CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/08/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03185131
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: August 7, 1956

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
7 August 1956
Copy No. Jb
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
LI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO:::S_Aiei_
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUT
3.5(c)
_ REVIEWER:
DAT
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. EGYPT PREPARING REPLY TO WESTEAN INVITATION
TO SUEZ CONFERENCE (page 3).
2. SPAIN TO SUPPORT EGYPT ON SUEZ
(page 4).
3. TITO STATES VIEWS ON SOVIET AFFAIRS
(page 5).
4. BRITAIN TO WITHDRAW SOME NATO-COMMITTED FORCES
FOR MIDDLE EAST (page 6).
5. LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT- PATHET LAO NEGOTIATIONS
(page 7).
6. INDON7A7RIME MINISTER REPORTED LOSING INFLU-
ENCE (page 8).
7. ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH PLOT TO OVERTHROW
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT REPORTED
(page 9).
JATION
'MTV AA rt MDT T QM"
(page 10)
7 Aug 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. EGYPT PREPARING REPLY TO WESTERN INVITATION
TO SUEZ CONFERENCE
Observers in Cairo feel, however, that
Nasr will not reject the invitation categorically but may indi-
cate that Egypt can attend only after a change of venue from
London, adjustment of the agenda, and the addition of some
Arab and other states friendly to Egypt. Some thought is also
being given to submitting the dispute to the UN. A high Egyp-
tian official believes the British and French intend to make
Egypt's attendance at the conference impossible and then estab-
lish an international control scheme by force.
7 Aug 56
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2. SPAIN TO SUPPORT EGYPT ON SUEZ
Comment The Spanish position is consistent with
Franco's efforts to strengthen Spanish
ties with the Arab world and Spain's intention to act as a
bridge between that area and the West.
The controlled Spanish press generally
supported Nasr on nationalization of the Suez Canal, but ex-
pressed some concern about advantages that would accrue to
the USSR.
7 Aug 56
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3. TITO STATES VIEWS ON SOVIET AFFAIRS
Yugoslav presiddlit Tito, in his recent
talks with the Greek king and queen at
Corfu, said that the anti...Stalin campaign
was a political necessity for the Soviet
leaders, despite the risk of confusing foreign parties. The
campaign has been generally accepted by the Soviet populace,
but faces veiled opposition in the presidium and government
ministries, and the campaign must now be "stabilized" at home.
Tito said he felt he had been successful in
convincing the Soviet leaders to work through governments in
power in other states, rather than through minority Commu-
nist parties. He believes the USSR's future actions in this
respect will be a test of whether it has given up Stalinist im-
perialism.
Tito said that the USSR would very soon
withdraw its large military forces in Hungary and Rumania,
which it had maintained mainly as a threat to Yugoslavia.
He said that he does not now need many
new arms and that though the USSR is willing to meet any Yugo-
slav request, he prefers US assistance to prove his independence
from Moscow. He estimated that in 15 years the USSR would be
more powerful and richer than the United States. He expressed
' visit the United States and to address the UN.
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4. BRITAIN TO WITHDRAW SOME NATO-COMMITTED
FORCES FOR MIDDLE EAST
In view of the situation in the Middle
East, Britain plans to withdraw "cer-
tain individuals and units" from its
NATO-committed forces in Britain
ermany. a statement to a restricted session of
the North Atlantic Council on 3 August, Britain's NATO
representative said that as many as possible of the forces
required would be taken from Britain so that only abso-
lutely essential units need come from Germany. He also
said Britain intends to restore its NATO position to the ex-
tent required by the forthcoming reappraisal of defense re-
quirements, as soon as circumstances in the Middle East
permit.
Comment The qualified statement on restoring
the withdrawn units leaves the door open
for a permanent reduction of British forces in Germany.
The units to be withdrawn may be used to
fill the gaps in Britain's Strategic Reserve, consisting of the
First and Third Infantry Divisions, which is considerably un-
der authorized strength.
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CONFIDENTIAL vise
5. LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT- PATHET LAO NEGOTIATIONS
Representatives of the Laotian govern-
ment and the Pathet Lao, meeting in
Vientiane, issued a joint communiqu�
on 5 August endorsing a policy of "peace,
neutrality and peaceful coexistence" for
Laos. Both sides have agreed to a cease-
fire, and the working out of political and
military details for the restoration of
Vientiane's authority in Phong Saly and Sam Neua Provinces,
as well as for the reintegration of the Pathet Lao forces into
the national community, has now been handed to working com-
mittees.
Premier Souvanna Phouma, heading the
government delegation, has revealed a plan to increase by
approximately 50 percent the present membership of the as-
sembly through supplementary elections in which the Pathets
would be allowed to participate. As to a coalition government,
Souvanna has stated that the Pathet Lao could enter the cabinet
only by "duly established processes." Another government dele-
gation member, however, does not exclude the possibility that
one post may be offered to the Pathets, possibly to Souphan-
nouvong.
It is the general opinion of Western ob-
servers in Vientiane th t the present negotiations will result
in an early settlement a vantageous to the Communists.
Souvanna's consistently bonciliatory attitude toward the Pathet
Lao supports this view.
7 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
CONFIDENTIAL
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6. INDONESIAN PRIME MINISTER REPORTED
LOSING INFLUENCE
Prime Minister Ali Sastroamidjojo
appears to be losing prestige while
Foreign Minister Abdulgani's influence
is increasing with the National Party
and with President Sukarno, according
o Ambassador Cumming in Djakarta.
Comment All's decline has accompanied Indonesia's
swing toward moderation. The premier's
anti-Americanism and his policy of tolerance toward Commu-
nism stand out in contrast to Sukarno's recent expressions of
enthusiasm for the United States and the action of the National
Party in electing its leaders from the moderate wing at the
party congress in July.
The strongly nationalistic and anticolonial
Abdulgani is generally friendly toward the United States.
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7. ARRESTS IN CONNECTION WITH PLOT TO OVERTHROW
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT REPORTED
Comment on:
The Venezuelan security police have ar-
rested approximately 60 persons in
connection with a plot to overthrow the
government of President Perez Jimenez.
The plot is engineered by the outlawed Democratic Action
party,
The movement is said to be supported
by the formerly Communist-controlled labor unions in the oil
fields east of Caracas, by disaffected military elements, and
by certain industrialists. Chief of Staff Fernandez has also
been suspected in connection with the plot.
Discontent in Venezuelan military circles
and friction between the army and the security nonce have been
reported since early 1956.
7 Aug 56
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 6 August)
Seven Vampire jet aircraft with Syrian mark-
ings landed at Helwan airfield south of Cairo recently after refuel-
ing at Athens. these are probably some
of the reconditionea surplus vampires which Syria is reported to
have purchased recently from Italy.
7 Aug 56
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