FAR EAST REACTIONS TO EVENTS IN HUNGARY AND EGYPT.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00937A000500020007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 12, 2001
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: November 20, 1956
• Content Type: MEMO

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1409
C E N T R A L I N T E L L I G E N C E A G E N C Y
OFFICE OF NATIONAL ESTIMATES
20 November 1956
STAFF MEMORANDUM No. 91-6
SUBJECT: Far East Reactions to Events in Hungary and Egypt.
1. Official governmental reactions in the Far East to the recent
events in Hungary and Egypt have not been uniform, but rather
have followed a "spectrum" pattern. At the "red" end of the spectrum
are the Communist controlled countries which have faithfully followed
the Moscow Communist line. Communist China has embellished the Moscow
view by charging that the US is conniving at Anglo-French-Israeli action
in Egypt in order to establish its own control there, and by claiming
250,000 Chinese have declared a desire to "volunteer" on the side of
the Egyptians. At the other end of the spectrum is South Korea which
generally has ignored the Egyptian developments and in effect says
that now is the time for all peoples subject to the domination of the
USSR to revolt. Official reaction in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, the
Fhilippines,,and Japan has been fairly well balanced in condemning the
Israeli-French-English action and the action of the USSR in Hungary.
South Vietnam, South Korea, Laos, and Nationalist China have reacted
more strongly over the Hungarian situation than the developments in
Egypt. Indonesia, on the.other hand, has given little attention
to Hungary and has concentrated its condemnation against the action of
the Western colonial powers.
2. Public reactions in Burma, Indonesia, and Thailand showed much
more concern over the E{ytian situation than over events in Hungary.
In these countries, street demonstrations, to some extent abetted by
local Communists, were directed agh+.nst the French, British, and
Israelis. Moreover, in Indonesia labor unions have refused to service
British and French ships and planes and have refused to load oil for
Singapore or Malaya. There have been no public demonstrations against
the USSR in these three countries. On the other hand, popular
demonstrations (apparently government sponsored) against the USSR took
place in South Vietnam and South Korea and on a smaller scale in the
Philippines. No popular demonstrations took place against England,
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France, or Israel in these countries. Although popular opinion in
Japan, Hongkong, and Singapore seems to be greatly concerned over
both situations, there have been no popular demonstrations against
either the USSR or the UK, Franco, or Israel. In Malaya there is
apparently considerable popular concern over the I tiara oriai,n but
little with respect to Hungary.
3. In most Asian countries, the newspapers have given wide
coverage of both the R,gption and Hungarian developments, plus
editorial comment which generally has condemned both the English-
French-Israel action and the action of the USSR in Hungary. However,
the Egyptian situation has received a preponderance of the coverage
and adverse editorial comment. The extreme left wing and Communist
papers in all countries faithfully follow the Moscow line.
25X1A9a
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SECRET
APPENDIX A
OFFICIAL REACTIONS OF NON-COMMUNIST ASIAN GOVERNMENTS
Indonesia
1. Indonesia refused (along with Burin and 11 Near East and South
Asian countries) to vote for the UNGA resolution condemning the USSR
for its actions in Hungary. Indonesian officials have explained their
abstention as due to "psychological factors" such as French-British
support of the resolution and the difference in degree of censure
between Egyptian and Hungarian resolutions. They said that the
Hungarian resolution tended to distract from the Egyptian problem
which Indonesian officials said was the more serious. Subsequently,
the Indonesian government modified its position and publicly stated
that it regrets the involvement of Soviet troops whether requested or
not, in the Hungarian situation. It further stated that the Soviet
action denied the Hungarian peoples the freedom to determine the nature
and structure of their government, and was not in accord with the
spirit and principles of the Bandung conference.
2. The Indonesian government has strongly condemned Israel,
France, and England for aggression against Egypt, and the Foreign Minister
explained before Parliament that Indonesia considered the attack of
direct concern to the people of Indonesia because it demonstrated that
small countries could still be attacked by imperialist powers.
Subsequently the Indonesian government announced that it would participate
in the UN-sponsored police force.
3. The Indonesian government also called a meeting of the Columbo
Powers. Although Pakistan refused to attend, the Prime Ministers of
Indonesia, India, Burma, and Ceylon met in New Delhi and issued a strong
statement condemning England, France, and Israel for their actions in
Egypt. Although this statement also severely criticized the Soviet
Union for its actions in Hungary., the general thrust of the statement
mace it clear that the four Prime Ministers considered the action in
Egypt to be of much greater seriousness and one which directly involved
them.
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4. Although Burma also abstained on the UNGA Hungarian resolution,
the Burmese government officials subsequently explained this was the
result of a lack of instructions to its UN delegation and have indicated
that it would "not happen again." Since that time the Burmese Cabinet
leaders have publicly expressed vigorous opposition to Soviet armed
intervention in Hungary, have called for the Soviet troops to withdraw,
have referred to the Soviet action as a "most despicable form of
colonialism" and as having "completed our disillusionment about Soviet
Russia." These statements by the Burmese leaders have been the most
forthright criticisms of the USSR heard from Burma in recent years,
in part a result of their apparent shock at the Soviet action,
5. In addition to joining in the Prime Ministers' declaration at
New Delhi, Burma has called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from
Egypt and has supported the UN action to this end. However, Burma is
in an awkward position because of its exceptionally close relations
with Israel.
Thailand
6. The Thai government has formally condemned the USSR and Israel,
France, and England by its UNGA resolution votes, and has shown
considerable concern over both the . -tte and Hungarian situations.
There is some fear that general war might develop out of either
situation or that the Communists might take advantage of the confused
state of world affairs to move against Thailand. The Thai government
officials have privately expressed considerable concern over the adverse
effect on SEATO which has resulted from the fact that four members are
"on the wrong side of the moral issue."
Malaya
7. In Malaya, Rahman has stated that the crisis would not affect
Malayan independence and has asked all Muslims to keep calm, saying the
M- t Qa _ squabble will soon pass away and that in any case it is
useless to take sides since Malaya is still under British rule. There
appears to have been no official comment by Malayan leaders on the
Hungary developments.
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Cambodia
8. Prince Sihanouk has refused to take any position in the
Hungarian and Egyptian issues although his grvernmea.t did vote in favsr of
the UNGA resolutions condemning the USSR over Hungary and. Israel,
France, and England over Egypt. He has been able to take this apparent
inconsistent position because he does not, at present, hold a formal
position in the government. Sihanouk has, however, proposed a special
UN investigation commission and has hinted that he should be the Asian
representative on such a commission. He has made it clear that he
considers himself to be "more neutral" than Nehru.
Japan
9, At the outset of the hostilities in 36n)'4, the
Japanese government expressed hope that the trouble could be settled
quickly through UN processes. The Foreign Minister subsequently made
a statement to the Diet charging that the UK and France had trampled
underfoot the spirit of the UN by usin the veto in the Security
Council and by employing direct military force against Egypt. Concerning
Hungary, the Foreign Minister said that the Hungarians wanted more than
Titoism, and opposed not only Soviet rule but communism itself4 He said
that the USSR, seizing the moment when the Suez dispute reached a
critical stage, mobilized vast armies and started to crush the Hungarian
national movement. He added that the Japanese feel deep sympathy for
the Hungarian people crying out for basic human rights and political
freedom and appealed to the Soviet leaders to listen to the voice of
Hungary and to take measures to ease the situation in line with the
UN resolutions.
10. Official reaction in Laos to the Hungarian situation was one
of shock at the Russian action and the Cabinet temporarily reversed its
decision to recognize the USSR. The Lao delegate at the UN was
instructed to join in condemnation of Soviet intervention but abstained
in the UN vote condemning British, French, and Israeli action.
South Vietnam
11. Official reaction in Soiith Vietnam to the Egyptian situation
was mild, whereas it was extremely strong., against the Soviet inter-
vention in Hungary. The government issued a statement on 6 November.
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Nw~ *Rio,
condemning the Soviet intervention,, expressing concern over the Anglo-Israeli-
French action, and inspired and supported public demonstrations
throughout the country against the USSR and in sympathy with the
Hungarian people.
Philippines
12. The Philippine government has followed the US lead in its
attitude toward both the Hungarian and Egyptian situations and has
voted accordingly in the UN. However., it has not otherwise publicly
announced a strong affirmative position.
Nationalist China
13. The National Government of China has followed the US lead
concerning its position in Hungary and Egypt, but has expressed some
disappointment that no effective measures have been taken to help
Hungarian revolutionaries. The Foreign Minister and a Legislative Yuan
resolution condemned Russian aggression and called for more vigorous
UN and free world support for the Hungarian people.
South Korea
1L. President Syngman Rhee has urged that the "civilized world"
extend material and moral support to those fighting Soviet Communism
and declared that the ROK was ready to give generously of what it has
to help freedom-loving nations throw off their shackles. He stated,
however,, that the ROK is not at present in a position to urge the North
Koreans to rebel against Communism because he was afraid that they would
suffer heavy casualities, but he said that the ROK should prepare for
~ march north to free the North Korean people whenever the opportunity
arrives, and added that the paramount responsibility of the ROK is to
rescue the North Koreans from Communist slavery and secure unification.,
freedom) and peace. Public demonstrations, apparently instigated by
the South Korean officials, encouraged the North Koreans to rise
against the Communist regime.
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