CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/02/01

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03157462
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: February 1, 1955

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1 February 1955
Copy No. 7 9
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: _2-..�.4:21.9
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: ..1S.J.41,0 REVIEW:.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CODE WORD MATERIAL
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOUTHEAST ASIA
1, Viet Minh may submit formal complaint on General Collins'
mission (page 3).
2. Nehru determined to use Indian influence to maintain Cambodian
independence (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Comment on Israel's reaction to Egypt's execution of two Zionist
spies (page 4).
LATE ITEM
4. Imminent Chinese Communist offensive operations in Tachen area
seen possible (page 5).
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1 Feb 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
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SOUTHEAST AMA.
1. Viet Minh may submit formal complaint on General Collins' mission:
There is a strong possibility that the Viet
Minh will shortly submit a formal com-
plaint to the International Control Com-
mission concerning General Collins' mis-
sion, according to a Canadian commission member. The complaint
would probably charge the French with permitting American mili=
tary advisers to enter South Vietnam to train the Vietnamese army.
It would also charge that French adherence to the Manila pact guar-
antee-for free Vietnam is incompatible with the Geneva agreement.
Comment: Such a move would appear to
be primarily designed for propaganda. The Geneva agreement pro-
hibits the introduction into Vietnam of "any troop reinforcements
and additional military personnel" but does not forbid rotation of
those already assigned. Although under the truce terms South Viet-
nam may not adhere to any military alliance, it presumably is free
to accept such protection as is extended by the Manila pact signa-
tories without violating the letter of the agreement.
In early December, the Viet Minh sent
similar complaints to Eden and Molotov, in their capacity as co-
chairmen of the Geneva conference. The British refused to ac-
cept the complaint saying that it should be addressed to the Inter-
national Commission.
2. Nehru determined to use Indian influence to maintain Cambodian
independence:
Prime Minister Nehru is determined
that Indian influence shall be used to the
utmost to assist Cambodia to maintain
its independence, according to the Indian
chairman of the truce commission. He said his government was
happy to see Indian and American policy coincide with respect to
this endeavor.
1 Feb 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
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Comment: The state visit of the Cambo-
dian king to India on 16 March will be a tangible expression of
India's concern with the future of Cambodia, which New Delhi re-
gards as within its sphere of influence. The Indians are not likely,
however, to take any action in Cambodia that will openly offend the
Chinese Communists.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Comment on Israel's reaction to Egypt's execution of two Zionist
spies:
ory measures ag
states.
Egypt's execution on 31 January of two
of the condemned Zionist spies may in-
duce the moderate Shared government
to yield to popular clamor for retalia.-
gypt which might also involve other Arab
Ambassador Lawson reported from Tel
Aviv on 29 January that the death sentences imposed by the Egyptian
court were generating progressively more serious popular resent-
ment, with a resultant public tendency to condemn the government's
policy of moderation. Lawson also reported that Israeli moderates
fear extremist elements may take drastic action against members
of the present government or inaugurate a series of border raids.
The Sharett government appears capable
of retaining control over any popular demonstration or demand for
an all-out war with the Arabs. Recent statements by Sharett and
Foreign Ministry officials, however, suggest that the government
is likely to yield to extremist and "activist" groups by permitting
border reprisals.
1 Feb 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4
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LATE ITEM
4. Imminent Chinese Communist offensive operations in Tachen area
Seen possible:
Eight Chinese Communist LSrs, loaded
with an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 fully
armed troops, left Tsingtao and moved
south toward Shanghai on I
Comment: If the report of the troop-
laden landing craft is true, it wourd seem that the targets for any
Communist invasion attempt would be the two major islands in
the Tachen group--Upper and Lower Tachen. The number of troops
reported aboard these vessels approximates current estimates of
the strength believed necessary to capture the Tachens. The 209000
to 309000 troops are far in excess of the number required to over-
run the smaller lightly defended islands in the Tachen group.
Chinese Nationalist
report that the Communists increased
their bomber strength in the area on 29 January by transferring as
many as 28 TU-2 piston light bombers from the Tsingtao area to
Shanghai. Such a move would raise the number of bombers in the
Shanghai area to about 150.
1 Feb 55
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