CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/01/15

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03161976
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RIPPUB
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U
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12
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December 12, 2019
Document Release Date: 
December 20, 2019
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Publication Date: 
January 15, 1957
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15755566].pdf361.43 KB
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rf "Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976, 11.#.a. 4-W �-4 .1%. ILI �or 7 404 0.1/ eliff,107 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) 15 January 1957 Copy No, 1.31.. DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANCE IN CLASS. II I DECLASSIFIED CLASS. GRANC-IED NEXT REVIEW DATE: AUTH: DAT 6 REVIEWER: OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 1 TOP SECRET d/f ife7)./ Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 0,06. Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 CONTENTS 1. EGYPT ORDERS HALT OF ALL DISCUSSIONS PENDING ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL :page 3). 2. SITUATION IN ALGERIA (page 4). 3. CHINESE ECONOMIC PLAN ALLEGEDLY UPSET BY SATELLITE UNREST (page 5). 4. SYRIANS TO HOLD "UNION" DISCUSSIONS WITH EGYPT (page 6). 5. UN OBSERVER COMMENTS ON HUNGARIAN POLITICAL SCENE (page 7). 6. INDIA REMAINS OPPOSED TO A KASHMIR PLEBISCITE (page 8). 7. MISSIL7ASRITALKS WITH BRAZIL SEEN FACING COL- LAPSE (page 9). 8. LATIN AMERICA CO-ORDINATES PROPOSALS FOR INTER- AMERICAN MEETINGS (page 10). 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 I 4-71,11-.111..1-4 1. EGYPT ORDERS HALT OF ALL DISCUSSIONS PENDING ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL Egyptian foreign minister Fawzi told Ambassador Hussein on 12 January that he had received instructions to in- form UN secretary general Hammar- skjold that "there will be no further dis- cussions on any subject as long as Israel remains in Egypt." Comment According to press reports, the Israeli cabinet, which met on 13 January to ais- cuss Israeli withdrawal policy, has decided to halt Israeli forces at a line 16 miles on the Egyptian side of the 1949 armi- stice lines. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 pir r� inn tirr Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 2. SITUATION IN ALGERIA Tension in Algeria has reached the stage where rash acts by either Moslems or Europeans designed to gain an advantage just before or during the forthcoming UN debate on Algeria may precipitate widespread massacres, in this eventuality the attitude of the French mili- tary�particularly its willingness to restrain settlers bent on reprisals�would be in doubt. Comment Riots may result if the French general in charge of security in the Algiers area carries out his threat of 13 January to force the opening of any Moslem shops which obey the rebels' order for an eight-day general strike coincident with the UN debate late this month. French premier Mollet conceded on 8 January that an "explosion" in Algeria was possible at any moment and could lead to 40,000 or 50,000 casualties in Algiers alone within 24 to 48 hours, with comparable results in other large cities. In such an event, simultaneous massacres of French residents in Morocco and Tunisia would also be likely. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 'L. 3, CHINESE ECONOMIC PLAN ALLEGEDLY UPSET BY SATELLITE UNREST The USSR has told China that it is unable to meet the increased demands of China's Five-Year Plan. in East Berlin. allure of the Satellites to deliver promised machinery and manufactured goods has caused China to re-examine its current plan and to revise downward the industrial section of the Second Five-Year Plan, In Warsaw Chou reportedly is to explain that Polish failure to supply coal to East Germany is reducing East Germany's ability to meet China's needs, and he will attempt to induce Poland to maintain its previous trade position with- in the bloc by promises of Soviet and Chinese loans and ma- terial assistance. Comment The Soviets last August cut Chinese pro- posals concerning the level of Soviet support for China's Second Five-Year Plan, This is the first report suggesting that the USSR may renege on its August commitment. Previous reports have tied possible revi- sions in Chinese plans to events in Eastern Europe and to im- balances and shortages which developed in the Chinese economy during 1956. It is likely that Chou En-lai, in connection with his current attempts to bolster bloc political solidarity, is trying to salvage what he can of Satellite commitments to China and to ensure fulfillment of industrial deliveries from the USSR. The USSR has been providing China with a yearly total of about $800,000,000 worth of industrial plants, machinery and transportation equipment; the Eastern European Satellites have provided an additional $400,000,000 annually. East Germany and Czechoslovakia are responsible for about 70 percent of the Satellite exports. Peiping has consistently criticized delays in the delivery of Satellite industrial goods. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Rele�ase-Yy167U/64--003161976 4. SYRIANS TO HOLD "UNION" DISCUSSIONS WITH EGYPT A Syrian committee headed by Minister of State Khalid al-Azm was scheduled to depart for Cairo on 14-15 January to discuss Syrian "union" with Egypt, ac- cording to the American embassy in Damascus. Azm told Ambassador Moose "federa- tion" would be a more accurate discription than "union;' as Syria would retain its sovereign entity. Azm thought unifi- cation of "currency and commerce" was remote, but closer co-ordination with Egypt in military and foreign policy was desired now. He thought a joint committee on foreign policy would be formed at cabinet minister level. Comment Syrian-Egyptian talks on union were he]Id shortly before the Suez dispute. Cairo, however, while publicly lauding Egyptian-Syrian union, pri- vately takes a reserved view. The simultaneous presence in Cairo of the Jordanian delegation seeking Arab financial assistance sug- gests that the Jordanian delegation may join the Egyptian- Syrian talks. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 CONFIDENTIAL Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 A ILL-, A 5, ON HUNGARIAN POLITICAL SCENE Hungarian premier Kadar, still a national Communist, hopes to retain the strictly economic concessions promised during the revolution but has no intention of imple- menting any significant political concessions in the near future, according to UN deputy secretary general De Seynes, who re- cently returned from Hungary. De Seynes, feels that Kadar is convinced that any alternative to the present government would lead inevitably to a renewed blood bath and complete chaos. According to De Seynes, there are no Hun- garian Communists left who are in sympathy with the USSR; Kadar himself is closely watched by Soviet bodyguards. The regime is totally disorganized and there is lack of contact be- tween cabinet ministers and their staffs. De Seynes was told by non-Communists in Budapest that a general uprising had been planned for mid-- December, when either he or Hammarskj old was initially scheduled to arrive, but subsequently the freedom fighters de- cided on an undeclared truce with the regime, apparently in order to minimize the hardships of a cold winter. A visit by Hammarskj old now appears feasible, but in De Seynes' opinion, it would be politically useless since it would give the regime a measure of UN approval. Comment Mounting economic problems and increased difficulties with the workers during the past several days have already caused the Hungarian regime to step up its repressive tactics. Premier Kadar has been forced by the USSR and the pressure of events to act contrary to his earlier sym- pathies with national communism and he is unlikely to push for genuine Hungarian independence so long as the situation remains chaotic. The re-establishment of order, however, could lead to his reassertion of national Communist tenets and consequent friction with Moscow. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 SECR T Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 1 - INDIA REMAINS OPPOSED TO A KASHMIR PLEBISCITE Both Krishna Menon in New York and Raghavan Pillai, secretary general of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, have bluntly informed American diplomats that India has no in- tention of giving up its portion of Kashmir. Both men were also cool toward the idea of another visit to the area by a UN represent- ative seeking to arrange for a plebiscite. Menon indicated his government would re- luctantly accept a Soviet veto if this was the only way to avoid UN Security Council action. Menon said he understood that Nehru and President Eisenhower had agreed the Kashmir situation should not be stirred up, and expressed his hope that the UN would take no action on the case. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 7, MISSILE-BASE TALKS WITH BRAZIL SEEN FACING COLLAPqv President Kubitschek told Ambassador Briggs on 12 January that Brazil's pres- ent counteroffer on Washington's request for a missile-tracking base may be with- drawn and negotiations broken off unless agreement can be reached before the Brazilian congress re- convenes on 1 February, He said congressional pressure for a voice in the matter, backed by nationalist and Commu- nist agitation, would probably make agreement impossible after that date. Ambassador Briggs believes a breakdown could seriously prejudice Brazilian-American relations as well as Kubitschek's domestic position, but notes that Kubit- schek may assume the United States is forced to accept his price. On 11 January, Brazil amended the terms of its 17 December acceptance of the American request by adding a clause that would commit the United States to con- clude separate agreements promising "accelerated" economic and military aid. It was hinted that Kubitschek might send President Eisenhower a note listing Washington's "overdue obligations" in these fields. Kubitschek promised to take over the negotiations from the Foreign Ministry and await a formal comment from Washington. Comment Kubitschek once before, following Presi- dent Eisenhower's personal note of 15 December, seemed determined to take charge of the negotia- tions. However, after pushing through cabinet approval, he turned the matter back to the Foreign Ministry and during sub- sequent delays resumed his previous equivocal position in the face of nationalist and Communist agitation and cabinet pres- sure for economic bargaining, 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Iwo" maw 8. LATIN AMERICA CO-ORDINATES PROPOSALS FOR INTER-AMERICAN MEETINGS The Latin American ambassadors in Washington met on 8 January at the request of the Brazilian ambassador to co-ordinate the Latin American po- sition for the meeting of the Inter- American Committee of Presidential Representatives sched- uled for 28 January, Urrutia said the majority agreed to insist on two or three "fundamental proposals"--namely, higher prices for exports to the United States and credits for economic development�rather than "showing interest in several dozen proposals, which would merely enable the US to choose and approve the least expensive'? the State :Department hoped to support "a few secondary proposals with the ridiculous sum of $5,000:' the Brazilian ambassador quoted a letter he had sent to Vice President Nixon, pointing out "dismay" at US aid proposals for the Middle East in contrast to the "absolute neglect of Latin American problems:' Comment The Inter-American Committee, which first met in September, was established following the meeting of American presidents in Panama last July to seek means for making the Organization of American States a more effective instrument of social and economic co- operation. Brazil has played an influential role at inter-American meetings. Its sponsorship of the meeting on 8 January may have been prompted in part by dissatisfac- tion with the extent of US economic aid and with the "pre- conditions" which keep Brazil from drawing on Export- Import Bank credits granted last July. This dissatisfac- tion has been reflected in negotiations for a US missile tracking site. 15 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03161976 r7,07/1000,d41011 Z/d/Z, ZfApproved for Release: 2019/12/04 CO3161976 7,97,407j4- '7/77..,g7