CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/06/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03015171
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: June 30, 1956

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g OP SECRET,
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
30 June 1956
� Copy No. 103
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
! DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S OW.
NEXT REVIEW DATE.
AUTIOM
DA IREVIEVVER.
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET r
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CONTENTS
1. THE POZNAN RIOTS
(page 3).
2. SOVIET OFFICIAL OUTLINES VIEWS ON NEAR EAST TO
ISRAELI OFFICIAL (page 4).
3. FOUR BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADERS ASSASSINATED
(page 5).
4. "LIBERATION" CELEBRATION MAY BRING NEW DISORDERS
IN GUATEMALA (page 6).
5. PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT
(page 7).
6. PERUVIAN LABOR LEADERS ORDER COUNTRY-WIDE
STRIKES (page 8).
7. SOVIET OFFICIAL CLAIMS SOLUTION OF NUCLEAR AIR-
CRAFT PROPULSION (page 9).
30 June 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
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1. THE POZNAN RIOTS
The Poznan riots of 28 June, which
probably involved 15,000 persons, ap-
pear to have been brought under con-
trol,but conditions have not returned
to "normal". as claimed by the regime.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been im-
posed. Reports that riots occurred in
other cities remain unconfirmed.
The Polish government's admission of
29 June that as many as 38 were killed and 270 wounded in-
dicates the severity of the suppressive measures. By com-
parison, the East German riots of 1953 resulted in casualties
of 16 dead and 100 wounded in East Berlin and 40 dead and
250 wounded in Rostock and Warnem'uende.
Although the riots appear to have spread
spontaneously, some planning and organization probably pre-
ceded them. There had been rumors that a demonstration or
strike was to occur at Poznan's Stalin Locomotive Works, ac-
cording to an official of the American embassy in Warsaw who
returned from Poznan late on 27 June. Some of the demonstra-
tors carried arms and banners, and were prompt in blocking
the main streets into the city with trucks.
The regime has implied in a party newspaper
editorial of 29 June that the liberalization campaign will con-,
tinue. However, the riots may result in a slowing of the proc-
ess and a weakening of the position of liberal elements who
were reportedly gaining strength in opposition to the stricter
policies of party first secretary Ochab. Several Polish sources
in Warsaw have told the American erassy that the riots oc-
curred "too soon."
30 June 56
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2. SOVIET OFFICIAL OUTLINES VIEWS ON NEAR EAST
TO ISRAELI OFFICIAL
Comment
Mosdowls policy of playing down the Arab-
Israeli dispute and its unwillingness to
commit itself publicly to the Arab viewpoint on this issue was evi-
denced during Shepiloves tour of the Near East. In public, he
avoided the question entirely and, in private, reportedly urged
the Arabs to let time take care of the Palestine problem and ex-
pressed Soviet support for any UN move toward a peaceful settle-
men,t.
30 June 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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3, FOUR BURMESE 'OPPOSITION LEADERS ASSASSINATED
Four leaders of the pro-Communist
National United Front were shot and
killed by unknown assassins while en
route by motor vehicle to a town 80
miles north of Rangoon on 27 June, ac-
cording to a Rangoon broadcast. They were in the com-
pany of Thakin Lwin, believed to be the Front's top leader,
who apparently escaped death.
While the ambush may have been staged
by Karen or Communist insurgents, it seems likely that it
� was arranged by the government in an effort to demoralize
the Front before it could follow up the gains it registered in
the recent elections. Prime Minister Ba Swe and Deputy
Prime Minister Kyaw Nyein reportedly were involved in the
murder some years ago of Burma's Foreign Minister U Tin
Tut.
Whether the government is implicated
or not, the National United Front will almost certainly ac-
cuse it of being responsible. The Front ma attem t to
retaliate against members of the cabinet.
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4. "LIBERATION" CELEBRATION MAY BRING NEW
DISORDERS IN GUATEMALA
--ivevvdisorders may develop in Guatemala
in view of the decision of President Castillo
Armas to hold the "Liberation" celebration
about 1-3 July. Castillo told the American
ambassador on 28 June that failure to, hold
the celebration would be detrimental because
of the celebration's special significance for
his supporters.
Following so closely the student disorders of
24-25 June, the celebration would seem particularly susceptible
to exploitation by agitators and discontented students, and some
of Castillo's advisers are reported to have recommended against
having the celebration.
Castillo plans to request a "moment of
silence" during the celebration for the innocent students who
died as a result of "a Communist maneuver" on 25 June.
There are signs that the student strike
against the government may be losing strength; no new serious
disturbances have been reported. However, Castillo told the
ambassador he had refused to discuss any conciliatory meas-
ures with students until they have denounced the agitators re-
sponsible for the disorders earlier this week. The students
have been warned that prompt army action will break up new
demonstrations.
30 June 56
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5. PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT
Comment
the Venezuelan un-
derground of the outlawed Democratic Action Party is co-operat-
ing with exiled members of the party to assassinate President
Perez Jimenez, security chief Estrada, and other top govern-
ment officials as a means of setting off a popular revolution. The
objective may be to effect a return to power of the Democratic
Action Party under, its exiled leader Romulo Betancourt, a close
friend of President Figueres.
Figueres is believed to be granting not
only moral support to the movement, but probably is aware of
and condones the covert operations of Venezuelan exiles in
Costa Rica, and may be supplying financial aid to support the
revolutionary plans.
30 June 56
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Now,
6. PERUVIAN LABOR LEADERS ORDER COUNTRY-
WIDE STRIKES
abor unions are infuriated by govern-
ent arrests of leaders of the leftist,
on-Communist APRA party and have
rdered strikes throughout the country,
according to a joint telegram of 28 June from the American
armed forces attaches in Lima. Expecting a strike on 1 July,
officials of the American-owned copper mines have asked for
troops to protect the mines.
President Odria has resigned and
that a military junta will be formed by Saldias and Generals
Mendoza and Villacorta.
Comment APRA gained control of Peru's national
- labor confederation when the confedera-
tion was re-established in May after six years of inactivity,
and is believed to control about half the country's unions.
APRA probably also has sufficient appeal among student groups
to foment further unrest.
Reports vary on the composition of the
junta. While the senior Peruvian military are generally re-
puted to oppose APRA, General Mendoza, who is included in
all lists of the prospective junta, is reported to have a follow-
ing among APRA members.
30 June 56
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7. SOVIET OFFICIAL CLAIMS SOLUTION OF NUCLEAR
AIRCRAFT PROPULSION
During the visit of the American air
force delegation to the USSR for Air
Force Day ceremonies, Khrushchev
made the statement that "when we have
atom -powered planes we will show you that too." First
Deputy Minister of Defense Sokolovski, standing nearby,
then said, "the problem of atomic power for aircraft has
been solved, it only remains to build it:'
Comment It is not possible from this statement to
determine whether work has progressed
beyond feasibility studies or whether specific design fea-
tures of a propulsion unit have been completed. However,
it has been estimated that the USSR's nuclear-powered air-
craft program will remain in the research phase for several
years. Soviet development of a nuclear-powered aircraft
with useful military characteristics would be a major effort
and is unlikely to be completed until several years after the
end of the research phase.
Aircraft, such as the BISON are suitable
for use as flight test vehicles, though not adequate in their
present design for military use as atomic-powered aircraft.
30 June 56
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 29 June)
Egypt has protested the flight of an Israeli
plane over the Sinai Peninsula and the El Auja demilitarized zone.
According to one press report, Egyptian antiaircraft batteries
fired on the plane. (Press)
Israeli prime minister Ben-Gurion reportedly
has told UN truce chief Burns that Israel cannot accept "continued
aggressions" by Jordan. Ben-Gurion also asked Burns to require
Jordan to comply with a provision of the armistice agreement which
allows Israelis access to the Wailing Wall in the Old City of Jeru-
salem, now controlled by Jordan, and normal use of Hadassah Hos-
pital and Hebrew University on Mount Scopus outside the city. These
subjects have not been brought up formally by the Israelis for sev-
eral years.
Israel also has complained again to the UN
Security Council about Egyptian interference with Israel-bound ship-
ping passing through the Suez Canal. This interference was the
subject of a Security Council resolution in 1951, which stated that
the canal should be free to the vessels of all countries. The new
protest, together with the one Ben-Gurion reportedly has made about
Jordan, is further evidence that the Israeli government intends to
insist on what it regards as its rights even more vigorously than it
has in the recent past. This attitude is in large part a further re-
flection of Israeli disappointment with the council resolution of
4 June, from which the clause urging a "mutually acceptable set-
tlement" was dropped at Soviet and Arab insistence. (Press)
Egyptian naval officers are undergoing submarine training in Poland,
a previous report that in mid-March two Soviet submarines, two
Skoryy-class destroyers and four T-43-class mine sweepers had
30 June 56
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been observed berthed in the harbor of Gdynia. It is possible
that these submarines, like de- rovers and minerraft before them
are to be transferred to Egypt.
The American embassy in Damascus has been
reliably informed that Jordanian chief of staff Nuwar visited Syria
during the Shepilov visit there for talks with Syrian chief of staff
Shuqayr. The two staff chiefs may have discussed the possibility
of Jordan's acquiring Soviet bloc arms.
30 June 56
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