CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/10/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179157
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: October 23, 1956

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23 October 1956
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CLASS. CHANGED 10: TS S
NEXT IREVIEW DATE.:
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DATE:
BEVIEWES
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2),'
7,/7/1/141
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CONTENTS
1. POLES RALLY TO SUPPORT GOMULKA
(page 3).
2. REACTION TO POLISH DEVELOPMENTS
(page 4).
3. EAST GERMANY READY TO MEET RESISTANCE WITH
FORCE page 5).
J
4. FRENCH SEIZE FIVE ALGERIAN REBEL.LEADERS
(page 7).
6/. JORDAN'S LOWER HOUSE ELECTIONS
6. PROSPECT
HONDURAS (page 9).
(page 8).
NEW MILITARY JUNTA IN
7. JAPANESE REACTION TO MOSCOW AGREEMENTS
(page 10).
13. PHILIPPINE COURT RELEASES 43 HUKS
23 Oct 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELISITUATION
(page 12)
(page 11).
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lime+00" .fterviS
1. POLES RALLY TO SUPPORT GOMULKA
Widespread popular support for Gomulka
has been publicly expressed throughout
Poland in the wake of his reported
defiance of the Kremlin. Rallies,
especially of youth groups, have demon-
strated the popular enthusiasm for
Gomulka and his program of continued
liberalization. Some meetings called
for the ouster of General Witasewski,,,
political commissar of the Polish armed
forces, and Wiktor Klosiewicz, head'of
the Pcilish trade unions, as well as other
leaders identified with the pro-Soviet
m n e olish hierarchy, A rally at the military
technical academy in Warsaw attended by officers, soldiers,
students and workers stressed the unbreakable unity of
the soldiers, the working class, and the nation. Other
rallies condemned anti-Semitism and ariti=intellectualism.
However, the regime has reaffirmed its
friendship with the USSR and its solidarity with other
socialist states. Trybuna Ludu, organ of the Polish central
committee, has carried an editorial warning Western
nations not to interfere in internal Polish affairs. It
reaffirmed the Polish-Soviet alliance as the cornerstone
of Polish policy and added that democratization of internal
life and further political and ecOnomic reforms do not mean
a departure from socialism or a weakening of solidarity
with other socialist countries. An attempt to turn a
Krakow student rally into an anti=Soviet demonstration
was defeated, according to Warsaw radio.
The American embassy in Loildon .
reports that developments in Poland have produced a
"terrific impact on the Poles in exile" and that even the
most anti=Communist among them do not conceal their
pride as anti-Russian, patriots. General Anders, leader
of the Poles in exile, remarked to a friend, "What a
courageous little man Gomulka
23 Oct 56
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2. COMMUNIST REACTION TO POLISH DEVELOPMENTS
Yugoslavia and one Soviet Satellite--
Hungary--have come out openly in
favor of the new and independent Polish
regime of Wladyslaw Gomulka.
Communist China has taken no public position on develop-.
ments in Poland, but Gomulka has reportedly received a
telegram of congratulations.for his appointment as Polish
party first secretary from Chinese Communist leader Mao
Tse-tung,
The official organ of the American Com-
munist Party has lined up in support of Poland. The Hun-
garian-party, which has remained only a step behind
Poland in liberalization, undoubtedly feels that Gomulka's
return facilitates its own drive for "democratization and
independence." Nationalist-inclined student and writers'
groups in Hungary, already restive and making demands
on the regime, are stepping up their proliberalization,
proindependence agitation. Hungary's counterpart to
Gomulka, ex-premier Imre Nagy, seems certain to return
to power.
The Yugoslays have devoted heavy and
enthusiastic coverage to the Polish events. They have
given full play to the Polish replies to the Pravda attacks
and restated the Trybuna Ludu comment that these discus-
sions are not "anti-Soviet attacks" but efforts to develop a
friendship on the "principles of equality, sovereignty, and
genuine brotherhood."
In their press coverage of the Polish
developments, the East German, Czechoslovakian, Rumanian,
and Bulgarian parties have adopted the entire Soviet line
and have featured Pravda's blast at the Polish press. DiS-
sidence in Czechoslovakia, which flared during the spring
but which has been extinguished by the heavy hand of the
Moscow-oriented Czech regime, may, however, be rekindled
by the fast-moving events in Poland and Hungary.
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Al A./ Lol 11
a. EAST GERMANY READY TO MEET RESISTANCE
WITH FORCE
Comment on:
East German officials are jittery
over the prevailing uneasy situation
in the country which they blame on
RIAS broadcasts and Western press
reports of strikes and disorders at Magdeburg and other
places in East Germany. They have alerted the security
forces, the Kampfgruppen�armed workers' militia--and
in at least one instance, army troops to put down any overt
resistance quickly and ruthlessly. Special duty offices
o_perating on a 24-hour basis have been established at re-
gional party headquarters throughout East Germany0
the situation is seriouE.
"Tomorrow we may have to shoot those who lay down their
work." the East Germans would not
handle the situation as the Poles did at Poznan and would
not wait for a "few thousand of us to be slaughtered first
and then have the tanks come and open fire...."
there had been a minor work stoppage at the
Karl Marx plant about two weeks ago, but it
was quickly settled without difficulty or violence.
The tense situation in Poland has
undoubtedly increased apprehension in East Germany and
23 Oct 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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kir LL1tE 1
Iriormir
probably influenced the decision to order all security
forces to be on the alert. The riot-control capabilities
of the East German police and security forces have been
improved since the riots vi 17 June 1953, and it is clear
that the regime will use force ruthlessly to stamp out any
opposition.
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4. FRENCH SEIZE FIVE ALGERIAN REBEL LEADERS
The capture of five Algerian rebel
leaders by the French on 22 October,
while giving the French an immediate
advantage over the nationalist movement in Algeria, will
add new complications to France's relationship with
Tunisia and Morocco. The Tunisian government has al-
ready protested the arrests and reportedly has warned
that the action has "produced a situation approaching iwar:"
The five leaders, among them Mohamed
ben Bella, have long been sought by the French. Most(df
them have lived in Egypt in recent years. They were on
their way from Rabat, Morocco, where they had conferred
with Sultan Mohamed ben Youssef, to Tunis, to participate
in further conversations between the sultan and Premier
Habib Bourghiba. Their plane apparently vas intercepted
over the Mediterranean and forced to land at Algiers.
The French ran be expected to play up
the arrests in their efforts to pacify Algeria. However,
the real leaders of the resistance movement are believed
to be inside Algeria and probably are not among The five ar-
rested. Algerian resistance is likely to increase, and L
chances of a negotiated settlement have been further re-
duced. The French may try to induce Ben Bella to indicate
the basis on which negotiations might be undertaken with
rei3istanc leaders inside Algeria.
October to consider the situation.
The cabinet mr in Paris early on
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Nuirtme
5. JORDAN'S LOWER HOUSE ELECTIONS
The elections for Jordan's 40-seat Lower
House on 21 October strengthened the
position of extreme nationalists on both
the left and the right. Anti-Western can-
didates are reported to have captured
more than half of the seats, and the
majority of those elected advocates
abrogation or modification of the Anglo-
Jordanian Treaty. Less than half of the 400,000 Jordanians
who were eligible actually voted in the elections, which
passed without incident.
The moderately anti-West National So:-
cialists have emerged as the largest single party with at
least 10 seats. The pro-Communist "National Bloc" coali-
tion won at least three seats, giving the extreme left its
strongest parliamentary position in any Arab state. The
leftist, proEgyptian Arab Resurrection Party, which was
the most active in the campaign, won two seats. The far
right is represented by two supporters each of the Moslem
Brotherhood and the Liberation Party. The largest bloc of
seats continues to be held by independents most of whom are
anti-Western.
The new parliament is to convene on 25
October. King Hussain has been urged by conservative
interests to dissolve the legislature ,if he should find it::
actions objectionable, to suspend the constitution and estab-
lish an authoritarian regime. Such a move could provoke
serious unrest and threaten the position of the monarchy.
The election was hailed by the Egyptian
press and radio as a victory for Arab unity and a defeat for
Britain and Iraq. Egypt mounted a major propaganda effort
to impress the Jordanian public before the election, and will
send General Amer, commander of Arab joint
Amman this week to conclude a military pact.
23 Oct 56
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6. PROSPECTS OF THE NEW MILITARY JUNTA IN
HONDURAS
The military junta which seized the
Honduran government on 21 October
condemned the "shameful" acts of the
ousted Lozano regime and pledged it-
self to transfer power after "a short
time" to a civilian government repre-
sentating "true democracy, peace and
justice." According to an unconfirmed
report, the junta has already nullified
the 7 October constituent assembly election, which the
former regime had won by force and fraud.
The members of the junta, General
Roque Rodriguez, air force chief Colonel Hector Caraccioli,
and Major Roberto Galvez, probably acted mainly from
patriotic motives. Ex-president Juan Manuel Galvez, the
father of Roberto Galvez, retains the loyalty, of top army
and air force officers and will probably be an important
behind-the-scenes figure. The cabinet cliosen by the junta
contains respected and capable men, including at least one
member of the opposition Liberal Party.
In attempting to oversee the return to
constitutional government, in abeyance for almost two years,
the junta will face the same dilemma which bedeviled its
predecessor--a free election would probably mean victory
for the Liberal Party, The Liberals, out of power for over
20 years, are distrusted by many entrenched political and
military figures and there is some evidence of Communist
infiltration in the party.
The junta apparently consolidated its
position quickly, and immediate challenges to its authority
are not expected.
23 Oct 56
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7. JAPANESE REACTION TO MOSCOW AGREEMENTS
Initial Japanese reactions--as reflected
in the press�to the Moscow agree-
ments restoring diplomatic relations
between Japan and the USSR are cool
but acquiescent, according to Ambassa-
ison. notes that a large majority of the ruling
Liberal-Democratic Party executive board supports the
agreements, apparently reflecting a conviction among
party members that no feasible alternative is possible.
Allison observes that business leaders
appear doubtful that trade with the USSR will expand
significantly, but they hope for increased business with
Communist China and other bloc countries. The Socialists
hailed the signing of the declaration and have pledged
their support for the ratification of the agreements.
Comment
A majority of Japanese political leaders
and the public probably feel the agree-
ments Prime Minister Hatoyama has concluded are the
best that could be achieved under the circumstances, and
support for the accords appears sufficient to prevent a
major schism in the government party. Socialist support
for the Moscow agreements would assure ratification
even should a considerable number of Liberal-Democrats
withdraw from the party in opposition to the settlement.
23 Oct 56
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8. PHILIPPINE COURT RELEASES 43 HUKS
The granting of bail to 43 former Commu-
nist rebels in a Philippine provincial
court is a further setback to the govern-
ment's efforts to eliminate the local Com-
munist threat. The court's action was
based on a Supreme Court ruling in July' nullifying the charges
under which most of the Huks were convicted, and probably
foreshadows the release of more than 100 other Huks now
petitioning for bail. President Magsaysay fears the eventual
release of up to 4000 and has stated this would "put the
country back where it was in 1949."
Attempts by Magsaysay and ranking mili-
tary officials to force a reversal of the .Supreme Court action
and to tighten the laws on rebellion have tended to antagonize
the Philippine-Congress. Some congressmen, including the
chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Filipino Activities,
favor amnesty for Huks now that the threat of armed rebellion
is substantially removed, and resent the army's role in non-
military aspects of the anti-Communist campaign.
The release of the imprisoned Communists
may substantially enhance Communist capabilities in the
party's present "legal struggle," particularly should bail be
extended to the former politburo leaders. Philippine security
officials consider the greatest danger to be the possible en-
couragement of rural sympathizers, who had previously been
fearful of supporting the Communist cause.
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1 LIU Edil,UtEd I
�ftriple
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 21 October)
A squadron of British 'Venom jet fighers
is now based at Amman, according to US air force headquarters
in Europe. This squadron may be the 249th RAF squadron of
15 aircraft which moved out of Jordan to Cyprus last August
at the height of the Suez crisis.
Et _
he Soviet freighter. Smela was sighted at the Yemeni port
o alif unloading crates whi to contain arms. Mili-
tary officers were present.
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