CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/05/01

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03150418
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: May 1, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/05 C03150418/
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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Nue '1110,
CONTENTS
1. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
vici (page 3).
00 2. HAMMARSKJOLD MAY APPEAL TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ON ISRAEL'S ATTITUDE (page 5).
01/)3. INDONESIAN TERRITORIAL COMMANDERS THREATEN
CIVIL WAR AT DJAKARTA ARMY CONFERENCE
(page 6).
D IL) 4. LAOTIAN POLICY MAY HARDEN TOWARD PATHET LAO
(page 7).
0 )1)5. HONDURAS ORDERrSA7 TO MOVE INTO AREA DISPUTED
WITH NICARAGUA (page 8).
6 6. AFGHAN GOVERNMENT OFFERS DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT
TO RICHARDS MISSION (page 10).
i) 7. PEIPING INCREASES CONSUMER PRICES
06 8. TURKISH TROOPS MOVING TO SYRIAN BORDER
(page 12).
(page 11).
1 May 57
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1. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
urfew in Amman and Jerusalem was
urther relaxed on 30 April to permit
e population to move out of doors be-
tween 0700 and 1900 hours. Jerusalem
remains calm and government depart-
ments in Amman are reported to have
closed for the post-Ramadan holidays.
The military governors in the West
ordanian districts of Jerusalem and
Hebron, however, on 29 April ordered
that school vacations, which were to have
ended this week end, be extended until
iirthP r nnti eP
The Jordan government's rounaup aria
surveillance of antiregime elements con-
tinue, and centers of Egyptian influence
are being neutralized. The Egyptian gov-
ernment-controlled Middle East News
Agency was entered and searched by police
and its personnel interrogated.
The fissures in the facade of Arab unity
have apparently forced Egypt to attempt to retrieve some advan-
tage by making good on its promise to contribute to the financial
support of the Jordanian army.
1 May 57
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"legislation was being pre--
pared regarding the payment of Egypt's share of the subsidy,"
and that authorization would be given this week.
Meanwhile, between 700 and 800 British
Royal Air Force airfield defense and administrative personnel
are to be evacuated from the new Mafraq airfield by the end
of May,
Hussain is reported to have
observed that he was confident that S rian forces
would also be out of Jordan by that time.
1 May 57
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2. HAMMARSKJOLD MAY APPEAL TO GENERAL
ASSEMBLY ON ISRAEL'S ATTITUDE
Secretary General Hammarskjold has
stated that before long it might be neces-
sary to report to the General Assembly
on the Israeli attitude toward the UN
Emergency Force (UNEF). He told Am-
assa or o e on 25 April that unless Israel's attitude
changed, he feared that contributing governments would be-
gin to withdraw UNEF contingents, thus threatening the whole
program.
Meanwhile, Premier Ben-Gurion has
written Hammarskjold welcoming him to visit Israel but
-warning that the questions of UNEF deployment on the armi-
stice lines and implementation of the armistice agreements-
could not be discussed. Deputy SecretaryQeneral Corclier
told the Israeli representative that Hammarskjold would prob-
ably consider such terms unsatisfactory.
Several members of Hammarskjold's ad-
visory committee on Suez have expressed their view that
Israel's refusal to permit UN troops on its territory is seri-
ously jeopardizing the position of the UNEF. Hammarskjold
presumably is considering asking for a special session of
the GeneralAssembiy.sjnce it is not due to reconvene until
September.
1 May 57
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3. INDONESIAN TERRITORIAL COMMANDERS THREATEN
CIVIL WAR AT DJAKARTA ARMY CONFERENCE
Lt. Col. Hussein of Central Sumatra
and Lt. Col. .SanviaL of East Indonesia
both stated at the army conference in
Djakarta on 27 April that they would if
necessary resort to civil war in support of their objectives,
Hussein stated that Suma-
trans do not wish a final break with Djakarta, but that every
recent government move appeared specifically designed to
cause this. He repeated the Sumatran demand that former
vice president Hatta be returned to his "rightful place" in
the government. Hussein was fully supported by Lt. Col.
Barlian, the commander in South Sumatra, and by the chief
of staff of the Borneo command, who also warned the cen-
tral government to pay full attention to provincial affairs.
President Sukarno personally requested
a copy of Hussein's speech.
,Comment
The possibility of open conflict in Indo-
nesia has been greatly increased by the
territorial commanders' blunt demands. Almost any acci-
dent or appearance of government coercion could now precipi-
tate regional warfare.
Sukarno will try to avoid any action that
would cause violence, but he will continue to work for a cen-
tralized state. He will probably attempt to win back provin-
cial loyalties through promises of regional development pro-
grams, and work to undercut the provincial commanders by
army reorganization and by fomenting local disunity.
1 May 57
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4., LAOTIAN POLICY MAY HARDEN TOWARD PATHET LAO
Evidence has accumulated that Prime
Minister Souvanna Phouma, who has
favored a "soft" policy toward the
Pathet Lao, may resign when the as-
sembly reconvenes on 11 May, according to the American
ambassador in Laos. Possibly in anticipation of political
change, the Pathet Lao delegation in Vientiane is now re-
ceiving cooler treatment at social affairs and in the press.
Laotian leaders are favorably impressed
by the tripartite US- 01C-French note published in Vientiane
on 25 April affirming support for the royal government's
sovereignty but noting that the reunification of Laos had
been impeded because of "extraneous conditions" posed by
the Pathets. The crown prince is reported as saying that
the note would have great value as a cornerstone on which
a new government could build its policy on the Pathet Lao
problem. Both the Indian and Polish truce commissioners
have introduced resolutions in the International Control
Commission charging the Western powers with interference
in Laos' internal affairs.
1 May 57
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5. HONDURAS ORDERS ARMY TO MOVE INTO AREA
DISPUTED WITH NICARAGUA
Honduran troops have been ordered
to assume military control of the en-
tire area disputed with Nicaragua,
according to the Honduran foreign
minister on 29 April. This difficult
jungle and swamp area includes ter-
ritory which has been under effective
Nicaraguan jurisdiction for 20 years
JiREAN S E A
HONDURAS
TEGUCIGALPA�
A A.
IESI Area of de facto �,
Nicaraguan control
since 1937
MANAGUA
CT] Area in dispute
FZ Area of new Department created
by Honduras
Limit of Segovia River watershed
MIVS 290
1 MAY 1957
1 May 57
� 1906 award
boundary
NICARAGUA
10
ti:coragrio
GRACIAS A DIGS
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vi
and in which small Nicaraguan patrols are believed to be
operating. The entire area was assigned to Honduras in
an arbitral award in 1906 which is not recognized by Nica-
ragua.
Nicaraguan president Somoza told the
American ambassador last March that if Nicaraguan troops
are attacked in this area, he will order an immediate march
on the Honduran capital.
Honduran authorities are inciting pub-
lic feeling largely for domestic political reasons, while the
Nicaraguan government, whose forces are superior to those
of Honduras, is calm and confident and is continuing its plans
for the inauguration of President Somoza on 1 May.
1 May 57
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6. AFGHAN GOVERNMENT OFFERS DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT
TO RICHARDS MISSION
Afghan foreign minister Naim, during his
recent visit in Karachi, told the American
ambassador on two occasions that Prime
Minister Daud, when he visits Egypt in mid-
May, would e o be "helpful" to the Richards mission.
Though Naim gave no indication of what
Daud might be willing to do, his unusual offer, which pre-
sumably would not have been made without Daud's assent, is
a further indication of Afghan approval of the American pro-
posals for the Middle East.
The Afghan royal family may have become
increasingly suspicious of the Soviet Union as a result of the
USSR's support for antimonarchical elements during the crisis
in Jordan. Daud might accordingly urge Nasr to invite the Rich-
ards mission to Cairo even though he probably would not urge
Nasr to cut his ties with the USSR.
1 May 57
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7. PEIPING INCREASES CONSUMER PRICES
4)6
Reacting to the inflationary pressures
built by the tremendous increase last
year in the investment program and in
worker and peasant incomes, Peiping
has allowed a limited price rise on cer-
tain consumer goods. The goods af-
fected by the increases are chiefly agri-
cultural products, such as pork and
edible oils, and cigarettes and woolen
textiles.
The actual price increases on affected
commodities are higher than the announced 2-percent aver-
age which is spread over the entire range of consumer goods,
since prices of consumer staples like foodgrains and cotton
cloth have not been raised. Rations of these staples have,
however, been cut and the rationing system tightened.
The Chinese Communists have apparently
suffered a considerable loss of domestic popularity in the
past year as a result of shortages of food and other consumer
goods.
the people are increasingly disposed to make more
critical judgments of the regime.
Peiping has admitted that these inflation-
ary pressures, coupled with last year's disappointing harvest,
resulted in critical market shortages of raw materials and
consumer goods. To assist the Chinese Communists over
the present critical period, the Soviet Union has agreed to
reduce 1957 Chinese deliveries of pork, edible oil, and pig iron,
and other goods in short supply.
1 May 57
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8. TURKISH TROOPS MOVING TO SYRIAN BORDER
At least two Turkish infantry regi-
ments and three light artillery battalions
of the 28th Infantry Division and units of
the Fifth Armored Brigade, stationed at
Ankara, have begun moving south to Isken-
derun, according to the American army attach�n Ankara.
Eight to ten days will be required for completion of the move.
These troops, in addition to the 39th Division, which has al-
ready moved to the area, will raise the total troop strength
to over 20,000 along the Syrian border between the Euphrates
and the Mediterranean.
1 May 57
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