CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1959/12/17

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03007361
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RIPPUB
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U
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13
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February 25, 2020
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February 27, 2020
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December 17, 1959
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Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 1-10-P�St-LitkI� / / DOCUItINTN. 41 61 _ ....****���11.0111,4 SO Onlial HI CLAW 0 DECLASSIFIES CLASS. CHANCiti ?Os If � 0 ilLXT ALVIIW Oast aoto AIM NS 714 Dna JIM 13i3a mom C 17 December 1959 Copy No. C CENTRAL 3.3(h)(2) (U(c) INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN -TCM5-SEC-R-E-T- jApproved for Release: 2020/02/21 C030073617,,,,WWWWWW Approved for Release: 2020102121C03007361 *ira � �411� � 4til To 4 Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 Approved for for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 17 DECEMBER 1959 I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC USSR--Ambassador Thompson discusses Soviet attitudes on German question. Poland asks US for emergency grain ship- meets, II. ASIA-AFRICA Indonesian "state-of-war" declaration is technicality continuing existing controls. Laos--Phoui forms new cabinet without participation by reformist CDNI. Rhodesia-Nyasaland Federation seen headed for increasing racial tension. Rival Nigerian leaders maneuvering for formation of coalition government. III. THE WEST 0 De Gaulle reportedly considers US- French policy agreement on North Africa "impossible." �SECRET� Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 z � � Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 -roP�sEER-E-T-- CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 17 December 1959 DAILY BRIEF I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC USSR: A bassador Thompson believes that even if the re- sults of the summit meeting prove unsatisfactory, Khrushchev will not take immediate steps to sign a separate peace treaty with East Germany. He feels, however, that the Soviet premier will not defer such action for any considerable time unless the West can devise an acceptable counterproposal. Most recently, lihrushchev warned four times in his speech to the Hungarian party congress on 1 December that if the West rejects a treaty with both German states, the USSR will be "compelled" to sign a separate treaty with East Germany. He emphasized, however, that Moscow does not "fix any time limits" and implied that he envisa es est negotia- ,. .r-v.uulu; 1x-mana nas oniciaity requested the earliest possible initiation of negotiations for an "emergency" allocation of grain. Polish officials told American Ambassador Beam there is a des- () perate requirement for supplementary grain shipments to arrive in April. Poland will apparently require at least 300,000 tons of grain above present planned imports to alleviate the critical sit- uation resultin from the rolon ed drou ht and lanning failures-4 (Page I I. ASIA-AFRICA Indonesia: President Sukarno's declaration of a state of war throughout Indonesia on 16 December merely continues military controls which have been in effect since early 1957 and which were 0 due to expire on 17 December. Under the new decree, President Sukarno assumes the role of chief war administrator, a post for- merly held by Army Chief of Staff General Nasution, but Nasution reportedly will be the deputy responsible for implementation, and Approved foriTele;Se: 2020/02/21 C0300736% Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 , Li \\\\ �. LII LU N k\\\ \ II Nee the practical effect of the change is expected to be small. ; the state of war will continue at least for another year. Laos: Premier Phours formation of a new government without the young reformist Committee for Defense of National Interests (CDNI)�ffillowing failure to reach agreement on a cabinet may lead to a political crisis in Vientiane. If 61 the conservatives and the CDNI remain at odds, the govern- ment's efforts to cope with the Communist internal threat will --, (Page 2) be undermined. Watch Committee Conclusion: LThe following develop- ments are susceptible of direct exploitation by Soviet/Com- munist hostile action which could jeopardize the security of the US in the immediate future: In Iraq, with Qasim being driven closer to the Communists, another nationalist attempt to assassinate Qasim could occur at any time; Rhodesia-Nyasaland: Wissatisfaction among moderate Africans in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, to- gether with renewed activity by extremist elements, is likely to make for a continuing increase in racial tension. The Con- sulate General in Salisbury observes that many Africans doubt that London will protect interests of the natives against the de- mands of settler-dominated Federation and territorial govern- ments. The recently created Monckton Commission--charged with recommending changes in the Federation constitution--does not have African support and probably will make no report until late in 1960. African spokesmen in Nyasaland continue to de- mand that Nyasaland secede from the Federation. Surface calm in the area appears attributable largely to repressive measures taken under emergency regulations which have been in effect since the Nyasaland riots last Februa.5.3 (Page 3) 17 Dec 59 DAILY BRIEF 11 TOP SECRET lApproved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361k V Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 %so TOP SECRET VA Nigeria: iligerian political leaders now are engaged in a period of bargaining following the 12 December federal par- liamentary election, which gave none of the three major group- ings an absolute majority. A coalition government dominated by the conservative Northern People's Congress appears the most likely outcome. A government controlled by a combina- tion of southern parties--a development likely to provoke dis- turbances in the Northern Region--could materialize, however, if the northern leaders set too high a price on sharing powerq (Page 4) III. THE WEST France: EZe Gaulle is reported to view the United States' abstention on the UN Algerian resolution as conclusive evi- dence that bilateral agreement between France and the United States on North African policy is "impossible." De Gaulle's preoccupation with North Africa is a major factor underlying his present controversies with NATO, which in Spook's view now leave De Gaulle virtually isolated on defense policy within the alliance. Top French military advisers fear De Gaulle plans to ignore their view that cooperation between the two countries and continued American military aid are essential to prevent a deterioration of French armed forces-. (Page 5) 17 Dec 59 DAILY BRIEF iii �WI Qw(T,rPr / Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C0300i367 A Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC Poland Requests "Emergency" Grain Talks dioland has officially requested the earliest possible ini- tiation of negotiations for an "emergency" allocation of grain. Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Modrezewski and the economic counselor at the Polish Embassy in Washington have told Amer- ican Ambassador Beam that Poland desperately needs supple- mentary grain shipments to arrive in ApriL Because of a drought and planning failures, Polish grain requirements for the year 1959-60 from external sources have mounted to about two million tons, and the need will be great- est between April and harvest time. The Poles now have com- mitments for about 1,700,000 tons�including 800,000 from the USSR, 600,000 from the US,and 200,000 tons from Canada. Un- less additional supplies are obtained, livestockherds might decline and the meat situation, already difficult, might become worse. Furthermore, bread-grain consumption probably will increase during the coming year, because meat and potatoes have become less plentiful. To complicate the situation further,* the outlook for next year's grain harvest is unfavorable, a circumstance which may make the peasant reluctant to meet his compulsory grain obligations to the state. The peasants' attitude may very well be stiffened by regime efforts to control meat sales during the last few days, collect back taxes, and compel additional peasants to join state-sponsored agricultural eircleS3 CONFIDENTIAL 17 Dec 59 CtJTDAI ikiTct I irtckit^c DI II I ETD.' Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361' Page 1 Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 4010/ II. ASIA-AFRICA Reformists Excluded From New Laotian Cabinet diremier. Phours exclusion of the reformist commit- tee for Defense of National Interests (CDNI) from his re- organized cabinet and his scheduling of a special Nationa. Assembly session from 17 until 22 December may usher in a period of serious political instability in Laos. The break came after failure to reach agreement on a cabinet list. The CDNI has also registered strong opposition to any assembly session prior to the scheduled expiration of the assembly's mandate on 25 December. The CDNI is reported preparing a communiqu�rgu- ing that Phoui's recent moves are inopportune and unconsti- tutional. The reformists may still hope to re-enter the government after the assembly ceases to function, possi- bly by prevailing on the King to establish a new provisional government. On the other hand, they may be content to bide their time, concentrating on getting a new assembly more to their liking returned in early elections. A third possibil- ity is that the CDNI might attempt a coup with the strong army backing it reportedly enjoys. In any event, if the conservatives and the reforznists remain at odds, the government's efforts to cope with the Communist internal threat will be undermined-.1 -SECRET- 17 Dec 59 CFKITRAI IkITFI I inrkirc pi II I CTIkl Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 Page 2 Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 varor Increasing African Dissatisfaction in Rhodesia And Nyasaland throwing discontent among moderate Africans in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, together with re- newed activity by extremist elements� is likely to make for a continuing increase in racial tension. Nyasaland. nationalists continue to demand that Nyasaland secede from the Federation. The Consulate General in Salisbury notes widespread dissatisfaction over the slow pace of African advancement and over the tendency of the Europeans to ig- nore or dismiss legitimate African grievances, The surface political quiet in the Federation since the Nyasaland riots of last February stems largely from re- pressive measures taken under emergency regulations-- which initially included the detention of some 1,500 African nationalists--rather than from any solution of fundamental issues. About 500 nationalists are still detained. The In- ternational Red Cross representative in the Federation recently criticized the handling of these detainees, which he characterized as psychologically inept and tending to increase the number of hard-core extremists. The Consulate General states that many Africans doubt that London intends to protect the African state in the Fed- eration, and that the Monckton Commission�recently cre- ated to study possible changes in the Federation constitu- tion--does not .have African support and probably will not finish its study until late 1960. African nationalists have threatened to boycott the activities of the commission. The British Labor party has refused to participate. the,ac- tivities of the commissions largely on the ground that it has not been specifically directed to consider NvasalantTh inde- pendence. SECRET 17 Dec 59 rckiTo A I IKITGI nil. Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361' Page 3 Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C0300 7361 Nigerian Leaders Bargaining on Coalition Government he failure of any one of Nigeria's three major political groupings to win an absolute majority in the federal parlia- mentary election on 12 December has precipitated a period of bargaining for a share in the government which is expected to be in power when Nigeria becomes independent next Octo- ber. The most likely outcome is a coalition cabinet dominated by the Northern People's Congress (NPC), which won a sub- stantial plurality of the 312 seats contested, and including rep- resentatives of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cam- eroons (NCNC), which came in second in the balloting. The NPC is the organization of the Northern Region's conservative Moslem rulers,while the NCNC represents the more dynamic Christian and pagan tribesmen who control the Eastern Region% government. The two parties reached an "understanding" some- time before the election on sharing power; however, this accord was subject to considerable strain during the hotly contested campaign. Incumbent Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, the deputy pres- ident of the NPC, has been nominated by the British Governor General--who believes an NPC-controlled government is essen- tial to Nigeria's stable development--to form the new cabinet. However, the dominant NPC personality is Sir Ahmadu Bello, the premier of the Northern Region, who was not a candidate for the federal legislature. Both Tafawa Balewa and Sir Ahmadu indicated to the American consul in Kaduna on 14 December that the NPC was prepared to accept the NCNC as a coalition partner provided NPC's terms were met. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating in Lagos that the NCNC is "negotiating" with the Western Region'S Action group, which finished third in the voting and is regarded by the NPC as its principal enemy. While such rumors are probably deliberately inspired as part of the bargaining now going on, an NCNC-AG coalition might materialize if the northern leaders set too high a price on sharing power. Such a development might provoke disturbances in the Northern Region:j -CONFIDENTIAL- 17 Dec 59 rFkITDA I IMTPI I Inckirc DhIlITlkI Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 Page 4 Approved for Release: 26-1075g21 C03007361 THE WEST De Gaulle Sees No Agreement Possible With US Over North Africa ailench President de Gaulle takes a very serious view of the United States' abstention in the UN vote on the Algerian resolution on 12 December, tne tny vote provea that "political agreement with the United States on North Africa is impossible" and afforded conclu- sive evidence of the unsoundness of the top-level French mil- itary view that France and the United States could reconcile their differences by bilateral consultation. Specific problems cited by the French military include the supplying of US arms to Morocco and NATO financial support for the Bizerte naval base. De Gaulle's preoccupation with North Africa is a major factor underlying his controversy with NATO. His withdrawal of the Mediterranean fleet and his refusal to permit the inte- gration of French air forces stems in part from his desire to keep his armed forces free for this priority national mission. De Gaulle also appears to share the view of many Frenchmen that the United States is seeking to replace France as the dom- inant influence in North Africa. NATO Secretary General Spaak told Secretary Herter on 14 December that there is a "sentiment of revolt" within the Atlantic alliance over France's obstruction of progress in keep- ing up NATO defenses. Similar uneasiness, reported among the top-level French military officials, expressed in much of the French presq and evident in all the parliamentary groups except those representing the Union for the New Republic and the Communists, leaves De Gaulle virtually isolated in his de- fense policy. , French military officials agree that continued American military aid is needed if France's armed forces are not to deteriorate drastically. They fear, how- ever, that De Gaulle will ignore their advice in this respect be- cause of his attitude toward thp TTnitpd ,qtateRt nngitinn nn 1+Inrt African questions. SECRET 17 Dec 59 Apirr.o7e7Toi"- Page 5 .0..� AMY. � 11.11 � � ��� � Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 C03007361 140 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 Director, Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization Director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination Chairman, Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy Executive Secretary, National Security Council 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 Secretzry 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 Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs 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 Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of Navy Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Commander in Chief, Pacific The Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director Atomic Energy Commission The Chairman National Security Agency The Director National Indications Center The Director --eVOLIDENTTAT Approved for Release: 2020/02/21 003007361 ri