CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/12/19

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03009186
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: December 19, 1954

Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. 4
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: "0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: MAIO REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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19 December 1954
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SUMMARY
SOUTHEAST ASIA
I. Communist-controlled Indonesian labor union threatens general
strike (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
2. Iraqi prime minister says he is ready to sign treaty with Turkey
(page 3).
WESTERN EUROPE
3. West German pocial Democrats to step up drive against Paris
agreements (page 4).
LATIN AMERICA
4. Comment on Chilean political situation (page 5).
* * * *
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
1. Communist-controlled Indonesian labor union threatens general
strike:
Indonesia's largest estate workers' union,
the Communist-controlled SARBUPRI, is
threatening a general strike after 31 De-
cember as "part of total action" against
oreign capital. The embassy comments that the government is
in no stronger position now to resist Communist-inspired demands
than it was in September 1953 when, in a similar situation, the
All cabinet capitulated to SARBUPRI.
Comment: The Ali cabinet has a slim
parliamentary majority, without Communist support, but it never-
theless relies heavily on the Communist bloc in parliament.
If the government were to give in to the
labor demands as in 1953, the effect would be to cripple foreign
capital in Indonesia on which the country's export economy is
largely based. The Communists thus are in a strong position to ex
tract political concessions from the government in return for reduc-
ing their labor. demands, Under these circumstances, a general
strike is likely to be averted.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
2. Iraqi prime minister says he is ready to sign treaty with Turkey:
Prime Minister Nun i Said of Iraq re-
cently told American ambassador
Gallman that he has no hesitancy about
signing a defense pact with Turkey.
Nun i declared that a bilateral pact with a non-Arab state could
not have any ill effect on Iraq relations with other Arab states,
because some of them already have such pacts.
Comment: This is the strongest state-
ment so far of Nuri's willingness to collaborate with the West in
the defense of the Middle East. His words will be put to the test
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early in January when Turkish prime minister Mencleres goes to
Baghdad in the hope of concluding a defense treaty with Iraq.
The Iraqi foreign minister's statement in
Beirut on 19 December that Iraq will not conclude any defense trea-
ties, while raising some doubt about Iraq's policy, is probably only
a personal statement, not a reflection of Nun 's thinking.
WESTERN EUROPE
3. West German Social Democrats to step up drive against Paris
agreements:
grich 011enhauer, chairman of the West
German Social Democratic Party (SPD),
told a meeting of party executives on
12 December that the SPD will launch a
strenuous propaganda campaign against Bundestag ratification of
the Paris agreements,
Plans have been made for mass distribution of pamphlets and
posters, radio speeches and public rallies, with addresses by
leading Socialists. The idea of including mass demonstrations,
strikes and boycotts was advanced at the meeting, but was re-
jected on the ground that such activities would not add to the pres-
tige of the SPD.
011enhauer also warned his colleagues
against "stupid chatter" about Socialist willingness to support
legislation implementing the Paris agreements if they are rati-
fied. Such talk, he said, disrupts the party's present campaign
against remilita,rization.
Comment: Despite the party's current
public stand against the agreements, SPD leaders are said to
have made it clear privately that they intend to take an active
part in drawing up the necessary laws if the agreements are rati-
fied by both France and West Germany. An indication of SPD
pessimism as to the chances of defeating the agreements is a
report that party headquarters has hired a former colonel of the
German General Staff to advise Socialist Bundestag delegates on
technical points of defense legislation.
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LATIN AMERICA
4. Comment on Chilean political situation:
President Ibanez of Chile is not likely
to attempt to close Congress and rule
as a dictator should the Senate vote to
terminate the state of siege he declared
on 20 September. The Chamber of Depu-
ties voted on 30 November to end the
state of siege, and a. similar decision,
as recommended by a Senate committee, is expected when the
Senate considers the question on 22 December.
If the Senate votes as expected, Ibanez
may renew his earlier request to Congress for extraordinary
powers to combat Communism. Such a request would probably
receive more favorable consideration now than when first pre-
sented last September.
While the Communists and other left-
wing elements have been very critical of the state of siege, its
termination is not likely to improve their position in the country.
The Ibanez administration is well aware of the Communist threat
and has shown a continued determination to contain it. The armed
forces canbednended unon to suDDort any anti-Communist meas-
ures.
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