CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/05/12

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02058869
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: May 12, 1955

roomApproved for Release: 019/09T
c�2g7 //1"/OM
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
/Pr
�//
///
12 May 1955
Copy No. 94
et)/
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
Li DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
_ffyiEpr-ft
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17
'FA
CO2058869
rr"n CrINDE"T'
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Nee
SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Comment on new Soviet disarmament proposals (page 3).
2. Western delegates to UN disarmament talks comment on Soviet
proposal (page 3).
FAR EAST
3. japan reported seeking quick peace treaty with USSR (page 4).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Strong pro-Diem sentiment reported in former Viet Minh area
(Page 5).
SOUTH ASIA
5. Pakistan plans to curry favor of Afghan border tribes (page 5).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6.
EASTERN EUROPE
7. Rumanian air force probably acquiring jet light bombers (page 7).
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 8)
* * * *
12 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN , Page 2
rls r-v-Nr
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
',rim rronrr
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Now' Nrimf
GENERAL
1. Comment on new Soiriet disarmament proposals:
The Soviet omnibus proposal on.dis-
armament and the reduction of tension,
introduced by Ambassador Malik at the
London disarmament talks on 10 May,
probably represents Moscow's views on the range of subjects
which should be discussed at a four-power meeting of heads of
government
The statement did not include any sub-
stantive changes in Soviet positions on basic political problems in
Europe and 'Asia. It did, however, introduce several new features
in the Soviet disarmament plan, some of which were borrowed from
earlier British and French proposals and are likely, to appeal to West--
ern European neutralists and to those who fear a rearmed Germany.
These concessions leave unchanged Moscow basic opposition to
any effective system a international control.
Malik 's references to Germany suggest
that Moscow may seek to concentrate attention on an approach
featuring limitations on the armed forces of a divided germany
as part of a .wider European and global security and arms limita-
tion system.
The USSR probably anticipates an early
conclusion of the London disarmament talks and a transfer of
world attention to a four-power meeting "at the summit." This
omnibus proposal, combining limited Soviet concessions en dis-
armament with adamant opposition to West German rearmament,
is designed to seize the propaganda initiative and to present points
at issue between East and West in terms most advantageous to the
USSR.
2. Western delegates to UN disarmament talks comment on Soviet
proposal:
ules Moch, French delegate to the UN
sa,rmament subcommittee, sees the new
oviet disarmament proposal as representing
12 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
Tv% r c'r'rrrisr
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
41I-Nr) csitiist-briert
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
XIIMe NOV
quite a change. He said he hoped the Soviet proposal represented
a carefully prepared position which would not be promptly reversed.
British delegate Nutting welcomed Soviet
acceptance of the idea of force levels, but noted that the proposal
does not make clear where the USSR stands on the matter of con-
trols.
American ambassador Wadsworth cau-
tions that some aspects of the Soviet plan raise grave security
considerations for the 'United States.
FAR EAST
3. Japan reported seeking quick peace treaty with USSR:
improvement of commer-
cial relations by an agreement similar to the recent trade pact with
Peiping is a major Japanese objective. The Japanese,
hope to offset the deficit in their trade balance with Communist
China by a triangular exchange arrangement including the Soviet
Union.
Comment: The Japanese government
probably feels that the weakness�Uf its bargaining position vis-a-
vis Moscow precludes making the settlement of outstanding issues
�between Japan and the USSR a prerequisite for a peace treaty.
A small-scale trilateral trade arrange-
ment would be a logical development, if Japan could sell to the
12 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4
'Till Cv v-, rr,
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
pry r41. fRe r-, Aes sr.�-�
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
*awe
USSR increased quantities of goods and services�for example,
ships and ship repairs. Such an arrangement would aid Japan
in balancing its trade with the Sino-Soviet bloc.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Strong pro-Diem sentiment reported in former Viet Minh area:
An informal survey taken
early this month revealed
widespread pro-Diem sentiment in the
area of central Vietnaxn now being evacu-
ated by the Viet Minh. Those interviewed knew that Diem led the
national government even though they knew nothing else about it.
Comments about the premier were favorable. For these people,
�Diem personified one side, Ho Chi Minh the other.
In three different towns recently liber-
ated from eight years of Viet Minh control, thousands of persons
gathered in apparently spontaneous demonstrations on 2 and 3 May.
Banners called on the French to go home and asked for full support
for Diem and the abdication of Ba,o Dai.
the
Communists are badly discredited in central Vietnam for having
failed to fulfill promises, for persecuting large sections of the
populace, and for committing many violent acts prior to their
departure. It therefore believes that the Diem government already
has the support of two thirds of the people in the liberated zone.
SOUTH ASIA
5. Pakistan plans to curry favor of Afghan border tribes:
12 May 55
Interior Minister Mirza has said that
Pakistan is taking strenuous measures
to keep its military forces away from the
Afghan border and to avoid armed clashes,
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5
TN. " �-�-�
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Trgl qFCIRFT
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
"tome 'mime
Mirza added, however, that if Pakistan
closes the border after 15 May as a result of Afghan failure to make
satisfactory restitution for the looting of the Pakistani embassy in
Kabul on 30 March, the Pakistani government will smuggle kero-
sene, cloth, and food to selected tribal chiefs in Afghanistan. The
government feels that distribution of these items among Afghan
tribesmen will encourage them to believe that Pakistan is their
friend and the present government in Kabul their enemy.
Comment: Such a maneuver would almost
certainly be successful in preventing Afghan tribesmen from being
aroused by Afghan government propaganda against Pakistan. They
are already aware of the economic progress being made by their
fellow tribesmen inside Pakistan, and have displayed little animos-
ity toward that country in recent years.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
12 May 55
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 6
TnP creprr
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
�
r c .1 -a or I
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Nesio'
Nue
EASTERN EUROPE
7. Rumanian air force probably acquiring jet light bombers:
Comment:
Rumania had received two jet light
Domoers. tiungary and Czechoslovakia also began acquiring them
early this year. Poland began receiving them in 1953, and now has
approximately 75.
The authorized strength of a Soviet jet
� light bomber division is 96. It is assumed that a Rumanian divi-
sion would be of similar size.
12 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 7
TVID roDE"T'
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
TflP errprrr
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
WEEKLY SUMMARY
(11 May 1955)
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Formosa Straits Problem
1. Following the visit of Vice Admiral Pride and Major
General Chase to Quemoy on 7 May, Chief MAAG Formosa re-
ported that morale of the Chinese Nationalist garrison was high
and improvement was noted in its general alertness and attitude
during the past two months. However, the Nationalists were still
centering too much effort on permanent construction to the detri-
ment of training; the time lag for an airstrike in the Quemoy area
was two hours for jets and three hours for propeller-type planes;
and naval support was unsatisfactory because the local naval com-
mander ignored the requests of the Quemoy defense commander.
Operation of electronic and communication equipments was still
unsatisfactory.
2. The principal Communist offensive ground action con-
sisted of the firing of 161 artillery rounds against the Quemoys
on 5 May, possibly in retaliation for Chinese Nationalist bombing
and artillery fire in the Quemoy area.
Aerial reconnaissance of East China airfields was some-
what hampered by weather during the paSt week. Partial observa-
tion revealed continued construction on the five previously reported
airfields.
Chinese Communist PT boats recently reported in the
Matsu area may be armed only with light AA machine guns. If
so, the torpedo boat threat to the Nationalist navy in this area would
be removed.
3. Another Chinese Communist AA,A. division has been ten-
tatively accepted in the Foochow area opposite the Matsu Islands.
This division is believed to have been located in the vicinity of
Foochow for some time. An AAA division and a regiment were
previously identified in Fukien. Photos have shown large numbers
of AAA weapons in the Fukien coastal area.
12 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 8
PirlD C rffn IC"T
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
NNW` Nor
4. Chinese Communist comment on the Formosa Straits
situation declined in the past week. Since 4 May, Peiping has
avoided discussing the topic of Sino-American negotiations, but
has reiterated that the key to the Formosa problem is the with-
drawal of US forces from the area. The British Foreign Office
described the 9 May talk between Chou En-lai and British charg�
Trevelyan as "encouraging," but released no details other than
Chou's statement that he would "explain in due course" his Bandung
offer of negotiations with the US.
The Chinese Communists recently opened a "Liberate
Formosa" exhibit in Peiping, containing material demonstrating
US "aggression" and asserting that Formosa was "Chinese terri-
tory long before Columbus discovered America,"
5. Krishna Menon, probably Prime Minister Nehru's closest
foreign policy adviser, arrived in Peiping on 11 May. He recently
informed the US ambassador in New Delhi that the India government
is convinced of the sincerity of Chou En-lai's public proposal to nego-
tiates.with the US. The purpose of his visit is prkmarily to explore
Communist China's position. According to Menon, his directive is
to work for bilateral Sino-American talks limited to a cease-fire.
However, he has a personal plan for a settlement involving an
eventual trusteeship for Formosa responsible to Peiping.
12 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 9
-reP-soeitg-T-
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869
Now'
f C
I
\_
V__
KH'AuNAK4. _ \'
Be C � nelett ._
,�
22.42.:L
i 4.0.,-__
i
Lien. Keleeln
,
,o.\.5 .'"-
\
,,,,,,u�..n
--1__-----------..
\ C-----'-
.\
: ,........ -
- -----14.001a Lane
AN KH
e. Melon %line
thi,r:11.10
:
QUANGf
-4- . �7-
ne
) k
. .
,-
touOAFIC
OURANE 16-
N
I L A N
',.. 7 ,\,,,,/,--7-'-'.!,,,,
_1E1
\
,
,
---'1!.�.
\ i
� .... _
yrxm
1
lz
\ sr, \
\k- \ \
-
\ ( 013014
'`... . \
-;T ' (

-
5 ,
p.,���\,,.."--, , 3 '
--1) . .. // .-,
-.--------)- /
i
../
1
i . �
1,,., _I BARAVAN
, -,;_47
-1----/�
PLAT AU DES 1
. BICI1LOVENS 1
4
k ,
. � . � \
� r-L....T---- �
v���� ��-r. )
\
r,�JCP,-, , PL.TEA1
1,,,irru.
r-......

�N'
\
/ \ \ ,#
�
' / \
%
K
\
ti
-14-
-'7-204�" .../ SA
) le\
I.
.�\. f PUBSAT �
l.. .-
1 '
4-�-�-,
,
/ 9
- OMPONO THOM
HHHANG '-''.---74111
/
A
/
)
�
\ (
I�1 Gra KIHum '''''''.7
0�1-----�pe.2. 141. r, 1
-1
eikil PHNOM
4L'ar 1 .
\ / ,-,--------
I /
I 4) 12
�
1C�
14--z 1 i
c-
. SA. UrnbAll
'''''..-.1.
'
I
0
NAB ROAlc'\1? ii
il0 1LE 10-II',
Neer 0 � �
-..
A�,,,,,,,,,,,�. .
-- OMPONG
SPEU
I----
HO 0
1 HA TI N
: /

e',Te--e44
- -f -01 (
P . M (/' c�
3 .
' 'T
- k
I A%
1:IONG U . 'Ie
."'
�
...�
i
/ AN
"1 �.� '
i; iS)
/ -- - '
V
2a/--
\ -, � �
el a Se_ --
,,t010, 0 a GA CQUES
v$IBIAUT
\ l \.�.. .4
AN RANO
P ele n
� POINTE DE NE GA
I00
10
e ACH GI
i'I
,
LIEU
:-
A Mau
7 7
,
P01117E DE CA MAI.1
'Al 30
)
`P., �,.....,
1.,
SOUTH INDOCHINA
FORMER VIET MINH STRONGHOLD
12 May 1955
20 40 50 120 160
0 20 40 80 120 160
104
MS
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 CO2058869