CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/01

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03157477
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: February 1, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157477
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CURRENT
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BULLETIN
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OFFICE OF CURIRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Vvy 15317/4
Copy No. 103
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1 February 1956
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AUTH: FIR 70-2 3.5(c)
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CONTENTS
1. ICISHI SEEN AS HATOYAMA'S SUCCESSOR
(page 3).
2. MOSCOW AGREES TO HELP VIET MINH IN PROP-
AGANDIZING AGAINST ELECTIONS IN THE SOUTH
(page 4).
1 Feb 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 5)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. KISHI SEEN AS HATOYAMA'S SUCCESSOR
The death of Taketora Ogata, former
deputy prime minister, has made
Shinsuke Kishi, secretary general of
the Liberal-Democratic Party, the
eacLing candidate to succeed Hatoyama as prime minister
of Japan. Ambassador Allison reports that in order to ap-
pease the ex-Liberals who are dissatisfied with Hatoyama,
arrangements might be made for Kishi to succeed Hatoyama
following the Upper House elections in June.
Allison discounts the concern of the
Japanese press that Ogata's death will result in a loosening
of ties with the US. He notes that strong elements among
the conservatives will continue to oppose a "soft" policy
toward the Orbit.
Comment Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Ichiro Kono, party leader Bukichi Mild
and Kishi are the real powers in conservative Japanese pol-
itics. Kishi, a leading promoter of the successful conserva-
tive merger which took place last November, has been care-
ful to maintain a broad base of support among the various con-
servative ,factions.
A former cabinet minister under Tojo who
spent two years in prison as a war crimes suspect, Kishi has
often asserted that he favors co-operation with the United
States. He has also stated, however, that the United States
must recognize--and help Japan to overcome--his country's
"economic and spiritual weaknesses," for which he blames the
occupation in part.
1 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. MOSCOW AGREES TO HELP VIET MINH IN PROP-
AGANDIZING AGAINST ELECTIONS IN THE SOUTH
Comment
Although the Viet Minh has been attack-
ing President Diem's plans to hold elec-
tions for an assembly on 4 March, Soviet propaganda treat-
ment of the issue has been perfunctory.
Increased Communist propaganda attacks
on the elections may be connected with support for Chou En-lai's
demand that another Geneva conference on Indochina be convened.
A Polish truce official in South Vietnam has reportedly hinted
that in any new conference, the Communists would propose a
postponement of unification elections in return for an agreement
on economic co-operation between the two zones and neutraliza-
tion.
1 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 4
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l'OP SECKEI.
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4160.,
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 31 January)
while there is in Israel an awareness that events are moving
toward a climax, there are few specific indications that Israel
is preparing for long-drawn-out hostilities in the immediate
future,
All Egyptian army camps in the southern
portion of the Suez Canal zone have been emptied of tanks and
armored vehicles,
Forty-seven Sherman tanks have been observed
lioving into the Sinai Peninsula, and 21
Soviet T-34 tanks were identified on flatcars passing north-
rwardlthrough the zone. These and other reports lead
to the conclusion that an "almost total build-up" of Egyp-
tian forces in Sinai may be under way.
The quantity of Soviet arms expected to
arrive in Egypt in the near future requires new storage areas
in addition to the Dukheila air base near Alexandria,
storage facilities at Dukheila are being taxed to capacity, and
other areas near Cairo and in the Suez Canal zone are under con-
sideration. Earlier reports have suggested the possibility that
Soviet bloc shipments have been or might be diverted from Alex-
andria to the canal zone, which is much closer to the scene of
operations against Israel.
1 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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