CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/10/24

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179158
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: October 24, 1956

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24 October 1956
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CURRENT
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. HUNGARIAN PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS LEAD TO
POLITICAL CRISIS (page 3).
2. GOMULKA MAN Isr_NEw_ppLITICAL COMMISSAR
OF POLISH ARMY (page 4).
3. POLISH OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON SITUATION IN POLAND
(page 5).
4
5. TURKEY AND IRAN STUDYING JOINT OIL PIPELINE
PROPOSAL (page 7).
6. USSR BUILDING NEW TYPE OF SUBMARINE
(page 8).
7. GREEK PRIME MINISTER TO HEAD DELEGATION TO UN
(page 9).
8. SINGAPORE ANTISUBVERSION DRIVE ANTAGONIZING
CHINESE COMMUNITY ) (page 10).
9� PATHET LAO TOLD TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS IN DRAFT
SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL ) (page 11).
10, AFGHANISTAN PROPOSES BUILDING RAILROAD WITH
AMERICAN AID (page 12).
11 REACTION REACTION IN NORTH AFRICA TO SEIZURE OF ALGERIAN
LEADERS (page 14).
24 Oct 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
) (page 15)
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1. HUNGARIAN PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS LEAD TO
POLITICAL CRISIS
Hungarian Communist leaders are
facing a major political crisis brought
on by demands of party moderates and
an aroused public that Hungary follow
Poland's lead in asserting greater inde-
pendence from the Kremlin. An emergency meeting of the
central committee of the party has been called to deal with
the situation.
Demonstrations by thousands of Hungarian
university students, workers and off-duty soldiers on 23
October, demanding a new government headed by Imre Nagy
and the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary,
ended in violence. Police fired on demonstrators attempting
to seize the Budapest radio station and to destroy a Stalin
monument. At least one person was reported killed. Tele-
phone communications with the West were cut off during
the evening of 23 October and normal radio broadcasts we:.:.e
replaced by music programs.
The demonstrators, who throughout the
afternoon were apparently orderly, may have been sparked
to violence by a speech party leader Gero made shortly
after his return from a visit to Belgrade.
Gero criticized the demonstrations as
"chauvinist incitement" and "nationalism" in an uncompro-
mising statement of continuing loyalty to the Soviet Union,
ironically using the terminology of the charges under whicl
Nagy had been expelled from office in 1955.
Gera, by his attempt to discredit the
demonstrations, stands in marked contrast to those in the
party leadership who actually endorsed such demonstrations
in order to illustrate the close solidarity of the Hungarian
party with the Polish party and its latest moves. Hungarian
party moderates--who now appear to be dominant in the
party--are presumably exerting great pressure on Gero to
resign, planning subsequently to declare, in effect, their
"independence" of the Soviet Union along the lines of the
Polish declaration last week end.
24 Oct 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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2. GOMULKA MAN IS NEW POLITICAL COMMISSAR
OF POLISH ARMY
The Polish news agency has announced
that General Spychalski has replaced
General Witaszewski as deputy minister
of defense in charge of political affairE
in the Polish armed forces. Spychalski was purged with
�Gomulka in 1949 and was returned with him to the central
committee on 19 October.
Spychalski's appointment is probably
intended to limit the authority of Defense Minister
Rokossowski, who has already been dropped from the
politburo, and pave the way for his removal. Until 1949
Spychalski was a deputy defense minister and deputy
commander of the Polish armed forces.
Witaszewski is one _of the "Stalinists"
within the Polish Communist Party and a strong supporter
of Marshal Rokossowski. He was instrumental in attempting
to foster a wave of anti-Semitism in Poland as an attack
on the intellectual liberals, many of whom are Jewish.
Student, and worker rallies on 20-21 October called for
his replacement.
24 Oct 56
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3. POLISH OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON SITUATION IN POLAND
Julian Hochfield, a prominent member
of the Polish parliament currently visiting
England, reportedly told
bl�l was in a state of "second revolution" and that
there was no turning back unless the Kremlin decided to
use force. He stated that the bulk of the Polish army is
patriotic and will fight only one enemy, the Russians.
Hochfield said that Poland was facing
bankruptcy and advocated an American loan of $30,000,000
to $45,000,000. If such a loan were not provided soon, he
said, workers' riots would be likely, with the result that
the Russians might intervene "to restore order."
Comment Hochfield, a former Socialist and a mem-
ber of the Polish politburo until the
Gomulka purge in 1949, is considered to be a member of
the liberal faction of the Polish Communist Party.
Since early summer several Polish
officials and journalists have hinted to Westerners that
-Poland was interested in receiving extensive aid from the
United States.
24 Oct 56
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24 Oct 56
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5. TURKEY AND IRAN STUDYING JOINT OIL PIPELINE
PROPOSAL
Turkey and Iran are in direct communica-
tion regarding joint construction of an oil
pipeline from Iran through eastern Turkey
to the Mediterranean coast, according
to Secretary General Birgi of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
the negotiations have
made significant progress. The construction will probably
follow the right of way of the railroad under construction
from southwestern Turkey to northwestern Ira,n9 terminating
at Iskenderun (Alexandretta) on the Mediterranean coast.
Foreign financial and technical assistance
will be sought to handlOthe actual construction of the pipe-
line which, according Vo current planning, will tap only the
new Iranian oil field all Qum near Tehran.
24 Oct 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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6. USSR BUILDING NEW TYPE OF SUBMARINE
Comment
None of the features or characteristics
The USSR has
shown a marked interest in the diesel and hydrogen
peroxide closed-cycle systems as well as nuclear
propulsion for submarines
It is also possible that Project 641
is a special-purpose submarine such as a guided missile
launcher or a radar picket equipped with either a conven-
tional or advanced propulsion system.
The appearance of this new class at
Komsomolsk suggests that series construction may
already be in progress at other Soviet yards inasmuch as
Komsomolsk, since World War II', has consistently been
the last yard to participate in new major construction
programs.
24 Oct 56
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7. GREEK PRIME MINISTER TO HEAD DELEGATION TO UN
The decision of Greek prime minister
ICaramanlis to head his country's delega-
tion at the UN General Assembly next
month indicates his optimism that the
assembly's decision on the Cyprus issue
will be favorable. ICaramanlis told
Ambassador Allen that he hoped to have
discussions with Washington officials
wine in tne umtea tates.
24 Oct 56
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8. SINGAPORE ANTISUBVERSION DRIVE ANTAGONIZING
CHINESE COMMUNITY
the antisubversion drive ap-
pears less successful than the local gov-
ernment claims. Public opinion among
the 800,000 Chinese in the colony has tended to veer against
the government since the closing of two schools on 12 Octicber,
which is viewed as an attack on Chinese education. Only
1,000 of the schools' 10,000 students have registered for
instruction elsewhere. As a result of the government's cam-
paign, many other students are staying away from schools
that are still open--80 percent of the student body in some
cases.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
which exerts wide political influence in Singapore, reportedly
is being urged by Communist-front groups to protest the
government drive. The Chamber's decision on the protest
action probably will be governed largely by the intensity of
Chinese sentiment on the school issue. One recent report
indicates that the Chamber's Executive Committee will oak s
a motion censuring the government's actions.
24 Oct 56
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9. PATHET LAO TOLD TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS IN
DRAFT SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL
The Viet minn
criticized a Pathet Lao
proposal for a final settlement
with the Laotian government on the
grounds that it would "give the
royalists an opportunity to rally public opinion to exert
pressure on us to acdePt a compromise on the question of
the two provinces." Failure to ensure the rights of the
�Pathets to vote and stand for elections was cited. The
�Viet Minh expressed fear that the draft could be used by
the government to restrict the appointment of� Pathet
cadres to its civil administration. The Viet Minh urged
that the government be committed to "specific practical"
steps to carry out its pledge in favor of neutralism before
an agreement is signed.
Comment Although the Communists have
previously indicated a willingness to
give up overt control of the two provinces, they expect
to obtain a special position for the Pathet Lao in the area.
The Communists are also concerned about pdssible govern-
ment duplicity and will insist on adequate "guarantees."
The Communists apparently will press
for a more specific expression of the government's
neutrality policy�such as the establishment of diplomatic
relations with Peiping and Hanoi and possibly acceptance
of Sino-Soviet bloc aid�as a sine qua non for a final
agreement.
4 Oct 56
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10. AFGHANISTAN PROPOSES BUILDING RAILROAD WITH
AMERICAN AID
Comment on:
The Afghan government on 18 October
gave the American embassy assurances
it would co-operate in developing an
Afghan. Pakistani transit project with
American aid. Afghanistan, which has no railroads, said
a railway line from Spin Baldak, on the Pakistani border,
Qala-i-Kang
24 Oct 56
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23 OCTOBER 1956
All weather road
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59 100 200
STATUTE MILES
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through Kandahar to Kabul would be preferable to highway
improvements in the eastern and southeastern parts of
the country. Foreign Minister Naim also stated that a
railroad might in the long run prove more beneficial to
his country.
According to the American embassy in
Kabul, connecting Afghanistan by rail to the Indian
subcontinent would facilitate economic progress. The
Afghan suggestion seems particularly significpt, however,
in that it follows recent reports that the USSiad discussed
the possibility of building a railroad from the Soviet
border post at Kushka throuklt Herat and Fara. to Kandahar
and Kabul, while a German Krupp corporation official
reportedly announced on 29 August that the Ir ian railway
being built from Tehran to Meshed (near Herat) would be
completed within a year and that a link with Afghanistan
would follow.
24 Oct 56
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11, REACTION IN NORTH AFRICA TO SEIZURE OF ALGERIAN
LEADERS
of Morocco
to Morocco.
Capture by the French of five Algerian
nationalists on 22 October has led
Tunisia to recall its ambassador from
Paris and to threaten a complete
rupture of relations and a renewal
of guerrilla activity against the
French, General strikes and violence
have occurred in both Tunisia and
Morocco, and the consul general
Casablanca reports that a breakdown
of order must be expected. In view
of the general situation, the sultan
is breaking off his talks in Tunis and returning
Both the sultan and the.premier of Tu-
nisla,, who have favored moderation and a negotiated settle-
ment in Algeria, will now be forced to adopt more extreme
and anti-French roles.
On 23 October representatives of
the Arab states at the United Nations met to draft a protest
against the French action, Such a protest would probably
be supported in the UN by the Arab-Asian nations and the
Soviet bloc.
24 Oct 56
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 23 October)
A Lebanese commando squad commanded
(and trained by Egyptians was captured by the Israeli security
forces in northern Israel, according to an Israeli announce-
ment from Jerusalem on 23 October. The group is reported
to have operated with the help of Arab residents of Israel.
(Press)
Israeli military activity continues in
forward areas opposite West Jordan and in the Southern Com-
mand. Extensive laying of field telephone wire has been re--
ported. In addition to augmenting its jet fighter strength,
Israel appears to have received major new arms shipments
including tanks, motor vehicles, and tank transporters. Mait
ki of this e ui ment is believed to hay
asked France for "unqualified support" in the current UN.
Security Council deliberations of Israeli-Jordanian border
tension. The Israelis had reinforced their request with the
contention that "the entire Western bloc" would be the loser
in the event of an Arab victory--"even a token one"--in the
UN debate.
The commander in chief of the Egyptian
army and of Arab joint forces, Major General Amer, arrived
in Amman on 23 October to discuss military aid to Jordan.
Earlier the Syrian army chief of staff, General Nizam al-Din�
arrived in Amman from Damascus. In addition to discussing
expansion of Arab military aid to Jordan, the talks may cons:,.der
closer alignment of
joint command.
fighters to Jordan
24 Oct 56
Egypt will present five Vampire jet
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ammunition will accompany the fighters.
be delivered by Egyptian crews
The aircraft will increase Jordan's jet
fighter strength to 15 Vampires. Delivery of the gift appears
to have been timed to coincide with the visit of General Ame'.
Spare parts and
The aircraft will
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