
parture.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Vietnam discusses tactics for proposed four-power Saigon confer-
ence:
status of the
French Expeditionary Corps and the problem of the transfer of
military authority to Vietnam be settled. It was believed advis-
able that the study of subversion cover not only the Viet Minh but
the sects as well, since the latter allegedly are still receiving
French support.
Comment:
the
premier envisages the four-power conference as a means of
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putting the French publicly on the spot with regard to their Viet-
nam policy.
Talks with the Viet Minh on the elec-
tions called for in the Geneva agreement, another possible agenda
Rem, were ruled out until a national assembly can be elected.
This assembly then "might declare the Vietnamese people not
bound by the Geneva accords," the spokesman said.
4. Comment on Vietnamese policy toward dissidents:
The Vietnamese government is moving
several battalions of troops-7,000 men
according to the press--into the area of
western Cochinchina where the forces
of dissident Hoa Hao generals Tran Van
Soai and Ba Cut have been active. Diem
probably hopes that such a show of force
will intimidate the Hoa Hao into accept-
ing the government's terms for the inte-
gration of the sect forces into the na-
tional army.
Diem is probably correct in his asser-
tion that the dissidents would have little staying power in a show-
down with the government. There have been signs during the past
week of Hoa Hao amenability to negotiation. Diem could be expected
to have little patience, however, with negotiations unless they pro-
duce early results.
Diem's fears concerning the Hoa Hao de-
rive largely from reports that French officials are abetting the
Hoa Hao and other dissidents. He told the American charg�hat
General Hinh, now reported at Hoa Hao headquarters, is writing
letters to army officers in an attempt to subvert them. Diem was
contemptuous of Ely's purported opposition to Hinh's activities
and threatened, if Ely did not publicly denounce Hinh, to publish
Hinh's subversive letters, presumably with the implication that
the French are involved.
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5. Chinese commander in Burma asks permission to enter Laos:
The commander of the Chinese Nation-
alist irregulars in Burma has sought
permission to visit Muong Sing, a
Laotian town near the Burmese border,
aording. to Laos defense minister. The Laotian official said
he would refuse the request, but feared the guerrilla leader
would come anyway. Reflecting the impression in Laos that
the United States controls the guerrillas, he asked the Ameri-
can minister whether the commander could be dissuaded, "through
Saigon."
The defense minister said he was most
anxious to keep the guerrillas out of Laos because of the possi-
ble reaction of Communist China.
Comment: Both Thai and Burmese ob-
servers believe the 3,000 to 5,000 Chinese now under attack by
the Burmese army may retreat into Laos. Neither the Burmese
nor the Laotian army is capable of preventing their entry into
Laos.
The Viet Minh alleged in March that
American-directed Chinese Nationalist guerrillas were operat-
ing in areas of Laos occupied by the Pathet Lao.
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