CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/09/19

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03170431
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: September 19, 1956

pproved for Release: 2019/10/23 C03170431,
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
19 September 1956
Copy No. 105
COVENT NO.
Al'AGE
C11 DECLASSI.VE0
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TC, C
NEXT BEVIEW DATE:
Atill-L till 70-2
DATE: REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3 3 ( )
a5
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Mr SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. SUEZ CONFERENCE PROPOSALS
(page 3).
2. NASR REPORTED SEEKING BRITISILLABORITES' AID
TOWARD SUEZ COMPROMISE �(page 4).
3. SOME BRITISH SHIPPING BEING DrVERTED TO AVOID
SUEZ CANAL (page 5).
4. KHRUSHCHEV VISIT TO YUGOSLAVIA
(page 6).
5. BURMESE PRIME MINISTER REMAINS FIRM ON SINO-
BURMESE BORDER ISSUE (page '7).
6. MALAYAN CHIEF MINISTER MAY ACCEPT ROLE IN
SINGAPORE SELF-GOVERNMENT (page 8).
19 Sept 56
TI7 ARAB-ISRAELI pITUATION
(page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. SUEZ CONFERENCE PROPOSALS
Comment on:
Preliminary indications of the atti-
tudes of the 15 countries meeting with
the United States, Britain and France
in London beginning 19 September sug-
gest that a majority have strong reser-
vations about the proposed Suez Canal
users' association, and that only Aus-
tralia and New Zealand are entirely
favorable to the plan.
The Scandinavian countries, Norway in
particular, appear highly skeptical, and
all have indicated the belief that the
long-term problem is a matter for the
UN. Iran has stated it will oppose the
users' association plan unless it is
amended to eschew the use of force and
include referral to the UN if Egypt re-
fuses to co-operate. Pakistan has also
Indicated it will oppose the proposal.
According to the press, West Germany
is maintaining a noncommittal attitude, as is Japan, pending
clarification of the views of the sponsors. Italy has dis-
played reservations about the plan in its present form. Spain
is sponsoring a plan similar to that put forth by India at the
first London conference on the Suez.
Meanwhile India, which has accepted
Egypt's invitation to a 45-nation meeting, is reported recom-
mending that each conference should proceed as scheduled
and name delegates to a subsequent negotiating group which
would seek a solution acceptable to both sides.
19 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. NASR REPORTED SEEKING BRITISH LABORITES' AID
TOWARD SUEZ COMPROMISE
Egypt has no intention of
"building an empire" in the Near East and that Egypt would
never attack Israel. Nasr asserted, however, that the day
of British "stooges" in the area has passed, and that it is to
Britain's interest to co-operate with Arab nationalists in or-
der to prevent Communist influence from replacing British,
Comment
Nasr is to have been
in contact with Labor Party leaders in
Britain for some time, and it is not unlikely that he has made
an approach of this kind.
19 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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crenrr
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3 SOME BRITISH SHIPPING BEING DIVERTED TO
AVOID SUEZ CANAL
Comment on:
19 Sept 56
British shipowners have begun to route
around Africa passenger ships normally
passing through Suez. Diversions of
cargo ships will presumably be ordered
if delays occur in transit of ships through
the canal under Egyptian management.
London shipping rates to the Far East
have been increased 15 percent in antici-
pation of the cost of delays at the canal
or possible rerouting.
The American naval attach�n Colombo
reports that 11 passenger ships have al-
ready been rerouted. Two British pas-
senger lines were reported on 14 Septem-
ber to have said that all their ships would
avoid the canal.
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. KHRUSHCHE V VISIT TO YUGOSLAVIA
Comnrnt on:
TASS has announced that Khrushchev
will visit Yugoslavia on 19 September
for a few days' rest, but Yugoslav of-
ficials have announced that he would
hold talks with President Tito. In the light of recent re-
ports that important differences have arisen between the two
countries over developments in the Satellites, Khrushchev
may seek to persuade Tito to stop pressing for more liberal-
ized policies in the Satellites.
parties
slavia.
Moscow reportedly warned the Satellite
ember against being influenced by Yugo-
19 Sept 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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5. BURMESE PRIME MINISTER REMAINS FIRM ON SINO-
BURMESE BORDER ISSUE
Peiping,
Burmese prime minister Ba Swe wel-
comed Chou En-lai's promise to withdraw
Chinese Communist troops from the Wa
States in northeast Burma. He agreed to
Keep Burmese troops out of the area, but insisted on the valid-
ity of the boundary of the Wa States as accepted by Britain and
China in 1941.
Ba Swe denied Chou's allegation that Bur-
mese troops were violating Chinese territory in the area of
the Kachin State in northern Burma, and countered by stating
that Chinese troops had crossed the border at the northern tip
of the state and should be withdrawn. The prime minister re-
iterated his contention that his government was responsible
for administering all areas inherited from the British, and
pointed out that the border of the Kachin State was a de facto
line of 50 years' standing. He indicated a willingness, however,
to accept the establishment of a joint boundary commission
which would "examine" the Kachin frontier and make "recom-
mendations to the respective governments'
Comment little disposition
to make concessions either in the Wa
States or the Kachin State. While both he and Chou have sought
to appear conciliatory, they are still far apart on the substan-
tive points at issue.
The outlook would appear to be for a con-
tinuation of the impasse, which may prove embarrassing to Pei-
ping and fan further anti-Chinese Communist Sentiment in Rangoon.
The matter presumably will be discussed when Chou visits
Rangoon for eight days beginning 11 December.
19 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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6. MALAYAN CHIEF MINISTER MAY ACCEPT ROLE IN
SINGAPORE SELF-GOVERNMENT
Comment on:
Chief Minister Rahman told the Amer-
ican consul general in Kuala Lumpur
that despite apprehension among cer-
tain elements of his party, he believes
his government must accept a role in
aoiisnment of self-government for Singapore. He is
willing to run the risk of involvement in the Singapore situa-
tion because of fear that an independent Malaya might be caught
between the Communists in the jungle and a Communist-
controlled government in Singapore.
Rahman said the British had suggested
that he and Singapore chief minister Lim Yew Hock come
to London at the same time in December to work out a com-
mon approach to the Singapore situation. Talks on Singa-
pore self-government last spring ran aground over Britain's
refusal to cede control over internal security to the local
government. The British are now considering limited self-
government for Singapore with joint British-Malayan respon-
sibility for internal security until the long-range objective of
a Malaya-Singapore merger can be achieved. Specifically,
the British now want to appoint a federation minister to serve
on the proposed Singapore internal security council.
Rahman has long been convinced it would
be dangerous for Malaya to become involved in Singapore's
complicated problems, which arise primarily from Commu-
nist subversion of the colony's predominantly Chinese popula-
tion. His willingness to risk such involvement should con-
siderably relieve the difficulties surrounding Singapore's
demand for self-government.
19 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 18 September)
The Jordanian-Israeli mixed armistice com-
mission has condemned Jordan for the death of 6 Israeli soldiers
in the Jordanian attack of 10 September. The chairman of the
commission stated that while Jordan was responsible for the in-
cident, Israeli patrolling near the demarcation line greatly in-
creased tension on the border
19 Sept 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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Iraq is not known to have made any agree-
ment to station Iraqi troops in Jordan. Prime Minister Nuni
Said in fact told King Hussain on 14 September that Iraq "could
not do much alone" and suggested a joint Iraqi-British-Jordanian
olannina oneration Kim" Migtaain
was discouraged at the Iraqi
response to /us request tor military aid. Hussain said the
Iraqis advance many objections. Hussain's impression was that
Iraq could not and would not do much at nresent
19 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
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