CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/04/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179873
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: April 9, 1955

Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03179873,
120-P SECRET
9 April 1955
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Copy No,
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
I DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE A-20
AUTH: HR 70-2'
DATE:eh/Z.0 REVIEWER: _
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
/
94
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%elf
SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet jet heavy bombers sighted over Moscow (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Viet Minh air force training in China reported (page 3).
3. Viet Minh foreign minister to meet Laotian prime minister (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Iran faces period of government instability (page 5).
5. Britain offers Israel guarantee to supplement 1950 Tripartite
Declaration (page 5).
6. Comment on new gains for Sudanese independence movement
(page 6).
EASTERN EUROPE
7. Majority of Hungarian Communist leadership reportedly against
Nagy ouster (page 7).
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 8)
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SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet jet heavy bombers sighted over Moscow:
An observer sighted three BISON (Type 37)
four-engine jet heavy bombers over Mos-
cow on 6 April, according to.the American
air attach�The aircraft were apparently
practicing for the annual May Day aerial
parade. The unique engine-wing and wing tip pod configuration
made identification nearly certain.
Comment: An earlier report had men-
tioned six aircraft. This is the first observation of more than one
jet heavy bomber at a time although on several occasions since
mid-February Soviet jet heavy bombers have been observed singly.
on the ground, or taking off from Fill airfield on the outskirts of
Moscow. This airfield adjoins Aircraft Factory 23, which is be-
lieved to have participated in the development of jet aircraft and to
have been associated with the construction of the prototype jet heavy
bomber first seen in July 1953.
The observation of three aircraft in a prac-
tice fly-by would indicate that the USSR is pursuing plans to develop
a jet heavy bomber capability and may mean that pre-series produc-
tion of this aircraft was begun in order that further tests could be
made.
It has been estimated that series produc-
tion of a Soviet jet heavy bomber will begin in the third quarter of
1955, and that jet heavy bombers will be introduced into operational
units early in 1957.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2, Viet Minh air force training in China reported:
9 Apr 55
Viet Minh pilots and airmen are being
trained in air force schools in South
China, according to a Vietnamese ref-
ugee who allegedly talked with a recently
returned air trainee.
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Candidates for the training program,
which has been under way for at least one year, are selected
from the Viet Minh army. Upon return from the Chinese schools,
the airmen and pilots are assigned to antiaircraft units pending
the formation of a Viet Minh air force.
Comment: There have been persistent
reports during the past few years that China has been providing
air training for Viet Minh personnel. In January
directives had been issued to screen all Viet Minh units for
suitable personnel.
Although the Viet Minh is currently pro-
hibited by the Geneva agreement from establishing an air arm,
it is probable that preparations for forming one following a final
political settlement are being made. It is possible that, as in the
case of North Korea, the Communists are creating a Viet Minh
air force in China for future transfer to North Vietnam.
3. Viet Minh foreign minister to meet Laotian prime minister:
he American minister to Laos has re-
eived reliable information that Viet
*nh foreign minister Pham Van Dong
ill stop off at Vientiane on 12 April on
his return from he Communist-sponsored New Delhi conference.
Through the good offices of the Indian consul general, he is sched-
uled to be received by Laotian prime minister Ka,tay and Foreign
Minister Phoui.
The French charge expects Pham to fol-
low the line that Laos had better become reconciled with the Viet
Minh because South Vietnam is as good as won, France is pulling
out, and the United States is far away.
Comment: Pham is likely to urge Katay
to make important concessions to the Pathet Lao,
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Although Katay has demonstrated con-
siderable vacillation in dealing with the Pathets� there is no doubt
that he considers the Viet Minh ultimately responsible for Laos'
grave internal security problem. He is likely, therefore, to be
cautious toward any proposal made by Pham.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Iran faces period of government instability:
The Shah's appointment on 7 April of
Minister of Court Hossein Ala as prime
minister presages a period of political
instability in Iran.
Ala probably will be only a figurehead
and the Shah will, in effect, be his own prime minister, a job
for which he is ill-equipped. Ala is reported to have accepted
the post with reluctance, as he is ill and planning to go to Europe
for medical care. A report that the post of minister of court is
being held open for Ala suggests that his is only an interim ap-
pointment.
Iranian politicians and officials will be
preoccupied in the coming weeks with maneuvers to assure them-
selves and their followers of a preferential place in the new gov-
ernment. Aspirants for the premiership can be expected to
bring pressure on the Shah to be chosen as Ala's successor.
The duration of political instability will
be determined primarily by the Shah's willingness to appoint a
capable prime minister who is acceptable to and who will co-
onerate with the Maths rather than try to dominate it.
5. Britain offers Israel guarantee to supplement 1950 Tripartite
Declaration:
9 Apr 55
Britain has informed Israeli prime
minister Sharett of its willingness to
enter into some new form of guarantee
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as part of an over-all Arab-Israeli settlement covering frontiers,
Jordan waters, and refugees, according to the British assistant
under secretary of state. In making this offer, Britain reaffirmed
its obligations under the 1950 Tripartite Declaration.
Britain has also suggested to Egyptian
prime minister Nasr that prior to his departure for Bandung on
8 April he leave instructions that Egypt apply every possible
restraint in Gaza.
London plans to suggest that France send
similar cautionary messages to Egypt and Israel.
Comment: Britain has been especially
disturbed by the Gaza incidents because they have set back its
efforts to obtain an Arab-Israeli settlement.
In the 1950 Tripartite Declaration, the
United States, Britain, and France pledged to prevent the viola-
tion of frontiers or armistice lines in the Middle East.
6. Comment on new gains for Sudanese independence movement:
The decision of the Sudanese National
Unionist parliamentary party on 8 April
to reverse its original stand and sup-
port full independence rather than union
with Egypt is the most serious reverse
Cairo has suffered in its campaign to
unite the two countries.
The National Unionists' action follows a
report from the American liaison officer in Khartoum that Ali
Mirghani and Abdul Rahman al Mandi--leaders of the rival reli-
gious sects which dominate Sudanese politics--may be near an
agreement on co-operating to achieve independence.
These events, together with the an-
nounced breakdown on 7 April of Egyptian-Sudanese talks on dis-
tribution of the Nile waters, are likely to have serious repercussions
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in Cairo. The Nasr regime is committed to obtain union and will
have to make strenuous efforts if it is to retrieve its position in
the Sudan before the Sudanese finally decide on their future status
late this year or early in 19560
EASTERN EUROPE
7. Majority of Hungarian Communist leadership reportedly against
Nagy ouster:
Hungarian Workers' Party first secretary
Matyas Rakosi has been unable to remove
Premier Imre Nagy from office because
Nagv has the support of a large majority
of the party membership,
Rakosi was un-
able to gain the support of more than 20 percent of the party cen-
tral committee in two attempts to draw up a resolution castigating
Nagy, and finally issued it without approval.
Comment: This report, if true, indi-
cates that despite Soviet support of Rakosi in this dispute, the
conflict in the Hungarian party leadership is still serious and
that more drastic measures�possibly including a large-scale
purge--may be needed to resolve it.
Earlier reports have stated, however, that
the USSR has counseled moderation in the handling of Nagy, and
that the Soviet leaders do not want a radical change in Hungarian
policies or an open struggle for power in the Hungarian leadership.
The Kremlin's continuing support of Rakosi
seems confirmed by the fact that Pravda printed an article on 3
April by Hungarian first deputy premier Hegedus reaffirming
Rakosi's resolution and by Voroshilov's reference in his 4 April
speech in Budapest to the correctness of this decision.
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THE FORMOSA STRAITS
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Formosa: Straits Problem
This report is based on information received in Washington
up to 1100 hours 8 April 1955.
1. Aircraft of the 1st Naval Air Division at Shanghai en-
gaged in a fairly high level of training activity during the third
week in March.
A study of bomber type activity by this unit indicates
that prior to aggressive action in the past its aircraft have been
noted in unusually high levels of target and bombing practice.
This was true immediately preceding the action against the Tachens
in January
Although we cannot overlook the possibility that this ac-
tivity is a prelude to further Communist offensive action, it may
well be nothing more than a continuation of training operations.
9 Apr 55
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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