CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/02/13

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03150406
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: February 13, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150406,
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
13 February 1957
Copy No. 131
*GO
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. eltiC
! DFCLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S CUM
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH:tiRO?5
DATE. EVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
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Irt No.
CONTENTS
1. MOSC77)POSALS FOR JOINT ACTION IN MIDDLE
EAST (page 3).
2. SHEPILOV REAFFIRMS SOVIET POLICY OF COEXISTENCE
(page 4).
, C3. INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT' PARTIES CALL FOR "TOTAL
CABINET RESHUFFLE" (page 5).
4. EGYPTIAN FINANCE MINISTER REPORTEDLY SAYS EGYPT
"NEAR DISASTER" (page 6)0
5. SYRIAN ARMY REPORTEDLY AUTHORIZES FIRING ON
ISRAELI BOATS (page 7).
6. PATHET LAO LEADER INDICATES WILLINGNESS TO COM-
PROMISE WITH LAOTIAN CABINET (page 8).
7. EGYPT PUSHING BROADCASTS TO BRITISH EAST AFRICA
(page 9).
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1. MOSCOW PROPOSALS FOR JOINT ACTION IN
MIDDLE EAST
Comment on:
The USSR's notes to the United States,
Britain and France on 11 February are
consistent with the main thrust of the
USSR's Middle East policy during the
past year, which has been aimed at preventing any unilat-
eral intervention, either by the Western powers in concert
or by the United States alone. Moscow probably believes
these strictures against American policy and the proposal
for multilateral action will be favorably received by some
segments of public opinion in Britain and France.
The note to the United States stated that
the situation in the Middle East has recently become "seri-
ously exacerbated" owing to the intentions to use, in a uni-
lateral manner and without United Nations agreement, "the
armed forces of one of the great powers at its own discretion
for intervention in the internal affairs of this region!' The
general principles of a policy of nonintervention, accord-
ing to Moscow, could form the basis of a joint declaration
which would guide the policies of the great powers and "ex-
clude the possibility of dangerous unilateral actions!' This
declaration would be open to adherence by any government
"interested in peace and security!'
The general press reaction in the Arab
states will probably be cautious until official government
lines are established. Privately, however, Arab leaders
are likely to be disturbed and suspicious, since the Soviet
statements will suggest to them the possibility that the great
wers may reach some agreements at the Arabs' expense.
13 Feb 57
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2. SHEPILC7 REAFFIRMS SOVIET POLICY OF COEXISTENCE
Comment on:
Foreign Minister Shepilov's 12 February
foreign policy report to the Supreme So-
viet reaffirmed the general lines of Soviet
policy laid down at the 20th Party Congress
a year ago. It provided further evidence that
the Soviet leaders do not want to revert to a cold war situation
in their relations with the West and tnat they hope eventually to
overcome the setbacks to their prestige and coexistence line
incurred by the suppression of the Hungarian uprising.
Shepilov stressed that the "policy of peaceful
coexistence" remains the "cornerstone of Soviet foreign policy"
and that this is not merely an expedient or a political maneuver
"as our enemies are trying to depictitr He also reaffirmed the
20th Party Congress doctrine that in present conditions "war is
not fatalistically inevitable," claiming that the events in Hun-
gary and the Middle. East confirmed the correctness of this
thesis. The Soviet foreign minister promised that the USSR
would continue to display "the greatest self-control, patience,
and persistence" and that it "will not fall for any provocations:'
Shepilov drew a picture of a strong and united
Socialist bloc standing firm and calm against the disruptive as-
saults of the imperialists. He said the most important factor
in the strength of the Socialist camp is the friendship between
"the brother nations"--the USSR and Communist China. Against
this array of power and solidarity, said Shepilov, the "ruling
circles" of the capitalist world have only one sensible course--
"to finally give up all intentions of 'rolling back Communism' and
to embark on the road of peaceful coexistence:'
The Soviet government, according to Shepi-
loy, believes it is "vitally necessary" to continue to seek solu-
tions to two major problems--disarmament and collective se-
curity in Europe and Asia. However, he indicated no changes
in nlinnanf Qriniclf Tsitions on any of the main East-West issues.
13 Feb 57
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3. INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT PARTIES CALL FOR
"TOTAL CABINET RESHUFFLE"
Indonesia's five government parties have de-
cided on a "total cabinet reshuffle;' which
they will discuss with President Sukarno
on 14 February. The proposed reshuffle
is expected to include the removal of
Prime Minister Ali and may involve the
reintroduction of the Masjumi party into
the government. The moderate Masjumi
resigned 9 January in protest against
cabinet handling of the bloodless revolt in Sumatra.
The parties' decision for a "reshuffle"
rather than a resignation may be an attempt to block Sukarno's
efforts to set up an advisory council, under his own leader-
ship, which would direct the government. Sukarno's plans
reportedly call for the cabinet's resignation, the establish-
ment of his council, and the formation of a newcabineLw1ich
der the domination of the council.
13 Feb 57
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4. EGYPTIAN FINANCE MINISTER REPORTEDLY SAYS
EGYPT "NEAR DISASTER"
Egyptian minister of finance Kaissouni
told one of his subordinates in early
February that Egypt's economic and
political situation "is now close to dis-
aster"and that some changes in the government are immi-
nent,
Kaissouni spoke of the almost complete lack of exports
to the West, dependence on the Soviet bloc for imports
which could be cut off at will, an "almost hopeless" ex-
change position, and the internal upheaval resulting from
sequestration and "Egyptianization" laws.
On the political side, the finance min-
ister said King Saud's acceptance of American proposals
for the Middle East and the renewal of the Dhahran air-
field agreement, plus the continuation of the Baghdad pact,
had isolated Egypt from the other Arab states. He pre-
dicted that Jordan and even Syria would be forced to fall
in line with Lebanese and Iraqi acceptance of the American
proposals.
Comment Kaissouni's pessimism probably stems
from his doubts that Egypt will be able
to obtain American economic assistance. Other Egyptian
officials reportedly have expressed the opinion that the
American Middle East proposals were designed to isolate
Egypt and that countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Yemen
will not receive American assistance because they have
purchased arms from the Soviet Union. This evidence of
declining morale is restricted to the civilian element of
the Nasr regime, however. The military officers who have
the most influence on Nasr appear determined to continue
the policies which have produced Egypt's present critical
economic and political situation.
13 Feb 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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5. SYRIAN ARMY REPORTEDLY AUTHORIZES FIRING ON
ISRAELI BOATS
reports.
The Syrian army reportedly has author-
ized its troops to fire on Israeli boats
on Lake Tiberias (Lake of Galilee) in-
tending to land on "Syrian" soil, the
American army attach�n Damascus
He points out that such an order could provoke
a serious incident.
Comment
A 10-meter strip on the Syrian side of
the lake is Israeli territory under the
Israeli-Syrian armistice agreement. Several shooting in-
cidents reportedly have taken place in this area since 1 Feb-
ruary.
The American embassy in Tel Aviv has
suggested that these incidents indicate that Syrian troops
have returned to forward positions near the lake which were
destroyed in a major Israeli raid in December 1955.
13 Feb 57
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6. PATHET LAO LEADER INDICATES WILLINGNESS TO
COMPROMISE WITH LAOTIAN CABINET
Comment on:
Pathet Lao chief Souphannouvong indi-
cated on 10 February that some agree-
ment could be reached which would satisfy
the Laotian government's demand for ad-
ditional guarantees, according to Prime
Minister Souvanna Phouma's French adviser, who was pres-
ent at a meeting between the two Laotian leaders. Souphan-
nouvong's conciliatory statement suggests he will attempt to
sell some new formula sufficiently vague to meet the form,
but not the substance, of the government's demands.
The Laotian ambassador to the United
States, now in Vientiane, is pessimistic about the situation
and stated on 9 February that even well-informed Laotians
appeared to prefer the risk of an easy settlement, rather
than face a continued struggle with the Pathets.
13 Feb 57
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7. EGYPT PUSHING BROADCASTS TO BRITISH EAST AFRICA
Egypt instructed its representative on
the UN Advisory Council for Somaliland
In Mogadiscio on 6 February to report
continuously news about Kenya, Ugan-
da, and British activities there for use in
broadcak to
British East
Africa. The
representative
was also asked
whether there
should be broad-
casts in English
or Swahili and
whether he has
any faster way
to send the news
than by diplo-
matic mail.
Comment These
Cairo
broadcasts,
aimed primari-
ly at the 40,000
Arabs along the
coast of Kenya
and at the influ-
ential Arab popu-
lation on Zanzibar, have seriously concerned the Kenya govern-
ment since mid-1956. Their themes are generally antiwhite and
anti-imperial.
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The governments of British East Africa
plan to counter the broadcasts by increasing the power of the
radio station at Mombasa, which has an Arabic program, and
by establishing an institute of Islamic studies in East Africa to
develop local religious leaders free of Cairo's influence.
13 Feb 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
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