CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/10/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02998390
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: October 21, 1958

Approved
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21 October 1958
Copy No, C 59
CENTRAL
IYTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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I I DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: T;6, �o C
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21 OCTOBER 1958
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Taiwan Strait - Artillery bombard-
ment of Chinmen and Tatan continues.,,,
Nationalists begin retaliatory fire. W
USSR - Nuclear test at Novaya
Zemlya on 20 October is third in
three days.
USSR to renew previously stalled
negotiations with France.
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Thailand - Sarit moves to establish
more authoritarian regime under
"Revolutionary Council."
Iraqi foreign minister advises Baghdad
to moderate anti-American propagandai.,
(5..)
Iraq collaborating with UAR in arms
deliveries to Algerian rebels.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
21 October 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Taiwan Strait situation: Communist artillery fired
over 112500 rounds against Chinmen between 1600 and 1840
hours on 20 October. After a short pause, firing was di-
rected against nearby Tatan. The Nationalists began retal-
iatory fire an hour after the initial Communist bombardment
began. Peiping on 20 October issued its "37th serious warn-
ing." (Page 1) (Map)
Soviet nuclear test: The Joint Atomic Energy Intel-
ligence-Committee made the following announcement at
1515 hours on 20 October:
"The Atomic Energy Detection System has
reported that an explosion occurred at 0825 hours
Zebra on 20 October 1958 in the vicinity of Novaya
7rawt17a 1741V SRVA
*This is the thirteenth explosion since the Soviet Union resumed
in on 30 SeptemberAeist_g_t: the third in the last three days,.
USSR-France: Presumably as a result of a Soviet ap-
praisal of the French referendum results and De Gaulle's
Algeria policy, Moscow has agreed to proceed with certain
previously stalled French-Soviet negotiations and has appar-
ently assured French officials that the USSR will not recog-
nize the Algerian rebel regime in the near future.
(Page 4)
VIA
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II. ASIA-AFRICA
Thailand: Resignation of the Thanom cabinet, abroga-
tion of the constitution, and establishment of a "revolutionary
council" headed by Marshal Sarit are the initial steps in the
Imposition of a more authoritarian regime by the ruling mil-
itary group. Sarit thus appears to have exercised firm con-
trol over the group, which has been increasingly torn by fac-
tionalism in the last few weeks. (Page 5)
Iraq: The Iraqi foreign minister, now attending the UN
session in New York, has advised Baghdad it is "essential" to
moderate anti-American propaganda. His message reflects
the belief that the United States wishes to improve relations
with the new regime. (Page 6)
Iraq-UAR: The Baghdad regime apparently is collab-
orating with UAR intelligence in the clandestine delivery of
arms to Libya, presumably for the Algerian rebels. Two
Iraqi military, transport aircraft were scheduled to stop in
Cairo on 20 October, en route to an airfield in Libya with a
consignment of arms and ammunition for Major Fathi al-Dib,
an Egyptian intelligence officer concerned with Algerian rebel
supply problems. Aid and support for North African nation-
alists was also a policy of the Nun i Said government.
21 Oct 58
DAILY BRIEF ii
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Taiwan Strait Situation
Peiping has issued the "37th serious warning" alleging
four US destroyers intruded into Communist territorial
waters in the Matsu and Pingtan areas on 20 October. This
latest warning followed by ten hours the "36th serious warn-
ing" which was used by the Communists as a pretext for re-
opening the bombardment of Chinmen.
The language of the "37th warning" returned to the
pattern of terseness used in previous warnings and did not
contain the operational data and specific reference to escort
Activities found in the "36th warning." This warning claimed
that on 19-20 October one US landing ship dock and three
destroyers intruded into Communist territorial waters. A
US destroyer escort actually was provided for a US landing
ship dock transporting supplies to Chinmen on the night of
19 October, but the destroyers stayed well outside the Corn-.
munist-claimed 12-mile limit.
Peiping's military attach�old a Western
journalist on 15 October that a primary objective of the Com-
munists is to split the United States and the Chinese National-
ists.
"We miscalculated in
believing the US would not defend thp offshore islands and
thought several weeks' bombardment would force Chiang to
withdraw under US pressure. Although this has not yet
occurred, we still believe American public opinion favors
withdrawal and might yet cause the US Government to move
toward withdrawal," The attach�dded that "no one in Pei-
ping" expected the Warsaw talks to succeed because both
� sides have irreconcilable positions. He also stated that Pei-
ping was inflexible on US evacuation of the Taiwan Strait
area and considered eventual Nationalist withdrawal from the
offshore islands "only the beginning of the ultimate split
between the US and Chiang Kai-shek'
21 Oct 58
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 1
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Ams.
Communist troop
000 strength
(vv.% Nationalist troop
vuu strength
If Piston fighter
+ Jet fighter
+ Piston light bomber
+ Jet light bomber
4. Ground-attack
SELECTED AIRFIELDS INDICATED IN BOLD TYPE
Hengyang,
80806/gr.-DM�
NANCHANG
CNANGSHU
68,000
LIENCHENG
CHENGNAI
CANTON
� HANG Swatow
Nanking
CHUHSIEN 4-1
LUCHIA
�
Wencho
� 4...MATSU IS.
FOOChOW, 23 000
MANTA
LUNGTI iNGTAN
HUIAN WLICHIU IS.
'TAIWAN
MACifor STRAIT
yiNGCNI
4:1 WEITOLE PEN.
KAOCHI CHINMEN IS:
86,000
A oy
SOUTH CHINA SEA
UN AO IS.
TAIWAN
331,000
EAST CHINA SEA
STATUTE MILES 300
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weir Noir
The director of the Chinese Nationalist government
information office, Sampson Shen, commenting on the
resumption of artillery fire by the Chinese Communists,
stated that his government is "fully prepared to give the
Communists a crushing blow for their provocative actions."
Shen's statement appears to be routine and intended for
propaganda purposes.
on balance
the Chinese Nationalists probably are not displeased with
the reopening of prospects for a military showdown, rather
than a negotiated resolution of the crisis or a continued
stalemate.
a general air of jubilation among
Nationalist officers and officials, including Minister of
Defense Yu Ta-we!, shortly after reports of the bombard-
ment began to come in.
The Chinese Communists continue to rotate aircraft
Into the Taiwan Strait airfields. Five flights of jet aircraft,
probably MIG-17's, deployed from the Nanchang area to
Liencheng on 20 October. Previous flights of aircraft from
Nanchang to Liencheng were deployed to Lungchi airfield.
The planes which flew to Liencheng on 20 October may
ultimately fly to one of the coastal fields to replace a unit
now there.
The Taiwan Defense Command is reporting Chinese
Communist activity on two previously unoccupied islands--
Tapo and Hsiaopo�located a few miles northeast of Chinmen.
The nature of the activity is not stated but it may be connected
with artillery observation.
Communist artillery fired over 11, 500 rounds against
Chinmen between 1600 and 1840 hours on 20 October. The
shelling was apparently concentrated hi the areas of the
Chinmen airstrip and Liaolo beaches and caused little
damage, according to the Chinese Nationalists. After a short
21 Oct 58
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pause, firing was resumed against Tatan. The Nationalists
began retaliatory fire about an hour after the initial Commu-
nist bombardment.
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Niro 1.0.0
Soviet Attitude Toward De Gaulle
The USSR has agreed to resume negotiations with France
on economic and cultural relations which had been stalled for
some time, according to the French ambassador in Moscow.
Trade talks proposed by France a month ago are expected to
begin next week, and the ambassador also hinted that France
had received assurances that the USSR would not recognize
the Algerian rebel regime in the near future. These develop-
ments apparently stem from an assessment of the post-refer-
endum situation in France and De Gaulle's initial Algerian
policy.
Soviet propaganda against the Paris government has fallen
off sharply, and earlier attacks on De Gaulle's "personal dic-
tatorship" have not been repeated. The Paris Communist
L'Humanite published an article from a Czech periodical which
criticized Algerian terrorist activities in France, and Moscow
radio has devoted considerable attention to a speech by French
Communist leader Thorez which stressed the peaceful role of
the French party in leading the democratic elements in France
against the "reactionary forces."
These developments suggest that the Soviet leaders are still
hopeful De Gaulle will alter France's relationship with NATO
and pursue a more nationalistic policy. Moscow probably be-
lieves that De Gaulle's views on such issues as a nuclear test
cessation agreement and future high-level talks on the Taiwan
Strait crisis will provide further opportunities for Soviet ex-
ploitation.
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II. ASIA-AFRICA
Sarit Establishes "Revolutionary Council" in Thailand
The establishment of a Thai "revolutionary council"
under Marshal Sarit on 20 October has been followed by
the dissolution of the National Assembly and the abrogation
of the Constitution. Sarit will rule by decree pending the
drafting of a new constitution which would restrict the
power of elected legislators. The military group has
long been chafing under the need to satisfy with money
and other favors the demands of elected civilian elements
within the government party and the assembly.
Since the communiqu�announcing the "revolutionary
council" laid great emphasis on the threat of Communism,
Sarit probably has ordered a roundup of suspected Thai
and Chinese Communists in the Bangkok area, as window-.
dressing justifying the action his group has taken.
Sarit returned to Bangkok last week end amid reports
of increased tension within the ruling clique centering around
the growing personal rivOlry between Generals Thanom and
Prapat, who were premier and interior minister respectively
in the cabinet which resigned just before the "revolutionary
council" was established. Sarit seems to have thrown his
influence behind Thanom, and may take advantage of the
present emergency to downgrade Prapat, whose corruption
and growing power caused much of the friction within the
military group. Trouble could start if Sarit tries to cut too'
deeply into Prapat's empire, although Sarit gives every in-
dication of being firmly in control.
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Iraqi Attitude Toward the United States
Iraqi Foreign Minister Jumard, attending the UN session
in New York, advised his government
o "tone down" anti-American propaganda and cooperate
more closely with the American Embassy in Baghdad since, in
his belief, the United States wishes to improve its relations
with the new regime. Jumard mentioned especially the anti-
American campaign in the current "treason" trials of former
regime leaders. He also suggested a settlement of "the case
of the three persons who were killed." He said he would dis-
cuss the subject on his return to Iraq. Jumard is a member
of the group opposing union of Iraq with Nasir's UAR.
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vgai Nrif
THE PRESIDENT
The Vice President
Executive Offices of the White House
Special Assistant for National Security Affairs
Scientific Adviser to the President
Director of the Budget
Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization
Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination
Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities
Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy
Special Adviser to the President
The Treasury Department
The Secretary of the Treasury
The Department of State
The Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary for Administration
The Counselor
Director, International Cooperation Administration
The Director of Intelligence and Research
The Department of Defense
The Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Air Force
The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
Commandant, United States Marine Corps
The Director, The Joint Staff
Chief of Staff, United States Army
Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy
Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Special Operations
Deputy Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army
Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of the Navy
Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander in Chief, Pacific
The Department of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
Atomie Energy Commission
The Chairman
National Security Agency
The Director
National Indications Center
The Director
United States Information Agency
The Director
CONFIDENTIAL
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