CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/04/01

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03003518
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: April 1, 1958

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1 April 1958
Copy No, 140
CENTRAL
3.5(c)
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO,
NO CHANGE IN CI_M.-3S.
TC.):
NEXT FIEV.!E DATE: C
AUTH:
DATE.
a 1; )j,rs aE E T
iEVIEWER:
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1 APRIL 1958
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Czech arms agent in Damascus on
tour to negotiate arms shipments to
rebel groups in North Africa, Middle
East.
USSR - Gromyko announces unilateral
Soviet suspension of "tests of all forms
of nuclear weapons."
Khrushchev will head Soviet delegation
to Hungarian "Liberation Day" to show
Kremlin endorsement of Kadar regime.�
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Cairo may plan to exploit Egyptian
commando casualties in Israeli- UAR
border clash near Lake Hula.
Nasir likely to seek Soviet economic
concessions on forthcoming Moscow
trip.
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WM 16,11.L.4 1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
1 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
M
Bloc arms for North Africa and Middle East: The
Soviet bloc has apparently decided to extend major mil-
itary aid to rebellious nationalist elements in North Africa
and in the Middle East. The chief Czechoslovakian arms
sales negotiator now touring the Middle East is discussing
with UAR military officials in Damascus a $25,000,000
contract for arms for the Algerian rebels. He nrK, 7 also
visit Yemen, where arrangements had previously een
made for talks concerning military aid to anti-British
dissident groups in the Arabian peninsula.
(Page 1)
USSR - nuclear test suspension: Soviet Foreign Min-
ister Gromyko's announcement that the USSR will "unilater-
ally cease conducting tests of all forms of nuclear weapons"
is timed to embarrass the United States, which begins its
own test series shortly, as well as to exploit controversies
in Britain and West Germany over nuclear armaments pol-
icies. It is also designed to put pressure on the United
States to scale down its inspection renuirements if the is-
sue becomes a subject of negotiation.
(Page 2)
USSR - Hungary: Khrushchev's decision, reported by
Warsaw radio, to head the Soviet delegation to Hungary's
"Liberation Day" ceremonies on 4 April indicates that the
Kremlin desires to make unmistakably clear once again to
the Hungarian party and people that the Kadar regime has
TOP S"ET
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I ur iwi
Moscow's backing. His visit probably marks the resump-
tion of greater personal activity by Khrushchev in dealing
with the problems of the Eastern European countries.
(Page 3)
IL ASIA-AFRICA
Israeli-Syrian border: The situation remains very
tense in the Lake Hula area, where Israeli and UAR troops
shelled each other again on 31 March.
Egyptian commandos now occupy
Syrian frontline positions opposite Lake Hula, and suffered
casualties in the 30 March engagement.
(Page 4) (Map.)
Nasir's trip to Moscow: Nasir probably will request
some form of Soviet economic concessions during his trip
to Moscow scheduled for late April. He is likely to take
advantage of the opportunity to try to arrange some kind of
deal whereby the USSR would pay for Egyptian cotton in hard
currencies. He may also feel that the visit is necessary to
balance his recent action against pro-Soviet elements in
Syria. (Page 5)
1 Apr 58
DAILY BRIEF ii
TOP
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0 TOP "RE". -A
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Czechoslovakia Extending Major Military Aid to
Algerian Rebels
General Macek, chief of the Czech agency handling
military equipment sales, is now making a prearranged
tour of the Middle East. During his first stop, in Damas-
cus, he is discussing a $25,000,000 contract for arms for the
Algerian rebels with the Syrian officer who is acting com-
mander of UAR military units in Syria.
able over eight years
the deal is pay-
Last year Czechoslovakia arranged with Algerian rep-
resentatives a test shipment of $1,000,000 worth of small
arms. The equipment was seized by Spanish authorities
in June 1957. Czechoslovakia presumably will work closely
with the UAR in the delivery of the large number of arms
The Egyptians have successfully transmitted significant
quantities of arms to Algerian rebel groups via overland
routes through Libya.
General Macek also is scheduled to visit Yemen shortly.
The Yemeni ambassador in Prague in December said that he
had "convinced some Czech military men" that arms should
be made available to "Omani combatants" through Yemen, and
Macek's negotiations will probably concern the supply of mil-
itary aid for anti-British dissident tribal elements in the
Arabian peninsula.
1 Apr 58
TOP
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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Page 1
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MN' TIAL
Gromyko Announces Unilateral Soviet Suspension of
Nireliar Tests
Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko's announcement that
the USSR will "unilaterally cease conducting tests of all
forms of nuclear weapons" specified that the USSR may re-
sume testing if Britain and the United States fail to follow
suit. Moscow appears confident that this move will intensify
popular pressures for early summit talks on Soviet terms.
Khrushchev probably believes the statement will have
far-reaching repercussions in the non-Communist world,
particularly in such countries as Britain, West Germany,
and Japan where the question of nuclear weapons and tests
is a major political issue�
Moscow has previously made it clear, particularly by
various announcements of troop reductions, that it prefers
to press the West to disarm through unilateral steps of its
own rather than to sign disarmament agreements providing
for inspection. Gromyko's announcement, climaxing two
years of emphasis on test suspension as the priority dis-
armament goal, is a major move in the continuing Soviet
campaign to establish a distinction between conventional
and nuclear weapons in an effort to neutralize the West's
nuclear retaliatory capabilities. An intensified propaganda
campaign can be expected for a universal pledge to renounce
the use of nuclear weapons.
Khrushchev's new Council of Ministers contains no sur-
prises. He has added two deputy premiers but has left the
Bulganin cabinet otherwise virtually intact. First Deputy
Premier Mikoyan is probably number two in the hierarchy.
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fAflJVIiiiAL
Khrushchev to Head Soviet Delegation to Hungary
Khrushchev will head the Soviet delegation to Hungary's
"Liberation Day" ceremonies on4 April, according to War-
saw radio. The Soviet leader probably desires to make un-
mistakably clear to the Hungarians that their present re-
gime retains Moscow's backing. Khrushchev last visited
Budapest in January 1957 when, in company with other bloc
leaders, he came to build up Kadar and to set the line for
future developments following the revolution.
This endorsement of Kadar's leadership would also be
intended to put an end to factional strife and rumors that Ka-
dar might be ousted soon--a speculation that has arisen from
his prolonged absence from public view and the announce-
ment that he was "ill."
Khrushchev's visit could also be interpreted by Hun-
garians as an assurance that the relative degree of relax-
ation in some economic spheres will continue, although
other stern policies will remain unchanged. Kadar's oppo-
nents in the party have been demanding a return to much
harsher measures in all spheres of Hungarian life.
During his visit to Budapest, Khrushchev may take the
opportunity to exchange views with the Yugoslav delegation
on current Soviet-Yugoslav ideological differences--a
strong possibility following Kadar's recent talks with Tito.
CONF TIAL
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-sew'
ISRAELI SYRIAN BORDER
* Approximate point of .f
31 March clashes. i�
[= Demilitarized zone
0 MILES
LI
LEBANON
, LA Xi," HULA
Hulata
ISRAEL
Maf rag`
Site of Israeli
A."'" drainage project
JORDAN which has reduced
Lake to one quarter
of area shown here.
M ILE.
80331
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LKi
IL ASIA AFRICA
Israeli-Syrian Border
Egyptian commandos have been involved in the
fighting with Israeli forces near Lake Hula on the
Israeli-Syrian border, where new incidents occurred
on 31 March.
Israel's government appears firmly convinced that
it is on strong legal grounds regarding these incidents.
An Israeli official has stated "informal indications" have
been received from Chief of Staff Von Horn of the UN
Truce Supervisory Organization that the canal excava-
tion in the area is being done on Israeli territory. Un-
certainty as to the exact location of the 1949 armistice
line is probably one of the factors which has produced
the current series of incidents.
The Israel government is exer-
cising "extraordinary restraint" in the present tense sit-
uation. The Israelis presumably would like to avoid bor-
der incidents which might frighten away the large number
of foreign tourists expected during Israel's tenth anniver-
sary celebration which begins about 23 April. Retaliatory
action nevertheless is possible if the Israelis believe their
position is seriously threatened.
1 Apr 58
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Page 4
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Nasir's Trip to Moscow
Nasir probably will request some form of Soviet economic
support during his forthcoming trip to Moscow, but another
round of large-scale economic agreements appears unlikely. An
Egyptian claim that Nasir accepted the invitation because he had
given up hope of significant economic help from the West is proba-
bly aimed at eliciting some kind of Western offer. He may also
feel that the visit is necessary to balance his recent action against
pro-Soviet elements in Syria. Nasir has repeatedly postponed a
trip to the USSR during the last two years.
Despite Egypt's critical foreign exchange situation, Nasir is
not likely to increase Egypt's already heavy dependence on the So-
viet bloc. He will more probably attempt to work out a deal wherw-
by the bloc would pay hard currencies for at least part of its Egyp-
tian cotton imports. Cairo is reported to have rejected earlier
offers of additional Soviet loans to ease Egypt's foreign exchange
shortages.
Nasir may also seek to reorganize and coordinate existing
Soviet economic aid agreements with Egypt and Syria and give
the public impression that he won a number of new economic con-
from the bloc in the name of the UAR.
p.
SE ET
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CA MVP 1 IA L
DISTRIBUTION
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 Mobilization
Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination
Operations Coordinating Board
Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities
Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy
The Treasury Department
The Secretary of the Treasury
The Department of State
The Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State
The Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary for Administration
The Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
The Counselor
Director, International Cooperation Administration
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, 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
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
Atomic Energy Commission
The Chairman
National Security Agency
The Director
National Indications Center
The Director
United States Information Agency
The Director
CON IAL
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TOP RE T
A
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
1 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Bloc arms for North Africa and Middle East: The
Soviet bloc has apparently decided to extend major mil-
itary aid to rebellious nationalist elements in North Africa
and in the Middle East. The chief Czechoslovakian arms
sales negotiator now touring the Middle East is discussing
with UAR military officials in Damascus a $25,000,000
contract for arms for the Algerian rebels. He rm also
visit Yemen, where arrangements had previously een
made for talks concerning military aid to anti-British
dissident groups in the Arabian peninsula.
(Page 1)
USSR - nuclear test suspension:/"Soviet Foreign Min-
ister Gromyko's announcement that/the USSR will "unilater-
ally cease conducting tests of allIbrms of nuclear weapons"
is timed to embarrass the United States, which begins its
own test series shortly, as w9ll as to exploit controversies
in Britain and West Germany over nuclear armaments pol-
icies. It is also designed to put pressure on the United
States to scale down its Opection requirements if the is-
sue becomes a subject 9f negotiation.
(Page 2)
USSR - Hungary: Khrushchev's decision, reported by
Warsaw radio, to head the Soviet delegation to Hungary's
"Liberation Day" ceremonies on 4 April indicates that the
Kremlin desires to make unmistakably clear once again to
the Hungarian party and people that the Kadar regime has
Moscow's backing. His visit probably marks the resump-
tion of greater personal activity by Khrushchev in dealing
with the problems of the Eastern European countries.
(Page 3)
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Israeli-Syrian border: The situation remains very
tense in the Lake Hula area, where Israeli and UAR troops
shelled each other again on 31 March.
Egyptian commandos now occupy
Syrian frontline positions opposite Lake Hula, and suffered
casualties Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 C03003518