CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/06/12

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03189005
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
September 20, 2019
Document Release Date: 
September 26, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 12, 1955
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15722743].pdf159.08 KB
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CO3189005 FWff 12 June 1955 Copy No. 99 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUtvlENT NO. NO CHANGE IN CLASS. CI DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE. 20/0 AUTH: HR 70-2 DATE..9/J/80 REVIEWEF Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 I 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) cor89005 ////744 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 I vi XL. Neer Novi SUMMARY GENERAL 1. Ecuador apparently to receive Czech arms (page 3). FAR EAST Establishment of major Chinese Communist naval command at Foochow indicated (page 4). WESTERN EUROPE 3. West German parliament seen delaying Adenaueris recruitment bill (page 4). 4. Western European Union council drags feet on Saar (page 5). * * * * 12 June 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 '41101 GENERAL 1. Ecuador apparently to receive Czech arms: Comment: Completion of a contract for 3,000 carbines, valued at $188,00G would be the first significant Czech shipment of arms to Latin America since the spring of 1954 when arms were shipped for the Arbenz regime in Guatemala. Czechoslovakia was especially inter- ested in shipping "military techniques"--presumably arms--to Ecuador. Previously the Czechs had been reluctant to ship arms, despite Ecuador's interest in procuring them. Interest in developing trade and expand- ing relations with Ecuador probably account for Prague's change in attitude. There has been virtually no trade between the two countries for more than two years. Czechoslovakia, the Soviet bloc's major supplier of arms to underdeveloped Western countries, shipped spare parts for riflea_arLthmachine guns to Ecuador in 1952. 12 June 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 NNW �wow' FAR EAST Establishment of major Chinese Communist naval command at Foochow indicated: Comment: This development clearly im- plies that primary responsibility for Communist naval operations in the Formosa Straits rests with authorities at Foochow. It also suggests that naval strength at Foochow will eventually be in- creased considerably. progress has already been made in developing minor base facili- ties. The Communists are expected to increase the scale of their naval operations in the Formosa Straits area, in- cluding the protection of coastal shipping, when new air bases are completed and air defenses strengthened. WESTERN EUROPE 3. West German parliament seen delaying Adenauer's recruitment leading members of all coalition parties in the Bundestag feel that passage of the government's bill to provide for early re- cruitment of armed forces cadres will be difficult, if not impossi- ble. The Bundesrat, or upper house, has already returned the bill, complaining that it is unclear on such important matters as civilian control of the armed forces. 12 June 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4 rm.+ 0.� 11.1 /1 1.9 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005 4�00 Comment: The present parliamentary opposition is mainly to the-ha,stily drafted bill presented by Chancellor Adenauer and not to the government's long-range rearmament program. Many West German leaders feel that legislation covering the formation of the armed forces cadres should be drafted with greater care, since these caderes will have a, vital influence on the future development of all the armed forces. Nevertheless it appears likely that the parliament will approve the recruitment bill, with some modifications, before its summer recess. 4. Western European Union council drags feet on Saar: t the first meeting of the permanent ouncil of the Western European Union, eld on 9 June in London, no progress as made on the choice of a commis- sioner to exercise WEU's authority in the Saar because neither the French nor the West Germans wished to discuss the matter, American officials in London report. Furthermore, no candidates were proposed for the commission to supervise the prospective referendum on the French-Germa,n agreement of last October on the status of the Saar. Comment: Appointment and activation of the supervisory commissitn will be necessary for inauguration of the three-month campaigning period which, under the French- German agreement, must precede the planned referendum. Both the French and Saar governments have hoped that this referendum could be held no later than September. 12 June 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5 re, "-a t-v Approved for for Release: 2019/09/17 C03189005