CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1959/02/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03023213
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: February 25, 2020
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2020
• Publication Date: February 16, 1959

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February 1959
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No.
CENTRAL
63
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. _
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16 FEBRUARY 1959
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Moscow predicts "inevitable downfall"
of Shah of Iran.
Communist China - Mao's successor
as government chairman likely to be
figurehead.
IL ASIA-AFRICA
Laos - Internal dissension threatens
government stability.
CONFIDENTIAL
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
16 February 1959
DAILY BRIEF
L THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR-Iran: Pravda has followed up Moscow radio's initial
blast at Tehran over the recent breakdown in negotiations for
a nonaggression pact with a pointed article comparing the Shah's
policies with those of the Iraqi Government before the coup last
year. The Shah is charged with failure to consider the will of
the Iranian people in continuing his "perfidious" policy toward the
USSR. This, Pravda asserts, will bring the rulers of Iran to an
inevitable downfall- either throughflighti as in the "Cuban fashion,"
or destruction, as in the "Baghdad style."
Meanwhile,
the Shah has been informed that the USSR
would regard his signing of a bilateral agreement with the US as
a "hostile act."
ommun s 'kely suc-
cessor to Mao Tse-tung as chairman of the Chinese People's
Republic. Chuts
candidacy has been discussed by the local citizens' organizations
which would normally prepare public opinion for the change. The
naming of Chu- -a highly respected but rather unimportant party
elder--would maintain the present balance among the top leader-
ship, which might be upset if either Liu Shao-chi or Chou En-lai
Mao's nrincinal lieutenants, were selected.
(Page 1)
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Laos: Dissension between conservative leaders of Premie
Phoui's political party and young reformists in his cabinet is
threatening the stability of the Phoui government
(Page 2)
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Peiping Preparing for Transfer of Mao's Government Role
To Chu Teh
Chu Teh's
candidacy for the chairmanship of the Chinese People's Republic
was being discussed as early as mid-January by "street corn-
mittees"--the local citizens' organizations which would normally
prepare public opinion for such changes. The 72-year-old Chu,
the present vice chairman and a highly respected but rather un-
important party figure, is a logical choice to succeed Mao Tse-
tung in the largely ceremonial government pos-1:_;
The naming of Chu to the chairmanship would maintain the
balance within the Chinese top leadership which might be upset
if either Liu Shao-chi or Chou En-lai, Mao's principal lieutenants,
were selected. Chu has been described as a sort of "lubricating
oil" among the leadership--a man who would be willing to remain
a figurehead and permit the real political power to lie elsewhere.
(Chu has been closely associated with Mao since the early
days of the party and probably ranks next to him in popularity.
Regarded as the "grand old man" of the Chinese Communist Army,
Chu commanded Peiping forces from 1928 to 1945, and nominally
until 1954. He now is an elder statesman of the regime, occupy-
ing a number of senior party and government posts in which he ap-
pears primarily as a spokesman for Mac.,
16 Feb 59
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IL ASIA-AFRICA
Laotian Premier Threatened by Political Bickering
Dissension between conservative leaders of Premier Phoui's
political party and young reformists in his cabinet is threatening
government stability in Laos. The young reformers and army lead-
ers are reported opposing the premier's efforts to fulfill his
pledges to give executive and diplomatic posts to party members
who voted him full powers on 14 January. Phoui fears an ultima-
tum from his party supporters either to fulfill his pledges crr to
resign from the party:c
(The reformists and their army supporters are withholding
funds with which to satisfy the party leaders' demands and are
urging Phoui to. discard his conservative support. Although the
reformers represent leadership and strength in the Vientiane
area and within the army, the party represents the traditional
local leadership, and the reformers have little grass-roots sup-
port. Phoui is reported tired and discouraged and anxious to
avoid decisive action4
16 Feb 59
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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
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 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
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 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
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
United States Information Agency
The Director
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