CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/12/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03020466
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: December 20, 1955

Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020466
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO .27
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. ier
11 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: .201 0
AUTH: HF 70-2
DATE:
EVIEWER:
Offi e of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. JAPANESE QUESTION WISDOM OF DEPENDENCE ON US
(page 3).
2. THE BULGANIN-KHRUSHCHEV VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN
(page 4).
3. SUDAN DECLARES ITSELF INDEPENDENT (page 5).
4. JORDAN TO HOLD NEW ELECTIONS (page 6
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
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Iroi 1.4 VII 1.44
NMI
1. JAPANESE QUESTION WISDOM OF DEPENDENCE ON US
Ambassador Allison reports that recent
international events adverse to Japanese
interests have resulted in a strong un-
dercurrent of criticism in Japan because
of the country's "overdependence" on the United States. He
cites the rejection of Japan's UN membership, the unresolved
Rhee line dispute with South Korea, the lack of response to
Japan's request for a relaxation of controls on trade with Com-
munist China, and the American decision to locate the re-
gional nuclear research center in the Philippines as primary
factors in undermining the American position.
Allison foresees an increasingly independ-
ent effort to bolster Japan's international position, especially
by strengthening relations with the Asian-African bloc. He
also anticipates greater pressure for concessions to Moscow
in the London negotiations which are expected to be resumed
next month. He believes the government's resistance to left-
ist pressures for normalization of relations with the Orbit
will decrease.
Comment Japanese leaders continue to maintain
that co-operation with the United States
is the keystone of Japan's foreign policy, but sentiment for
policies increasing Japan's maneuverability in international
affairs can be expected to grow both within the government
and in opposition political circles.
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I NO. A 4n .0
NNW
THE BULGANIN-KHRUSHCHEV VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN
The five-day visit of the Soviet leaders
in Afghanistan ended with the publica-
tion of three documents which provide
for an expansion of the Soviet Union's ties with Afghanistan.
According to a joint communiqu�the
USSR has offered Afghanistan $100,000,000 in long-term
credits with the final terms to be agreed on later. Soviet
and Afghan officials will discuss a number of projects in
which aid could be used, including the development of agri-
culture, reconstruction of the Kabul airport, and construc-
tion of hydroelectric stations, irrigation projects and motor-
car workshops. The size of the proposed Soviet credit lends
weight to reports that the USSR has offered to take over the
Western-financed Helmand Valley project and to pay off Afghan
contract obligations.
A second declaration emphasized Soviet-
Afghan agreement on a number of international issues, in-
cluding the Chou-Nehru "five principles," UN membership
for Communist China and the settlement of Far Eastern
questions "in the interest of peace." The declaration only
implied Soviet support for Afghanistan on the Pushtoonistan
dispute with Pakistan. Unlike the declarations signed with
India and Burma, there was no condemnation of military
blocs.
The Soviet-Afghan neutrality and non-
aggression treaty of 1931 was reaffirmed in the third docu-
ment.
The Soviet leaders have attempted to
give the Afghans greater confidence that they are in a posi-
tion to follow a neutral course and to stand up to Pakistan
and the West. Afghan prime minister Daud has been further
strengthened domestically as a result of the Soviet visit.
(Concurred in by ORR)
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3. SUDAN DECLARES ITSELF INDEPENDENT
The declaration of independence adopted
by the lower house of the Sudanese par-
liament on 19 December will probably
be accepted by both Britain and Egypt,
the two powers which have governed the
country under a condominium. The reso-
lution is expected to be approved by the
Sudanese upper house on 22 December.
If accepted by the two powers, the declaration presumably will
make unnecessary the international commission which was
to have supervised the self-determination process.
The movement in favor of an immediate
declaration of independence, with a concomitant request to
Egypt and Britain for recognition, seems to spring from a
recent change of Egypt's policy on the Sudan. The change
apparently is aimed at salvaging what good will remains fol-
lowing Egypt's failure to block Sudanese independence. The
British indicated several weeks ago that they would agree to
a "speed-up" of this kind.
The haste with which the independence
resolution was drawn up and passed was probably due largely
to Prime Minister Azhari's desire to get the credit for spon-
soring the move. Azhari's cabinet has been under heavy pres-
sure to retire in favor of a "national" coalition. Unless
Azhari agrees to a coalition,The opposition parties may still
attempt to overthrow him during the budget debate in parlia-
ment scheduled for 20 December.
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4, JORDAN TO HOLD NEW ELECTIONS
The dissolution of the Jordanian
parliament and the decision of Prime
Minister Majali to make way for a
aretalcer government will postpone for at least several
months any decision on Jordan's adherence to the Baghdad
pact. Under Jordan's constitution, new parliamentary elec-
tions and the convening of a new parliament must take place
within four months of dissolution.
The decision to hold new elections was
the result of rioting against Majali, a young and able pro-
British politician who was appointed primarily to arrange
for Jordan's signature of the Baghdad pact. The rioting,
which the Arab Legion appears to have barely prevented
from getting completely out of hand, should now subside.
The next few months will be used by
Egyptian, Syrian and Saudi Arabian agents to influence the
elections and to lay the groundwork for new demonstrations
against any Jordanian leader, including King Hussain, who
appears to favor joining the pact. Further trouble can be ex-
pected during the elections, particularly in West Jordan,
where the bulk of the population consists of Palestine refu-
gees who identify a favorable attitude toward the pact with
softness toward Israel.
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11,
itari
*isse
THE ARAB -I SRAE LI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 19 December)
Aside from a minor clash between Egyptian
and Israeli forces south of Gaza on 19 December, no further mil-
itary action has been reported.
UN truce chief Burns, who met with Syrian
chief of staff Shuqayr on 16 December to discuss the 11-12
December raid and the 22 October raid, said that Shuqayr ap-
peared reasonable and willing to await the result of United Na-
tions action. The army attach�n Damascus reports that 11
Syrian tanks have moved down from the Syrian-Lebanese border
to the Syrian-Israeli border, but signs of mobilization are absent.1
The Syrian cabinet on 18 December approved
a bill extendin com ulsory military training from 18 months to
two years.
the Israelis, while "not un-
aware of the risks of preventive war," have decided to display the
utmost severity henceforth in the reprisals to which they are
prompted by enemy raids." Israeli actions, if
frequently repeated, might well prompt the Araba in turn, to
counteractions, and these would end in large-scale conflict, the
responsibility for which would be shared by both sides, "and this
before it was possible for the distribution of soviet arms tn have
its full effect."
a.auktssaaor tsyroaae in uairo believes that
if Western action in the Security Council on the Tiberias incident,
and on the issue of supplying arms to Israel, does not make it
clear that the West is as concerned about Israeli aggressive ac-
tions as the Arabs are, the West cannot expect Egypt again to follow a
moderate course, and should anticipate speedy involvement of
other Arab states in what could easily become a full-scale war
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