CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161845
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: February 21, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161845
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21 February 1956
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CURRENT
DOCUMENT NO. 1 8
NO CHANGE IN CLASS CSt
INTELLIGENCE El DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2-010
Copy No. 103
BULLETIN AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: ty XI% to REvIEvvER:
3.3(h)(2)
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.5(c)
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CONTENTS
L GREEK ELECTION RESULTS
(page 3).
2. TITO'S MESSAGE TO SOVIET PARTY CONGRESS
(page 4).
3. EAST GERMANS MAY SEAL OFF WEST BERLIN ON
1 May (page 5).
4. CHOU-SIHANOUK JOINT COMMUNIQU�INDICATES
EVENTUAL RECOGNITION (page 6).
5. EX-PREMIER SEEKING ASIAN SUPPORT FOR NEUTRALIST
SOUTH VIETNAM (page 7)0
6. BURMESE HOPEFUL OF GETTING AMERICAN AID
(page 8).
7. COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTED INTERESTED IN
CZECH ARMS (page 9).
21 Feb 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 10)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. GREEK ELECTION RESULTS
Preliminary results of the Greek
parliamentary elections indicate
that Prime Minister Karamanlis
will probably have a small majority
in the new parliament. However,
he polled about 200,000 fewer popu-
lar votes than the Popular Front
coalition, with more than 3,000,000
votes counted.
The effectiveness of the new govern-
ment which the king is expected to ask Karamanlis to form
depends now on the number of deputies who can be persuaded
to defect from the Popular Front. Although the center par-
ties of the coalition insisted that their co-operation with the
Communist-front EDA was for the elections only, a strong
effort will probably be made by the leftists to maintain Popu-
lar Front cohesiveness in parliament. The Popular Front
is expected to try to force new elections as soon as possible,
arguing that Karamanlis was repudiated by the popular vote.
The government will have less freedom
of action on all issues because of its narrow majority. It
may be forced to take a more uncompromising stand on such
problems as the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations
in which popular emotions are deeply involved.
21 Feb 56
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2. TITO'S MESSAGE TO SOVIET PARTY CONGRESS
Yugoslav president Tito's mes-
sage of greetings to the "com-
rades" at the Soviet party congress
is the first public response by the
Yugoslav Communist Party to Soviet overtures for inter-
party ties. His message calls for "all progressive forces
in the world" to strengthen themselves to prevent new wars,
praises Soviet economic progress, and makes approving
references to the visit of the Soviet leaders to Yugoslavia.
Tito, at the same time, appears to
add one note of caution in his message. He mentions that
a gradual approach to improvement in Yugoslav-Soviet rela-
tions is the best one for the restoration of trust and co-opera-
tion and provides for the possibility of eliminating "all those
elements which could prevent the strengthening of our mutual
confidence."
Preliminary Yugoslav reaction to the
Soviet party congress has been gratification that many Soviet
views are now similar to those of Yugoslavia. Belgrade has
probably gained particular satisfaction from the statement by
Khrushchev that socialism could be attained through parliamen-
tary means, since the Soviet leaders, when in Belgrade, are
reliably reported to have rejected the Yugoslav concept that
socialism can be attained through evolution.
21 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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3. EAST GERMANS MAY SEAL OFF WEST BERLIN
ON 1 MAY
recent cuscussions m
the East German government on
the problems of currency control
have pointed up the necessity of
completely sealing off the GDR (including East Berlin)
from West Berlin and the Bonn Republic. The govern-
ment reportedly is considering such measures as closing
the canals connecting West Germany and West Berlin,
sealing the intersector border in Berlin, and forbidding
East Germans to work in West Berlin.
Comment If such restrictive measures were
taken, the basic purpose would prob-
ably be to stem the flow to the West of military-age refu-
gees. The excuse of a need for stricter currency controls
would merely be a pretext to justify such measures politi-
cally. The weekly flow of refugees at present is almost
twice as great as during the corresponding period last year.
The imposition of the above measures
would probably not seriously affect Allied access to Berlin
through East Germany, or Allied rights in East Berlin. It
would, however, bring severe pressure on the West German
government to undertake negotiations at a ministerial level
with the East German regime in order to preserve Bonn's ac-
cess to Berlin.
21 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. CHOU-SIHANOUK JOINT COMMUNIQUE INDICATES
EVENTUAL RECOGNITION
Although Cambodia's Prince Sihanouk
apparently did not agree to immediate
recognition of the Peiping regime, in
signing with Chou En-lai a joint com-
muniqu�ffirming the "five principles of peaceful coexist-
ence," he is quoted as saying that "in the political field, in
the future we shall have more and more direct and frequent
contacts."
In talks with Chou, Sihanouk agreed
that the "resumption" of Sino-Cambodian contacts and rela-
tions is desirable, "especially economic and cultural rela-
tions." However, he reportedly stated that it is still too early
for Cambodia formally to establish diplomatic ties with Com-
munist China.
Sihanouk has previously stated that as
long as the issue between Communist and Nationalist China
remains unsolved, Cambodia will not consider any procedures
tending toward the recognition of Peiping. According to the
Cambodian government radio on 10 February, Premier Chou
En-lai accepted with "full understanding" Prince Sihanouk's
desire to remain uncommitted
21 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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5. EX-PREMIER SEEKING ASIAN SUPPORT FOR
NEUTRALIST SOUTH VIETNAM
a request from Tran Van
Huu, former Vietnamese premier and
leader of the anti-Diem group of Viet-
namese politicians in Paris, for a
' meeting with Burma's prime minister. Huu wanted to dis-
cuss a "democratic national program for South Vietnam,
neither Americanized nor Communist."
Comment
Following the 1954 Geneva conference,
Huu was the Viet Minh's choice for premier in the south in
the event Diem were unseated, and he has maintained contact
with the Communists since that time. Huu has no popular
support in South Vietnam, but the Viet Minh, which occasion-
ally broadcasts his attacks on Diem, apparently regards him
as having continuing usefulness
21 Feb 56
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6, BURMESE HOPEFUL OF GETTING AMERICAN AID
The announcement that Ceylon will
again receive American aid has en-
couraged the Burmese government
to hope that Battle Act problems
concerning aid to Burma have been eliminated, accord-
ing to Minister of Industries Kyaw Nyein. He told Amer-
ican officials on 17 February that Burma was basically
interested in getting American technicians in exchange
for rice, permission to use the local currency proceeds
from a proposed surplus commodity agreement, and a
$150,000,000 economic development loan.
The American officials gained the im-
pression from Kyaw Nyein, as well as from other sources,
that Burma could still back away from any substantial
Russian assistance.
Comment Two weeks ago, Kyaw Nyein hinted to
Ambassador Satterthwaite that if an
American loan were soon forthcoming, Burma would not
have to ask the USSR for so much assistance when a high-
level Soviet economic mission reaches Rangoon in May. At
that time, Burma was planning to ask the USSR to undertake
the expansion of the steel mill near Rangoon and the con-
struction of other plants, including one for fertilizer.
Kyaw Nyein's remarks suggest that Pre-
mier Nu's refusal to bind Burma to the terms of the Battle
Act remains the principal barrier to the Rangoon govern-
ment's acceptance of any American assistance not paid for
with rice.
21 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
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7 COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT RE PORTED INTERESTED
IN CZECH ARMS
Comment
Ever since the armistice in Korea,
the Colombians have been agitating for increased and diver-
sified arms shipments from Western sources. Among the
items in which they have shown interest is materiel for a
battalion of 105-mm and a battalion of 155-mm artillery.
(Concurred in by ORR)
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 20 February)
he
Syrian air force has eleven jet fighters and four conventional
types ready for combat. Some of the jets are fitted to carry
1,000-pound bombs. The American air attach�as noticed
increased flying training, stockpiling of aviation fuel, and
strict security measures at the military airfield near Damas-
cus�
21 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
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