CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/08/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03193801
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: August 18, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/23 CO3193801 .
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
Co
18 August
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1956
Copy No, 105
DOCUMENT NO, ey
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. k
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S
NEXT REVIEW DATE.
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE:
REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
0.4
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3.3(h)(2)
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CONTENTS
1. PILOT SHORTAGE REDUCES SUEZ CONVOYS
(page 3).
2. SOVIET BLOC ARMS DELIVERIES TO EGYPT
Secret Eider goforn) (page 4).
3. EGYPTIAN OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON LONDON CONFERENCE
(page 5).
4. SECURITY SITUATION IN ALGERIA
(page 6).
5. PAKIST NI PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON VISIT TO AFGHAN-
ISTAN (page 7).
18 Aug 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 8)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
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*4.9
1. PILOT SHORTAGE REDUCES SUEZ CONVOYS
Comment on:
Egypt has now been compelled to re-
duce the Suez Canal's convoys to one
a day in each direction because of an
increasing shortage of pilots. Ship-
ping congestion has been aggravated
by failure of some European pilots to
return to Egypt from leave following
nationalization of the Suez Canal
Company, and by failure of 11 addi-
tional pilots to report for duty on 14'
August on grounds of illness.
�����14,9"
When the canal was nationalized, there
were two daily convoys in each direction. The reduction to
one northbound convoy implemented earlier in the week had
been under consideration by the company as early as June be-
cause of a shortage of pilots. The company has charged that
Egypt's refusal during the last two years to grant entry visas
to foreign candidates for pilot jobs was responsible for the
shortage. Egypt is trying to alleviate the shortage by assign-
ing 15 Egyptian naval officers to Port Said for pilot duty.
Of the 187 regular canal company pilots,
148 have expressed a desire for repatriation. The company
has instructed these employees to remain on the job until the
end of August. Prior to the nationalization crisis, the com-
pany estimated that 243 pilots were needed to deal with the
normal level of traffic.
18 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
SECRET
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No,
2. SOVIET BLOC ARMS DELIVERIES TO EGYPT
The Cairo press states that two Soviet
ships with cargoes of Czech arms arrived
n Alexandria on 17 August.
on 6 August,
Aiexanaria port autnorities were told to
expect a doubling of tne number of ships
arriving with arms cargoes loran indefi-
nite periodl
comment does not sup-
port any change to date in the pattern of
bloc arms deliveries to Egypt, which have averaged one or two
ships per week. However, some time ago Czechoslovakia con-
tracted to supply at least 40 jet fighters and other military items
to Egypt by the end of the year, in addition to the 80 MIG's already
delivered, and it would be possible for the bloc to increase the
rate of delivery of aircraft and other military goods on short no-
tice.
18 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
TOP SEC ftET
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3, EGYPTIAN OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON
LONDON CONFERENCE
Comment Recent vague and evasive statements by
Soviet officials on the extent of Soviet
support for Egypt have probably caused concern over Soviet
intentions at London. When Egyptian ambassador Hussein
pressecl Soviet ambassador Zarubin on 10 August on whether
the USSR planned to issue a "strong diplomatic statement,..
such as might compel the Western countries to reconsider
and perhaps retreat from the idea of war," Zarubin replied
that he did not know.
18 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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-ettNFIDEIV TIAL
NW-
4. SECURITY SITUATION IN ALGERIA
The American consul general in Algiers
reports that both terrorist and counter-
terrorist activity have recently increased
in Algeria, where the effect of the Suez
n o stiffen both sides and dispel any optimism
regarding early negotiations between the French and the na-
tionalists.
The principal rebel effort is focused on
the city of Algiers which, the consul general says, is like an
armed camp with patrols stationed at all major intersections.
In addition, the rebels are carrying out successful operations,
including ambushes which have been costly to French military
units, in several other areas not previously affected.
The consul general comments that the pat-
tern of these incidents lends substance to a report that the
"National Liberation Front" has ordered an all-out effort to
produce an "explosion" in the Algiers area during the second
half of August. This report forecast, that the rebel program
would include the severing of principal highways, more grenade
attacks against Europeans, increased raids on pacified villages,
a general strike around 24 August, and diversionary action in
other parts of Algeria.
18 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
CONFIDENTIAL
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Now Now
5. PAKISTANI PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON VISIT
TO AFGHANISTAN
Pakistani president Mirza believes
following his recent visit to Kabul
that Afghanistan wishes to come to
terms with Pakistan and is looking
r a aevice w ich will enable him to abandon its claim
to Pushtoonistan. He says the Afghans would prefer to
deal with the West rather than the Soviet bloc, that they
are conscious of the Soviet danger, and that they did not
impress him as rapidly passing under Soviet control.
Mirza seems to have been sufficiently
impressed with Afghan reasonableness to recommend that
Pakistan stop its anti-Afghan propaganda and take all possi-
ble steps to win Kabul's friendship. He expects Daud to
visit Karachi before King Zahir Shah pays a return visit
early in 1957.
18 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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New
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 17 August)
Egypt claims Israel attacked two Egyptian
positions in the Gaza strip on 16 August and killed nine soldiers,
but an Israeli army spokesman denied knowledge of such attacks.
There were reports from Cairo, however, that firing in this area
was continuing. UN truce observers have started to investigate
this report as well as the Israeli claim that Arab commandos
from Jordan were responsible for an earlier bus attack near Eilat.
(Press)
The American army attach�n Tel Aviv
believes that the size of the bus attack as well as the loss of Israeli
lives may lead to some retaliatory action by Israel. He reports,
however, that viewpoints vary as to whether Israelis in general fa-
vor retaliation at this time--some feel that an attack might jeop-
ardize Israel's interests in the Suez issue. The attach�eports no
visible Israeli army preparations for retaliation.
The Egyptian military attach�n Belg ade
told the American attach�here that Yugoslavia is shipping American
military equipment to Israel as well as Yugoslav 120-mm. mortars,
howitzers and ammunition. There is no other information that Israel
is getting military equipment from Yugoslavia, and Belgrade has
denied in the past that any American arms were allowed to leave the
country.
18 Aug 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
�SECRET�
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