CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/11/28

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03169431
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: November 28, 1956

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CW�1/711/74:
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
28 November 1956
Copy No. 112
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This document contains classified information affecting
the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws, US Code Title 18, Sections
793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an un-
authorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States
or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detri-
ment of the United States.
/01:"Zo zTOr �57
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CONTENTS
1. THE SYRIAN POLITICAL SITUATION
(page 3).
2. TURKEY'S CONCERN OVER SYRIA
(page 4).
3. JORDAN DECLARES INTENTION TO ABROGATE ANGLO-
JORDANIAN TREATY (page 5).
4. TURKEY RECALLS MISSION CHIEF FROM ISRAEL (Top
(page 7).
5. BRITISH AND FRENCH POSITION ON SUEZ SETTLEMENT
(page 8).
6. HUNGARIAN DIPLOMAT FEARS MORE EXTREME SOVIET
REPRESSION (page 9).
7. POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS REPORTED LIKELY IN
RUMANIA AND BULGARIA (page 10).
8. IrTinosT,Av-s7VIET IDEOLOGICAL FIGHT CONTINUES
(page 11).
9. LIBYA PLANS REVISION OF TREATY WITH BRITAIN
:page 12).
10. NEW SOVIET JET ATRCRAFT DELIVERIES TO AFGHANISTAN
REPORTED ) (page 13).
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I. THE SYRIAN POLITICAL SITUATION
The "national coalition" cabinet of
Syrian premier Asali appears about
to be replaced by a cabinet dominatec
by leftists and probably headed by
Khalid al-Azm. Such a development
would bring nearer foreign interven-
tion in Syria.
Khalid Bakhdash, Syrian
Communist leader, and Akram Hawrani,
leader of the leftist Arab Socialist Resur-
rection Party. (ASRP), tried to bring
down the Asali government.
ASRP Foreign Minister Bitar called for
a takeover by a military group
would retain Asali and President Quwatli in office.
Quwatli himself asked the Syrian army strong
man, Lt. Colonel Sarraj, to mount a coup against the govern-
ment.
Arrests of opposition elements in Syria
continue. While Asali ridiculed reports of wholesale arrests
of narliamentary deputies and army officers, he admitted
that four deputies have been arrested and
tnat a warrant was out for the leader of the Druze, Emir Hassan
al-Atrash. Asali also indicated that some army officers had
been arrested.
Meanwhile, a vitriolic Syrian press and
radio campaign charges Iraq with smuggling arms into Syria
and promoting an antileftist coup with the co-operation of
Britain, France, Turkey, and Israel. The Syrian leftists
appear to be seriously concerned that their moves to power might
be prevented by outside action.
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2,. TURKEY'S CONCERN OVER SYRIA
Turkey intends to present to the North
Atlantic Council the "very serious view"
which it takes of the situation in Syria
and point out that a hostile Syria would
outflank NATO and imperil the Baghdad
pact. Turkey is also considering a
public statement warning the USSR a-
gainst establishing a base in Syria,
Meanwhile, Turkey is strengthening its
armed forces on the Syrian frontier. The American embassy
in Ankara, however, believes that Turkey is not likely to take
military action without previously consulting the United States,
NATO and the Baghdad pact.
While Turkey normally has preferred
collective action to counter Soviet efforts in the Middle East,
the Turkish government regards current developments in
Syria as a direct threat and may feel forced to intervene.
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3. JORDAN DECLARES INTENTION TO ABROGATE
ANGLO-JORDANIAN TREATY
Jordan's Prime Minister Nabulsi, in a
policy statement to the lower house of
the legislature on 27 November, declared
that his government intends to abrogate
the Anglo-Jordanian treaty, terminate
British base rights, and ask withdrawal of British forces
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28 NOVEMBER 1956
190 290
300
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from the country. An actual date of implementation was,
however, not given. On 22 November Cairo had urged
Nabulsi to delay abrogation of the treaty until foreign troops
had withdrawn from Egypt.
Nabulsi stated that his government had
agreed in principle to accept financial support offered by
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria, which would replace the
British subsidy.
Nabulsi also announced that his govern-
ment would co-operate with other Arab countries in strength-
ening Jordan's armed forces, "particularly the air force!'
He reaffirmed that Jordan refuses to recognize or make peace
with Israel and would "reject all projects for liquidation of
the Palestine question!'
Sabotage efforts against British installa-
tions in Jordan have been stepped up, and the Jordanian army
is believed to have taken over some unguarded British mili-
tary stockpiles. In another move to reduce British influence,
Nabulsi is reported to have asked for withdrawal of the Iraqi
brigade group now north of Mafraq.
King Hussain and Army Chief of Staff Nuwar,
who is now suspected by Egypt of collaboration with the West,
recently told that they would attempt to
delay severing the tie with Britain. British financial aid to
Jordan totals about $33,000,000 annually, including $26,000,000
in military aid. British military forces now in Jordan include
a reinforced tank battalion task force of about 1,400 in the Maan-
Aqaba area, and an equivalent number of air force personnel
with 17 Venom jet fighters at the new Mafraq air base.
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4. TURKEY RECALLS MISSION CHIEF FROM ISRAEL
Turkey's withdrawal of its minister
from Israel is probably intended to
demonstrate its solidarity with Iraq,
to increase Iraqi prime minister Nun's
prestige, and to attract further Arab
support for the Baghdad pact. The
action probably is the result of consid-
erable pressure on Turkey during the
recent Baghdad meeting of .Moslem
'members of the pact and may have been offered by Turkey
as an alternative to assuming a strong position against
France and Britain. Baghdad,
immediately inquired following the return of the Turkish pre-
mier to Ankara as to whether the Turkish minister was being
recalled from Tel Aviv. The Turkish action was presented
publicly as a rebuke to Israel for its attack on Egypt.
Turkey may also believe that this action
against Israel would preclude charges of Turkish-Israeli
collusion in the event Turkey became embroiled in any ac-
tion against Syria.
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5. BRITISH AND FRENCH POSITION ON SUEZ SETTLEMENT
The recent British and French restate-
ments of position on settlement of
the Suez Canal issue present qualifica-
tions unacceptable to Egypt.
French foreign minister Pineau informed
the US UN delegation of a draft plan for a
settlement evidently designed to concili-
ate French public opinion, but which would
� e una o Nasr. The plan calls for an Egyptian au-
thority charged with daily operation of the canal and an as-
sociation of users to collect and distribute the tolls. Clear-
ance of the canal and its future development would be inter-
nationally financed, perhaps through the International Bank.
British foreign secretary Lloyd was in-
structed to tell Secretary General Hammarskjold that Britain
is prepared to establish a definite schedule for withdrawal
of its troops, according to Permanent Under Secretary Kirk-
patrick. Before announcing a terminal date for evacuation,
however, the British want an assurance that Nasr will allow
clearing operations to proceed under UN auspices with all
"available" equipment. British and French equipment now
at the canal or on the way there evidently is sufficient to per-
form the entire clearing operation without further additions.
Kirkpatrick alleges that discrimination
against Britain is already evident in the UN and that he is ap-
prehensive that it will continue "in relation to further steps
necessary in the Middle East!' Ambassador Aldrich believes
that Kirkpatrick clearly accepts the possibility that matters
in the Middle East could develop "so that such a drastic step
as British withdrawal from the UN would be inevitable!'
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6. HUNGARIAN DIPLOMAT FEARS MORE EXTREME
SOVIET REPRESSION
if
the Hungarian government is una le to
bring the general strike to an end during the coming week,
the USSR may be forced to eliminate Hungary as a nation.
even if the general strike ended, the
government would be unable to provide the necessary raw
materials to get back into production.
Comment
Kadar addressed the Hungarian people
on 26 November in the most threatening
and harshest terms since becoming premier. He probably
fears that the USSR will resort to more extreme measures
if his government is not soon able to gain control. The
Soviet deportation of ex-premier Nagy, however, has vir-
tually stripped Kadar of any chance of gaining a popular
following.
Kadar gave scant reference in this speech
to wide-sweeping economic and political concessions. He
said that counterrevolutionaries must be "hunted down and
rendered harmless" and openly attacked Nagy and "antidem-
ocratic" elements in offices and factories. This suggests a
possible purge of the revolutionary and worker councils es-
tablished during the past month.
Worker resistance continues high and a
regime leader, Minister of State Marosan, admitted on 25
November that the workers' councils are "more or less
masters of the situation" and that these organizations, in
almost all cases, have the "masses at their disposal."
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70 POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS REPORTED LIKELY IN
RUMANIA AND B L
Popular demonstrations agains e
regime will begin in Bulgaria shortly
before the end of the year, after which
they will start in Rumania, where or-
ganized resistance exists,
\ Trouble in Rumania,
\will not begin in Bucharest or the large
cities, but will start in the countryside where peasant rela-
tions with the agricultural authorities are at a breaking
point. Continued heavy agricultural quotas, along with lack
of food and fuel, are the main cause of discontent
Comment
Popular unrest in the two countries has
reached a high point and local antiregime
demonstrations are possible.
The American legation in Bucharest con-
tinues to report that although outward calm prevails, the
Hungarian situation and increasing privation have led to the
growth of unrest among the populace, particularly in the coun-
tryside, and popular uneasiness has been manifested by some
worker and student demonstrations.
Similar economic privations exist in Bul-
garia, where the regime has demonstrated increasing concern
over popular discontent.
The current talks in Moscow between
Rumanian and Soviet leaders will undoubtedly include discus-
sion of Rumanian unrest and methods to combat it. The
Rumanian leaders may appeal for increased Soviet economic
aid in order to alleviate privation during the winter.
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8. YUGOSLAV-SOVIET IDEOLOGICAL FIGHT CONTINUES
Yugoslavia's leading paper Borba on
27 November vigorously challenges
Pravda's most recent editorial on the
Soviet-Yugoslav controversy. Borba
accuses Pravda of failing to offer any
comment on Tito's charge that the bureaucratic system is
the "root of Soviet difficulties!' It condemns the attack on
Yugoslav economic ties with the West as interference in Yugo-
slavia's affairs and an attempt to "undermine its inter-
national prestige."
Borba rephrases Tito's charge that the
Soviets have failed to apply the principles of equality in
their relations with the countries of Eastern Europe, and
declares that anti-Soviet feeling in these countries and
the threat of rebellion will not disappear until the Soviets
do so. The "old conceptions of the socialist camp are of
necessity linked with conceptions of the hegemony of the
leading country," according to Borba.
The Borba article, in an apparent effort
to thwart any Soviet efforts to isolate Yugoslavia, solicits
independent views from other socialist states on the issues
raised and quotes Peiping's remarks on 1 November regard-
ing damage to socialist solidarity from "big-nation chauvinism!'
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9. LIBYA PLANS REVISION OF TREATY WITH BRITAIN
par
forces are of
to accelerate
centers.
Comment
Prime Minister Ben Halim plans to
press for revision of the Anglo-Libyan
defense treaty of 1953 along two main
lines. He wishes to achieve a reduc-
tion of British troops in Libya with a
se in size of the Libyan army until the two
approximately equal size. He also wishes
the removal of British troops from populated
British military action against Egypt has
resulted in a considerable upsurge of anti-
British attitudes in Libya, including some sentiment in the
Libyan cabinet to abrogate the treaty of 1953. British con-
cern over a reported Soviet military aid offer has already re-
sulted in initiation of talks with the Libyans on implementa-
tion of the British promise to help expand the Libyan army of
1,500 to 5,000 by 1961. Britain is supplying $11,400,000 in
aid this year under the treaty. In view of the strategic need
for a base in Libya, where about 9,000 British troops are now
stationed, London will probably make some concessions.
Ben Halim can probably control the extremists
in his government if the British are responsive to his proposals,
but can be expected to make tougher demands if rebuffed.
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10. NEW SOVIET JET AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES TO
AFGHANISTAN REPORTED
as delivered 100 jet aircraft
to Afghanistan,
There are reportedly 65 at Mazar-
i-Sharif and 35 at Kabul, the majority in crates.
35 Soviet technicians are working on the new air-
field at Mazar-i-Sharif. The main runway of the new field
is to be about three miles long, concrete surfaced. Radar
installations, 10 hangars and three housing areas are also
to be constructed.
Comment
This
remain unconfirmed. However,
it is possible that the USSR is supplying more aircraft to
Afghanistan than the 11 to 17 jets and 48 trainers flown into
Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul in late October, and that the Soviet
Union is to play an extensive role in training and organizing
a new Afghan air force.
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