CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/11/13

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02996965
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: November 13, 1955

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE Pd CLASS.
217
Li DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS 5 C
NEXT REVIEW DATE. 2010
AUTH: HR 70.2
DATE:k VAEVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
,
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CONTENTS
1. ARGENTINE PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT RESIGNS (page 3).
2. THREAT OF CIVIL WAR RECEDES IN BRAZIL (page 4).
3. ORBIT SPOKESMEN EMPHASIZE DOOR STILL OPEN
TO GERMAN SETTLEMENT (page 5).
4. REACTIONS OF WEST GERMAN BUNDESTAG DEPUTIES
TO SOVIET POSITION ON REUNIFICATION (page 6).
5. LEADERSHIP COMPROMISE PAVES WAYS FOR JAPANESE
CONSERVATIVE MERGER (page 7).
6. COMMENT ON SENATOR LAUREL'S DECISION TO LEAD
ANTI-MAGSAYSAY FORCES (page 8).
7. EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF GIVES VIEWS ON
FOREIGN POLICY (page 9).
8. LIBYA MAY ACCEPT ARMS FROM EGYPT SOON (page 10).
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 11)
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1. ARGENTINE PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT� "RESIGNS"
The 'iresign'ation''of Argentine prbv-
sional president Lonardi on 13 Novem-
ber appears to have been precipitated
by strong military and civilian protests
against his appointing as ministers of
interior and justice two men associated
with extreme nationalist Catholic groups.
Previous appointments from this sector had already antag-
onized the more liberal elements. Although there was no
show of military force, the appointments of 12 November
prompted night long meetings of military and top officials,
a noisy demonstration, and the resignation of most of the
members of the National Consultative Council made up of
representatives of various political parties.
Lonardi's successor, 52-year-old General
Pedro Aramburu, is a career soldier and was appointed
chief of staff of the army after the September revolt which
ousted Peron. He has been described as moderate, "com-
pletely democratic" and free from nationalist leanings. The
vice president, Admiral Isaac Rojas, and the army, navy,
and air ministers will continue in office, according to an offi-
cial broadcast. Sweeping changes in other cabinet posts are
expected.
After taking his oath of office on 13 Novem-
ber, Aramburu explained the change of chief executive in
conciliatory tones apparently designed to appease Lonardi
supporters. Although Aramburu's address carefully stressed
the unity of the armed forces, the army will probably try to
increase its relative influence over the administration. In
contrast with the junior officers' strong support for Lonardi,
the top army generals are said to view some of Lonardi's pol-
icies on economic and labor matters as rash and ill-considered.
Also, they believe capable civilian advisers have been discour-
aged from joining the government by Lonardi's pledge that no
official will participate in the next elections.
Considerable skill will be required of the
new administration to reduce interservice rivalries and to
alleviate the country's pressing economic and labor problems.
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20 THREAT OF CIVIL WAR RECEDES IN BRAZIL
Ousted Brazilian president Carlos Luz
and powerful Air Minister Eduardo
Gomes abandoned their resistance
early on 12 November to the new gov-
ernment installed on 11 November by
General Teixeira Lott, according to
press sources. The threat of civil war
posed by the original adherence to Luz
of part of the armed forces and at least
two important state governors was thus
substantially diminished.
The new Brazilian president, Nereu
Ramos, told the nation in a broadcast on 12 November that
his brief term would not permit any administrative accom-
plishments and that he planned to devote his time in office
to re-establishing "an atmosphere of mutual understand-
ing!' Although Nereu Ramos opposed President-elect Kubits-
chek in the October election, he is now expected to work for
a peaceful inauguration of Kubitschek on 31 January 1956.
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3. ORBIT SPOKESMEN EMPHASIZE DOOR STILL OPEN
TO GERMAN SETTLEMENT
Comment
Soviet charg�udriavtsev in Vienna
told an Austrian official on 9 November
that the USSR would never agree to a
unified Germany within NATO. He
hinted that the Soviet position at Geneva
on Germany was not necessarily final,
however, and said he could imagine a
possible solution along the lines of the
Austrian settlement.
These statements appear intended to off-
set the impression created by Molotov at
Geneva that the USSR has relegated German unity to the distant
future. The USSR probably hopes that statements of this kind
will convince the West Germans that talks with the East Ger-
mans and the USSR can bear fruit toward unification based on
neutrality, in line with the recent statement of V. A. Zorin,
who will be ambassador to Bonn, that negotiations with West
Germany on unification are "entirely possible."
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4. REACTIONS OF WEST GERMAN BUNDESTAG DEPUTIES
TO SOVIET POSITION ON REUNIFICATION
According to American observers in
Bonn, Bimdestag deputies in Adenauer's
coalition believe that the German popu-
lation will grasp the general implications
of the Soviet position on reunification and will support the
Western stand at Geneva. Adenauer's Christian Democratic
Union (CDU) deputies are not particularly concerned over the
prospect of public pressure for closer relations with East
Germany. In a meeting of the CDU foreign policy committee
working group, which discussed this problem on 10 November,
a large majority favored the toughest possible position in deal-
ings with the German Democratic Republic. CDU leaders re-
portedly feel that a continuation of the military build=up on
'schedule is the logical reply to Molotov's position.
they are convinced
now that the abandonment of German membership in NATO
would not be enough to bring about reunification.
Comment
The Soviet position on reunification may
serve to stimulate more support for re-
armament legislation in the Bundestag and may assure the pas-
sage of the law transferring a substantial part of the Border
Police into the new army during its initial training stages.
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5. LEADERSHIP COMPROMISE PAVES WAY FOR JAPANESE
CONSERVATIVE MERGER
The success of the proposed merger of
Japan's conservative Democratic and
Liberal Parties on 15 November appears
assured as a result of Liberal Party pres-
ident Ogata's agreement to compromise on the leadership of
the new party.
The compromise provides that Hatoyama
will remain as prime minister, and that election of the new
party's chief will be postponed until next spring. In the in-
terim, a committee composed of Hatoyama, Ogata and pos-
sibly two other senior party officials will collectively direct
the new party.
The opposition of former prime minister
Yoshida's Liberal faction still poses a problem, but pressure
of rank and file party members for unity and the probability
of offers of posts in a new cabinet may persuade Yoshida's
supporters to accept the compromise.
Conviction that the merger will succeed
has prompted Hatoyama to set the resignation of his cabinet
for 21 November, the day before the extraordinary Diet ses-
sion is tentatively scheduled to convene. The Diet is then
expected to re-elect Hatoyama as prime minister. The en-
suing cabinet will probably include Foreign Minister Shig-
emitsu to emphasize Japan's friendship for the United States
and firmness toward the USSR.
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6. COMMENT ON SENATOR LAUREL'S DECISION TO LEAD
ANTI- MAGSAYSAY FORCES
Although' the landslide victory of the
Nacionalista Party in last week's
Philippine elections all but wiped out
Liberal Party representation in the senate, Senator Jose
Laurel's 12 November statement that he intends to lead
the opposition ensures that :President Magsaysay's pro-
gram will continue to encounter heavy fire from old-guard
politicians. Laurel's defection may foreshadow the forma-
tion of a new ultranationalist political party which would be
strongly inclined to be neutralist in international affairs.
In opposing Magsaysay, Laurel can
count on the support of Senator Claro Recto, whose re-
election he strongly supported, and a handful of other
senators. He will also probably be backed by a sizable
bloc of both Nacionalistas and Liberals in the lower house,
of which his son is speaker. Although these forces are
distinctly in the minority, they are financially strong and
are likely to become a more cohesive onnosition than
presently exists.
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7. EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF GIVES VIEWS ON
FOREIGN POLICY
Egyptian minister of interior Zakaria
Muhieddin took the position that Soviet
'interest's in the Middle East are compatible with those of
the Arab states, whereas those of the United States are not.
Muhieddin believes the USSR
is unlikely to engage in subversion or clandestine activity
in Egypt in the immediate future because it has too much
to gain by continuing its present friendly course.
ocal Communists are beginning to support the Egyp-
Ian regime, but felt there is no danger of growth of the
Communist parties while the regime remains successful.
Muhieddin estimates that Israel will
probably use force in the next few months to gain limited
objectives which would be useful for the government's do-
mestic position, but that it will not venture on a preven-
tive war. However, in the event that such a war takes
place and the West supports Israel. Eaynt would Eratefully
accept any Soviet offer to help.
Comment Muhieddin is also head of the Egyptian
general intelligence agency, and his
views presumably carry some weight with the other leaders
of the Cairo regime.
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8. LIBYA MAY ACCEPT ARMS FROM EGYPT SOON
Libyan prime minister Ben Halim has
no alternative but to accept Egypt's
arms offer unless acceptable counter-
proposals are made by Britain or the
United States,
Egypt had offered "anything Libya
wants" without charge and "with no strings attached."
American ambassador Tappin,
commented that if Libya ac-
cepted such an offer from Egypt, the British military
mission in Libya and the Iraqi training mission would be
forced to withdraw in favor of Egyptian missions, Egypt
would gain control of the Libyan army, and American air
base rights could be jeopardized.
Comment Prime Minister Ben Halim has prom-
� ised to take no action on the Egyptian
offer before 15 November. He has stated that he wants
to continue the British military program, but that if Britain
does not meet his arms requirements he will have no polit-
ical basis for rejecting Egypt's offer.
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 13 November)
No significant military activity has been
reported on the Arab-Israeli borders. American military
attaches in Cairo and Damascus report no large-scale ac-
tion is anticipated there, and the large number of Sabbath
leaves granted in Israel appears to indicate no major activ-
ity on the Israeli side for the next several days. The at-
tach�n Israel notes, however, that the existence of very
large dumps of petroleum products, ammunition and other
supplies in the Negev area makes it possible for the Israeli
defense force to resume the initiative on very short notice.
The Arab states' reaction to British prime
minister Eden's 9 November speech urging new efforts to
settle Arab-Israeli problems has been varied. The Egyptian
foreign minister is reported by the British to have taken a
"constructive" line in commenting on the statement, while
Prime Minister Nasr said it was the first time that a West-
ern statesman had taken a "just attitude" and mentioned the
United Nations resolutions on the question. The Lebanese
prime minister, however, admitted only grudgingly that he
could see any step forward in Eden's proposals.
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The Jordanian under secretary of foreign
affairs dismissed Eden's direct approach to the problem as
offering small hope, but urged the desirability of Jordan's
early adherence to the Baghdad pact instead. Both British
officials in Jordan and the Turks= on the basis of reactions
to President Bayar's visit�apparently feel that Jordan can
be brought into the Baghdad arrangements soon.
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