CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/04

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03157478
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
7
Document Creation Date: 
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date: 
October 31, 2019
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Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 4, 1956
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740220].pdf154.23 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 / /0A A z CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN /4. /07 �T-OP SECRET 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) DOCUMENT NO 4 February 1956 Copy No. 1_03 ( 4 NO CHANGE IN CLASS 61 fl DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C . NEXT REVIEW DATE; 1.-010 AUTH: HR 70-2 DATE: Mat!_g0 REVIEWER; OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 I JL 1 t La I CONTENTS 1. HIGH-LEVEL SOVIET PLANNERS TO LEAVE FOR BURMA SOON (page 3). 2. BURMA MAY ASK US FOR LARGE-SCALE ASSISTANCE (page 4). 3. BONN TO PROTEST ACTIVITIES OF SOVIET AMBAS- SADOR ZORIN (page 5). 4 Feb 56 THE ARAB-ISRAELI .SITUATION (page 6) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 �T-44itrge�Pe= Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 TOP SECRET 1� HIGH-LEVEL SOVIET PLANNERS TO LEAVE FOR BURMA SOON Comment on: the USSR has decided to send a high- level team of industrial and economic experts and planners to Rangoon in the neaf future The high-level nature of this delegation indicates that Moscow intends to move rapidly to give sub- stance to Bulganin's and Khrushchev's promises of extensive co-operation in developing Burmese industry and agriculture. The proposed visit is the result of party secretary Khrushchev's statement that economic experts and planners would be dispatched to do the "spade work" in advance of the proposed visit of Soviet leaders Mikoyan, Kaganovich and Saburov to Burma. Representatives of GUES have formalized specific agreements with Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, and it is likely that their visit to Rangoon would have the same pur- pose. Moscow's haste to formalize offers made less than two months ago is probably designed not only to en- hance Soviet influence in Burma but to impress other coun- tries in the area with Soviet ability to dispense economic aid with dispatch. (Prepared by ORR) 4 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 FOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 Approved for Release: 20-1 677k 1 C03157478 2. BURMA MAY ASK US FOR LARGE-SCALE ASSISTANCE A spokesman for Minister of Indus- tries Kyaw Nyein has informally sounded out the American ambassa- dor in Rangoon regarding the possi- bility of large-scale American financial assistance "for political purposes." He suggested that this aid might take the form of a loan, which he hoped could be substantially written off. Kyaw Nyein was said to be thinking in terms of $200,000,000, but his emissary indicated that $50,000,000 would be "very helpful." Comment Although this approach is primarily aimed at exploiting American con- cern over Burma's increasing economic ties with the Sino- Soviet bloc, it probably also reflects the desire of an im- portant element in the Burmese government to achieve some balance between Soviet and Western participation in Burma's development program. Prior to Bulganin's and Khrushchev's dramatic offers to Burma during their December visit to Rangoon, the Burmese government had on several occa- sions hinted a desire for a resumption of American aid-- provided it could be made to appear as trade rather than aid. 4 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 CONFIDE Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 CO 3. BONN TO PROTEST ACTIVITIES OF SOVIET AMBASSADOR ZORIN West German foreign minister Von Brentano has drafted a sharp letter to Soviet ambassador Zorin com- plaining that Zorin is exceeding the bounds of normal diplomatic prac- tices. Cabinet minister Strauss, who gave this information to American representatives in Bonn, declared that Zorin has embarked on an extensive pro- gram of visiting industrial plants and establishing con- tacts with Bundestag deputies. Moreover, Zorin has suggested to industrialists that they pressure the Bonn government for a trade treaty with Moscow and has crit- icized the Bonn government to his diplomatic colleagues. Comment It is probable that the early conclusion of a Soviet-West German trade agree- ment is one of Zorin's principal objectives. Since his ar- rival in Bonn last December, Zorin has stressed in his talks with Foreign Ministry officials and in public state- ments the favorable prospects for developing economic and cultural relations. The West German ambassador to Moscow is not expected to take up his post before 1 March. On 3 February, a TASS broadcast complained of unfavorable West German press articles about the Soviet embassy in Bonn and alluded to a West German design to "destroy what the chancellor himself found necessary to speak up for in Mos- cow 4 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478 �. a 4-1 La %se' vote THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 3 February) Nothing of significance to report. 4 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 CflNPIflIWTW Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157478