CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/03/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03150409
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: March 7, 1957

Ii
...Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409e
,Le.g ILPAL"...1A11..LLI
4.4
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
/111
011:
33:53(h)(2)
7 March 1957
1#/
o*.�
nOCUMENT NO. � 3
NO CHANGE IN GI AS.S'.
I /
DECt ASIF!Fl) 04�4
NFXT R'EVIEVY DATE : _ _ o/1;1/
C.LA.3 CHANGED TO: TS
AMU: HR 0 - 2 # a
DATE, 1A111._ffriEVIEWER:
/4/ 0
(0,
71,07/3,113/0/44
Copy No. 131
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
4401k Adik
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
0
CONTENTS
t\1. ISRAEL THREATENS USE OF FORCE TO MAINTAIN INTERESTS
IN GAZA AND AQABA (page 3).
ARABS MOVE TO REPAIR SYRIAN PIPELINE AND BEGIN
SUEZ DISCUSSION (page 5).
01. PETSARATH EXPECTS PREMIERSHIP AFTER RETURN TO
LAOS (page 6).
)4. COMMUNISTS STRENGTHEN MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN
NORTH SUMATRA (page 7).
7 Mar 157
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
I L-11� 41 La
1. ISRAEL THREATENS USE OF FORCE TO MAINTAIN
INTERESTS IN GAZA AND AQABA
Comment on:
While proceeding to withdraw troops and
equipment from the Gulf of Aqaba and the
Gaza strip, Israel at the same time has
' indicated plans for action to uphold what
it considers its rights in these areas.
Israel "next week" will exercise the right
to pass shipping through the Straits of Tiran, according to a
statement by Foreign Minister Meir to UN secretary general
Hammarskjold on 5 March. Mrs. Meir declared that Israeli
naval vessels would be used "if necessary" in this undertak-
ing.
Mrs Meir added that a return by Egypt
to Gaza "in any way, shape or form" would bring into force
Israel's "right of return to Gaza:' She specified that this ap-
plied not only to the initial period of takeover by the UN forces,
but for the future as well. On the other hand, Nasr instructed
Foreign Minister Fawzi to tell
Hammarskjold that Egypt would not agree to a non-Egyptian
administration for the Gaza strip.
Hammarskjold told Ambassador Lodge he
had avoided taking any position on the substance of Mrs. Meir's
statement because he wished to avoid any excuse for stopping
Israel's withdrawal. Hammarskjold said he did not know what
to do because, in view of Israel's attitude, he could not nego-
tiate with Egypt on either Suez or Gaza.
7 Mar 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 3
'FOP SECR-E4
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
v
Recent information suggests that the French
intend to maintain a small parachute force--probably no more
than 500 men�on Cyprus as a nucleus for expansion if the
French decide to provide further military assistance to Israel.
The British have about 24,500 troops on Cyprus, including an
800-man commando battalion.
7 Mar 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Ulf/ N/.11,11/1N 1111.4
2. ARABS MOVE TO REPAIR SYRIAN PIPELINE AND
BEGIN SUEZ DISCUSSIONS
Comment on:
There are indications that Nasr, now
that Israel is in process of withdrawal,
feels it necessary to make some con-
ciliatory gestures to relieve expected
pressures on Egypt from the West. Press
reports state that Syria has given permis-
sion for repair of the Iraq Petroleum
Company (IPC) pipelines sabotaged last
November, and a UN source in Cairo re-
ports Nasr has instructed his foreign min-
ister to proceed to discuss a settlement
of the Suez Canal issue.
These moves do not indicate any basic
change in the Egyptian position on these issues. If Israel de-
lays its withdrawal, or Egypt feels it is not obtaining its aims
in the Gaza strip or the Gulf of Aqaba, action on these moves
may be abandoned.
Nasr told the UN source that clearance of
the tug Edgar Bonnet--the principal remaining obstacle to trans-
it of ships up to 10,000 tons or up to 25-foot draft--could be-
gin as soon as the Israelis gave "concrete evidence" of with-
drawing. The US naval attache in Cairo estimated that three
weeks' Work after beginning the removal of the Bonnet would
be required to complete this first phase of clearance.
7 Mar 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
3. PETSARATH EXPECTS PREMIERSHIP AFTER
RETURN TO LAOS
Prince Petsarath expects to become
Laotian prime minister after supple-
mentary elections are held in May,
Both Prime Minister Souvanna
Phouma and Pathet chief Souphannouvong have agreed in
principle to this. They expect their half brother to play a
unifying role in the settlement of the Pathet Lao problem
following his return in late March.
Comment Petsarath is plan-
ning to return to Vientiane about 22
March after 11 years of self-exile in Thailand. Negotiations
between the government and the Pathet Lao are deadlocked. If
a settlement is reached following his return, his great pres-
tige as a Laotian nationalist would seem to fit him to preside
over a coalition government as a symbol of national unity.
He is authoritarian and would provide strong leadership for
Laos. His great self-confidence may make him believe that
he can manipulate the Communists to his own advantage.
7 Mar 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409
-*
4. COMMUNISTS STRENGTHEN MILITARY CAPABILITIES
IN NORTH SUMATRA
The �prb-Coinniiinis-t regimental com-
mander at Siantar, in North Sumatra,
Lt. Col. Machmoui, has split with the
area's territorial commander, Lt. Col.
Ginting Machmour
has set up a village defense organization throughout the rub-
ber-rich area along the east coast of Sumatra. The organi-
zation is Communist dominated and numbers between 12,000
and 15,000, of whom approximately 1,500 are armed.
Comment Machmour has been arming members of the
Communist-dominated estate workers'
union, SARBUPRI, ever since the North Sumatran revolt of
last December. His village security organization has enrolled
all village youths in the area, and military training has been
carried on under the direction of the local SARBUPRI chief.
Machmour appears to be working with the
Communists to defeat an autonomous movement in the east
coast area and to undermine the strongly anti-Communist
and largely autonomous Central Sumatran regime.
The army chief of staff, General Nasution,
who has been equivocal on President Sukarno's concept for a
reorganized government, is now reported in "serious disagree-
ment' with the president over Communist participation in the
government.
7 Mar 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03150409