CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/11/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02996967
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: November 16, 1955

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. ff
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2 0 0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: 0615 REVIEWER:
AIL ta
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. NEW ANTI-BRITISH VIOLENCE ON CYPRUS (page 3).
2. INDONESIAN CABINET WINS CONFIDENCE VOTE (page 4).
3. DIEM GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL RECOMMENDS PLACING
OF FRENCH FORCES UNDER SEATO (page 5).
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 6)
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1. NEW ANTI-BRITISH VIOLENCE ON CYPRUS
Comment on:
There was a new outburst of anti-
British violence on Cyprus on
14 November, springing from a
Cyrus court's refusal to reprieve
a ypriot Greek who was sentenced
to death for killing a policeman. It
is likely that some terrorism will
continue as long as the issue of self-determination is un-
resolved.
Negotiations between the British and
nationalist leader Archbishop Makarios on the future status
of Cyprus appear to be making some progress. There is a
strong possibility, however, that the terrorist organization
EOKA and other extreme nationalists will repudiate the
archbishop if he agrees to any plan which does not grant
the island immediate self-determination. The British ap-
pear willing to discuss only gradual moves toward self-
determination.
The Greek government has announced
its intention to continue its support for self-determination
of Cyprus. Athens also stated that it would appeal again to
thp TTnitpd NThtions if no solution were reached by January.
16 Nov 55
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2. INDONESIAN CABINET WINS CONFIDENCE VOTE
Parliamentary approval of the
Indonesian cabinet on 15 Novem-
ber by a vote of 135 to 2 makes it
likely that Prime Minister Harahap
will stay in office until the new parliament elected in
September is seated next spring,
Rather than face a legislative defeat,
the opposition, numbering 99 deputies, chiefly of the
National and Communist Parties, boycotted the 15 Novem-
ber session of parliament.
The National Party, if it shows mark-
edly increased strength in the 15 December elections for
a constituent assembly, may make a determined effort to
unseat the cabinet before the new parliament convenes.
Should election returns be about as evenly distributed as
they were in the 29 September parliamentary elections,
the Nationalists will probably demand only, that the new
parliament meet as soon as possible.
The Masjumi-led Hara4ap cabinet
may be expected to continue a friendly policy toward the
West and to implement its anticorruption and trade-
improvement programs.
16 Nov 55
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3. DIEM GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL RECOMMENDS PLACING
OF FRENCH FORCES UNDER SEATO
The South Vietnamese under secretary
of state, in a memorandum on the with-
drawal of French forces from Vietnam
and the continuation of the 1954 Geneva
cease-fire agreements, has recommended retention of a
French Expeditionary Corps in Vietnam under the SEATO
framework and continuation of French responsibilities un-
der the armistice. If the French withdraw all their forces,
however, the Vietnamese would assume responsibility for
logistical and security support of the International Control
Commission.
Comment The cease-fire agreement for Vietnam
places various responsibilities on the
high commands in both zones. The Diem government has
already indicated a readiness to assume the military re-
sponsibilities under the cease-fire agreement, but this im-
plies no willingness to enter into political negotiations with
the Viet Minh.
The French are seeking a clear-cut trans-
ferral to the Vietnamese of all responsibilities for main-
taining the cease-fire.
16 Nov 55
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700. 15 November)
o sigriiiicant military activity' has oc-
curred during the past 24 hours. Israel, however, is giving
increasing evidence of irritation over incidents along the
Jordan border, and is engaged in antiterrorist activity on a
country-wide basis. The chairman of the Israeli-Jordan
Mixed Armistice Commission believes the Israelis may be
planning to carry out their threat of "serious repercussions"
against Jordan for the recent dynamiting of Israeli houses
near the Jordan border. The Israeli chief of staff told the
British ambassador that Israel expects an increase in the
number of incidents on the Jordan border, and laughed in dis-
belief when the ambassador replied that the Arab Legion was
doing its best to prevent trouble. An Israeli-inspired inci-
dent on the Jordan border appears likely.
major items of Soviet bloc military equipment
have arrived in Egypt by the end of this month.
will
deliveries up
to the end of November would include 34 MIG aircraft, 100
T-34 medium tanks, and 20 JS-3 heavy tanks.
These quantities presumably cover items
previously delivered as well as those scheduled for the rest
of this month. The forthcoming shipments, like those al-
ready made, can be expected to arrive by sea at the Egyp-
tian port of Alexandria, where special security arrangements
are in force.
16 Nov 55
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Press reports of 15 November from
Damascus that Syria is in the final stages of concluding an
arms purchase deal with Czechoslovakia, similar to the
Egyptian-Czech deal, may be true.
France may deliver
12 Mysteres to Israel at an early date in addition to the 12
Ouragans already delivered.
The American embassy in Rome reports
that press statements that the Egyptians had signed a con-
tract to buy 30 new Vampires are inaccurate, but that the
Saudi Arabians were trying to purchase 25 surplus Vampires
and have them reconditioned.
In reference to British prime minister
Eden's offer to mediate the Arab-Israeli dispute, Prime Min-
ister Ben-Gurion has denounced it as promoting the "dismem-
berment" of Israel. (Press)
A high Israeli Foreign Ministry official
in Geneva said on 14 November that Israel was determined to
bring about the downfall of Egyptian prime minister Nasr.
This statement repeats one made by Foreign Minister Sharett
on 13 October. In another statement which is probably part
of Israel's continuing psychological pressure campaign, the
official said that if Israel's demands for arms and a security
guarantee from the West are not granted, Israel intends to
trap Nasr into a fight by sending a warship up the Gulf of
Aqaba. If the Egyptians fired on it, Israel would then reply
in kind, claim Egypt was the aggressor, and demand the as-
sistance of the West.
16 Nov 55
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