CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/04/15

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179878
• 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 15, 1955

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15 April 1955
Copy No,
9 4
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
. DOCUMENT NO di'
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. �
CI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE.
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: c5610 REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Ambassador Lodge comments on increasing world concern over
nuclear radiation (page 3).
SOVIET UNION
2. Soviet Northern Fleet submarine force apparently to be strength-
ened (page 3).
FAR EAST
3. Japan may submit peace proposal at Bandung based on UN Charter
(page 4).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Bao Dai directs Diem not to head Bandung delegation (page 5).
5. Pathet Lao apparently to resume negotiations with royal govern-
ment (page 5).
LATE ITEM
�Pd �
6. Bulganin stresses future depends on Soviet-American relations
(page 6).
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 8)
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GENERAL
1. Ambassador Lodge comments on increasing world concern over
nuclear radiation:
Ambassador Lodge warns that world-wide
public anxiety over the effects of nuclear
radiation on human life has increased con-
siderably in recent weeks and that this
trend will continue unless dealt with promptly.
He points out that the Bandung conference will almost certainly discuss
this subject
The ambassador also believes the subject
may come up at: (1) the 23 May meeting of the UN Advisory Committee
setting up the conference for the peaceful uses of atomic energy; (2)
the UN Disarmament Commission meeting which is to follow the London
disarmament talks and at which Menon is expected to advance again
India's moratorium proposal; and (3) the conference on peaceful uses
of atomic energy, scheduled for 8 August in Geneva, which Lodge fears
will degenerate into a controversy over the effects of H-bomb tests.
sovrET UNION
2. Soviet Northern Fleet submarine force apparently to be strengthened:
Comment: The 139 000-ton Neva is the
largest of 17 identified submarine auxiliaries in the Soviet navy. The
circumstances surrounding its voyage strongly indicate an attempt
to mask a strengthening of the Soviet submarine facilities in the North-
ern Fleet area. The Northern Fleet submarine force doubled in size
In 1954 and now includes 47 boats, of which at least 20 are new long-
range submarines.
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
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The USSR gave no advance notice of
the Neva's passage through the Bosporus, as required in the case
of warships by the Montreux Convention, and the vessel's forward
and after gun mounts had been removed, presumably to further the
illusion that it is a training ship.
It appears probable that the USSR will
send additional boats from the Black Sea or Baltic Fleet or the yards
at Gorki' via the inland canal system to the Barents Sea, from where
they can reach the Atlantic without transiting waters controlled by
another power.
FAR EAST
3. Japan may submit peace proposal at Bandung based on UN Charter:
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official has
revealed to the American embassy that
the Japanese delegation to the Afro-Asian
conference has been authorized to submit
a "peace declaration," designed to take the place of the "five principles"
of coexistence, if the situation called for it. The declaration would
use the phraseology of the United Nations charter.
The basic Japanese position also calls
for Japan to "serve as a bridge between East and West," to avoid
conference consideration of problems among speCific nations or
development of an independent Afro-Asian bloc, and to emphasize a
"broad global viewpoint," The ministry official stated, however, that�
Japan desired always to take the side of the free nations, and added
that Japanese delegates were prepared to consult with those from
Thailand, Turkey, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Comment: Political matters will be
handled by Foreign Office adviser Masayuld. Tani, an experienced
diplomat who, like most of the government representatives at the con-
ference, advocates close ties with the United States. Some members
of the delegation from the Diet, however, may try to take a position
at variance with the government, as indicated by the Left Socialist Party's
announcement that its member of the delegation would propose an
Asian economic conference to include Communist China.
15 Apr 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN page 4
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Japan looks upon the conference primarily
as an opportunity to re-establish top-level contacts. The delegation
will presumably be guided by recommendations of the Foreige*Ministry
working group to "refrain from taking a positive stand on delicate
issues."'
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Bao Dai directs Diem not to head Bandung delegation:
Bao Dai has directed Premier Diem not to
carry out his recently announced plan to
head the Vietnamese delegation to the
Bandung conference "because Ho Chi Minh
will not be going," according to a Viet-
namese official.
the French government had asked Bao Dai to prevent Diem's attend-
ing the conference, since Diem's anti-French feeling would be fanned
by the Arab delegates. Bao Dai himself explained his decision on the
ground that Diem would be unable to take a strongly antiwhite position
and would therefore be at a disadvantage with respect to the Viet Minh
delegation.
Comment: The motivation of both Bao Dai
and the French is probably piFtliTo prevent Diem's increasing his
own stature or diverting attention from the dispute with the Binh Xuyen.
5. Pathet Lao apparently to resume negotiations with royal government:
A Pathet Lao delegation numbering more
than 30 persons arrived in Vientiane on
12 April unexpectedly, American minister
Yost reports. Yost suspects that this
vo e- ace, like the cancellation of Viet Minh foreign minister Pham
Van Dong's visit, may have been the result of Dong's recent con-
versations with Nehru. Their arrival may also have been timed just
to precede the departure of the Laotian delegation to Bandung.
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Nrief' *we
The royal government meanwhile has
transmitted its memorandum to the International Control Commission
protesting Pathet Lao-Viet Minh violations of the Geneva accords and
dealing with the re-establishment of royal authority in the northern
provinces.
Comment: The course of the inconclusive
conversations between royal government and Pathet Lao representatives
has been marked by transparent Communist attempts to postpone any
political settlement while they consolidated their hold in the north.
Although the government's disillusion has grown, only recently has it
decided to take a more vigorous line regarding the Pathet Lao.
Communist willingness to resume nego-
tiations at this time appears to be another device to capitalize on
Premier Katay's vacillating nature and perhaps thereby to soften any
statements he might have planned to make at Bandung regarding Com-
munist intransigence and violations of the truce.
� LATE ITEM
6. Bulganin stresses future depends on Soviet-American relations:
In his 'conversation with Ambassador
Bohlen at the Soviet receptiom for the
Austrian leaders on 12 April, Premier
Bulganin disagreed with Bohlen's sug-
the Far East was the most dangerous in
the world today. He said that the absence of any "common language"
between the US and the USSR was the most basic and important dif-
ficulty. At the same time, in conversation with the British ambas-
sador, other presidium members were developing the thesis that Anglo-
Soviet relations would be easily improved were it not for the attitude
of the United States.
Bulganin told Bohlen that the Soviet stu-
dent editors would not "go along" with United States visa requirements
such as fingerprinting--which he described as "savage, and in-
compatible with human dignity. Bulganin appeared convinced that,
"if President Eisenhower were aware of the 'circumstances of this
case," the US executive branch could waive any requirement of law.
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Bohlen comments that this clearly reflects one of the real obstacles
in dealing with the Soviet dictatorship, the inability of Soviet leaders
to understand the operation of a government by law.
Bohlen informed Bulganin that he was
planning a visit to the "new lands' area and would be accompanied
on his trip by the embassy's agricultural expert. Bulganin asked if
the embassy really had someone competent in agricultural affairs,
and, in response to an affirmative answer, said "we could use him in
the Ministry of Agriculture" Bohlen reports that Bulganin showed
great interest and appeared surprised when informed that conditions
in the "new lands" paralleled those which once obtained in the dustbowl
areas of the United States.
Bohlen came away with an impression of
a great degree of uncertainty, even concern, in the Soviet government
at the general international situation. Bohlen reaffirms his previously
reported view that the present leadership, because of its collective
aspect, does not operate with Stalin's precision and certainty when
confronted with major problems.
15 Apr 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 7
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THE FORMOSA STRAITS
Report of the IA.0 Current Intelligence Group
for the Formosa Straits Problem
This report is based on information received in Washington
up to 1100 hours 14 April 1955.
1. Air photographs taken on 13 April indicate construction
of another new airfield on the mainland, 22 NM northeast of Quemoy.
Aircraft based here would be about 110 NM from the west coast of
Formosa. There are two other airfields in the Quemoy area:
Machiang (5, 500 ft. - gravel) and Kaochi (5, 550 ft. - gravel), No
major repair work has been noted at either site since construction
work was suspended on both in 1951. No information is immediately
available on the probable size or surface of the new field.
15 Apr 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN page 8
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MINA -FORMOSA SITUATIM
14 April 1955 ____ Selected road
0 150
Nautical mi les 1 510 100
I mill Railroad
Statute miles 0 50 100 150 .4. 4, � + 4.. .I... Proposed railroad
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� A OPERATIONAL
� A SERVICEABLE
� A UNKNOWN
� A OTHER
COMMUNIST AIRFIELD LEGEND
USEABILITY DESIGNATIONS
PRIMARY: considered most important in area, with prepared runway
MIS-IS, MIG-17, TU-4, IL-28 generally 5000 feet or longer.
I TU-2, IL-10, LA-9/ II, LI-2, etc.
� unknown
* Fields not considered capable of
supporting sustained operations
at present.
* NATIONALIST AIRFIELD
SECONDARY: aux 1 I iary or emergency bases, or fields of lesser
importance-runways generally less than 5000 feet.
OPERATIONAL: consistently used by military N civi I i an aircraft.
SERVICEABLE: capable of use by ai rc ra ft.
UNKNOWN: current status undetermined.
OTHER: under construction, abandoned, or unserviceable.
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PRESENTATIONS DIVISION
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