CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/10/04

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03153726
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: October 4, 1957

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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4 October 1957
Copy No. 3
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DATE .1r
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
. LATEST SOVIET ARMS DELIVERY TO SYRIA
(page 3).
2. IRAQI PALACE REPORTED IN DISAGREEMENT
WITH PRIME MINISTER OVER SYRIA
(page 4).
3. FRENCH CRISIS
(page 5).
4. POLISH STUDENTS RIOT OVER CLOSING OF
LIBERAL JOURNAL (page 6).
5. INDONESIAN ARMY CONSIDERED QUESTIONABLE AS
ANTI-COMMUNIST FORCE (page 7).
ANNEX--Conclusions of the Watch Report of the Intelligence
Advisory Committee
(page ts).
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1, LATEST SOVIET ARMS DELIVERY TO SYRIA
Comment on:
'V
On 27 September the Soviet vessel
Ivan Sechenov arrived in Latakia
carrying substantial quantities of
military equipment.
The vessel's cargo included "arma-
ments"--apparently the 52, 000 light arms Syria had re-
quested the USSR to supply quickly; four of the six motor
torpedo boats which Syria had urgently requested earlier
in September; 37 armored vehicles; four 85-mm0 antiair-
craft guns; 400 heavy machine guns; over 400 radio sets;
16 "repair" vehicles; and ammunition.
Shipments under the last Soviet-
Syrian arms agreement, concluded in November 1966,
have been virtually completed. Deliveries of some types
of arms, particularly aircraft and naval equipment, now
exceed quantities contracted for at that time. It is prob-
able, therefore, that this cargo is an advance delivery
under a new agreement, the draft of which the Syrian arms
purchasing mission in Moscow plans to present on 5 October.
4 Oct 57
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2. IRAQI PALACE REPORTED IN DISAGREEMENT
WITH PRIME MINISTER OVER SYRIA
Comment on:
King Faysal of Iraa told King Hussayn
of Jordan that he was
in "complete disagreement" with Iraqi
Prime Minister All Jawdat's pro-Syrian
statement in Damascus,
Previous reports have indi-
cated that the prime minister's trip to Damascus was not
discussed in advance with palace circles, which advocate a
stiff attitude toward Syria.
The apparent serious policy differences
between the Iraqi prime minister and the palace would seem
to indicate the necessity for some early change in the Iraqi
cabinet. Any move by the palace to replace All Jawdat would
risk violent popular reaction if it were related to his policy
on Syria.
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3. FRENCH CRISIS
Comment on:
The current French political crisis is
provoking an unusual feeling of "solem-
nity and even responsibility" among
politicians and the press, according to
the American embassy in Paris, The realization is spread-
ing that France may lose Algeria and even Black Africa, and
that the economic situation at home may deteriorate rapidly
unless a strong government and positive programs are found
soon. Two million industrial workers are already On strike,
adding their protests to those of farmers, bakers, and prod-
uce retailers.
Foreign Minister Pineau expects the
crisis to last three weeks. President Coty is expected to
call on a center party candidate in an urgent effort to bridge
the widened gap between the non-Communist left and right.
Many newspapers and center elements in
the assembly are intensifying their appeal for constitutional
reform as the only solution to France's problems. General
De Gaulle is reported to have arrived in Paris from his coun-
try retreat to "keep in touch with the situation." The embassy
does not think the situation is yet ripe for his return to power,
but it reports that the deputies are keenly aware that his chances
will increase if the crisis lasts many weeks or another feeble
government is set up.
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4100 Noe
4. POLISH STUDENTS RIOT OVER CLOSING OF
LIBERAL JOURNAL
Comment on:
Some 2, 000 Polish students demon-
strated in Warsaw on 3 October over
the closing of the popular liberal jour-
nal, Po Prostu. The students had gath-
eredTOr a protest meeting, reportedly
at the behest of a unit of the official
youth organization. Several truckloads
of police aided by workers militia from
the Zeran auto works, using rubber
truncheons and tear gas, finally succeeded in dispersing
the demonstrators by midnight. More violence may be ahead
since students say they are planning another protest demon-
stration for Friday evening.
According to press reports, over 30 stu-
dents were arrested, and some Polish journalists were among
those beaten up by the militia. Authorities have announced
"severe proceedings" will be instituted against the partici-
pants.
Po Prostu was closed on orders of the
party, reportedly issued by Gomulka himself, after several
weeks of negotiation in which the good offices of the Polish
journalists' association ha4, failed to mediate the differences
between the party and the editorial board of Po Prostu.
The event reflects the regime's difficulty
in restraining advocates of additional liberalization. The clos-
ing of Po Prostu presumably will not silence the liberals in Po-
land sirice there are other periodicals in which their writings
can be published.
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5. INDONESIAN ARMY CONSIDERED QUESTIONABLE AS
ANTI-COMMUNIST FORCE
Reference:
The Indonesian army may not be as
effective a deterrent to the growth of
Communist influence as had been gen-
erally believed,
The army's effective-
ness as an ac fstorce has been reduced because
its loyalties are divided between Djakarta and the dissident
provincial regimes. This division will undoubtedly con-
tinue as long as Djakarta refuses to make significant con-
cessions to provincial demands.
In addition
the army to be apathetic to the Communist threat and unapie
to understand it. While the army would probably resist a
forceful Communist effort to seize power, there are indica-
tions that it will not oppose peaceful and legal efforts of the
Communists to expand their influence. Communist infiltra-
tion may be a factor and is believed to be most serious among
the enlisted ranks of units stationed in East and Central Java,
where the Communist party has made heavy inroads among
the local populations.
In West Java, the army is badly faction-
alized,with one important grouping being strongly leftist.
The territorial commander, Lt. Col. Kosasih, is a support-
er of Nasution, whose attitude is said to be anti-Communist
but conditioned by loyalty to President Sukarno. Although
most higher officers in Java are believed to be non-Communist,
Kosasihis chief of staff as well as the town commanders of
Djakarta and Bandung are reported to be pro-Communist.
Army units in the outer islands, with
the exception of the 'Second Regiment in North Sumatra,
whose pro-Communist commander was recently arrested,
are believed to be generally anti-Communist. Javanese
troops in these areas, however, are primarily loyal to the
central government, and probably will be inclined to remain
so regardless of its political complexiton.
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ANNEX
Watch Report 3749 3 October 1957
of the
Intelligence Advisory Committee
Conclusions on Indications of hostilities
On the basis of findings by its Watch Committee, the In-
telligence Advisory Committee concludes that:
A. No Sino- Soviet bloc country intends to initiate hostilities
against the continental US or its possessions in the im-
mediate future.
B. No Sino- Soviet bloc country intends to initiate hostilities
against US forces abroad, US allies or areas peripheral
to the orbit in the immediate future.
C. Unstable conditions and tensions stemming from develop-
ments concerning Syria continue to create possibilities for
conflict in the Middle East, Although Turkey continues to
be in position to launch an attack against Syria with little
or no warning, an evaluation of available evidence does not
indicate that Turkey intends to do so in the immediate future.
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