CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/10/10

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03153731
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: October 10, 1957

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
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10 October 1957
DOCUMENT NO.
Copy No.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. pie
Fl DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REV:EVI DATE: 261
AUTH: HR 70-
DATE/1 iEVIEVVER: _
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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Pink 41
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Ire ISO
CONTENTS
P,gd
1. BRITISH RENEW CAMPAIGN FOR MORE RESEARCH
COOPEATION WITH UNITED STATES
(page 3).
2. BRITAIN REOPENS QUESTION OF TROOP REDUCTIONS
IN WEST GERMANY (page 4).
71-0 3. GOMULKAS POSITION AFTER WARSAW RIOTS
(page 5).
4. PEIPING PROPOSES POSTPONEMENT OF SINO-BURMESE
BORDER SETTLEMENT (page 6).
5. TRIBAL UNREST IN YEMEN
(page 8)0
10 Oct 57
* * * *
T117. TATWA7 STRAIT
(page 10)
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1. BRITISH RENEW CAMPAIGN FOR MORE RESEARCH
COOPERATION WITH 'UNITED STATES
Comment on:
British public and official reaction to
the Soviet earth satellite indicates
that London will step up its attempts
to obtain increased American coopera-
tion on military research and development. The first step
in the renewed British campaign was Foreign Office Deputy
Undersecretary Dean's statement to an American embassy
official on 7 October that he hoped Congress and the adminis-
tration would now be agreeable to more extensive collabora-
tion on weapons and delivery systems.
Should such cooperation fail to develop,
Britain might try to expand the seven-nation Western Euro-
pean Union mechanism for cooperation on military research.
The organization's Standing Armaments Committee has al-
ready arranged for some specialization by individual mem-
bers.
In noting the "vastly increased re-
spect for Soviet scientific achievement," the American em-
bassy suggests that the British public may now give more
serious attention to Soviet experience with a planned econo-
my and state direction of scientific education.
The public's interest in reaching dis-
armament and political agreements with the USSR may also
be increased. This would put pressure on the Macmillan
government to drop its support for the comprehensive West-
ern disarmament proposals lest the Labor party gain fur-
ther popular advantage.
10 Oct 57
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varl Nov
2. BRITAIN REOPENS QUESTION OF TROOP REDUCTIONS
IN WEST GERMANY
Comment on:
Acting on "urgent instructions," the
British NATO representative has
raised with Secretary General Spaak
the need for early WEU approval of
Britain's plan to reduce its troops in West Germany by
another 13,500.
The violent allied reaction last spring
to Britain's announcement that it intended to reduce its
NATO forces in West Germany by 27,000 resulted in a QOM-
promise under which only half of this number would be with-
drawn during the following year. Arrangements for the other
half, including the location of the 5,000-man strategic re-
serve, were left for consideration at an October WEU meet-
ing following a special NATO review of over-all resources
and defense aims in the light of modern weapons. This re-
view is not yet complete and no date has been set for the
VVEU meeting.
The British say a strained foreign ex-
change position will not permit them to pay Deutsche marks
for support of their forces in West Germany after March 1958.
They claim that decisions on both the military and financial
aspects of this situation are required at least by November
in order to fit Britain's budgetary planning cycle. The talks
which General Norstad is currently undertaking in London
with Foreign Secretary Lloyd and Defense Minister Sandys
are expected to focus on retention of the 5,000-man reserve
group in Germany, which is probably the most the British
would concede.
10 Oct 57
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3. GOMULKA'S POSITION AFTER WARSAW RIOTS
Comment on:
Although the Warsaw riots have cost
Gomulka some popular support, his
leadership has not been seriously
threatened. Gomulka's success in
quelling the disturbances without making concessions
has pointed up to party members his indispensable
role.
The events of the past week demon-
strate Gomulka's determination to prevent any further
liberalization at present. Most Poles apparently feel
that his leadership provides the best hope under exist-
ing conditions, but the attitude of students and intel-
lectu�ds is changing from resignation to more active
opposition. This small but highly vocal group is ac-
tive on the fringes of the party and probably will con-
stitute a continuing source of difficulties for the re-
gime.
Gomulka shows no sign of acced-
ing to the students' demands to lift the ban on the
liberal magazine Po Prostu--the move which touched
off the disturbances. The situation is returning to
normal and the Polytechnical University--closed from
Friday through Tuesday--has reopened.
10 Oct 57
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Nar"
4. PEIPING PROPOSES POSTPONEMENT OF SINO-BURMESE
BORDER SETTLEMENT
Comment on:
Further talks on 3 October between
Chou En-lai and special Burmese
emissary U Myint Thein reveal that
Communist China intends to delay
indefinitely a settlement of the Sino-
Burmese border issue. Chou declared there was "no hurry"
for the settlement of specific issues inasmuch as the "prin-
ciples" of a border settlement had been reached. He sug-
gested that a settlement should await a plebiscite in the
Shan State on whether it will continue to adhere to the Bur-
mese Union. The constitution provides for a plebiscite,
but the Burmese government is not likely to permit seces-
sion.
Chou further pro-
posed a joint commis-
sion to make full field
surveys and come up
with recommendations
for final settlement,
but he suggested that
it was too late to make
the surveys this year.
Chou's
views of the problems
to be solved include de-
lineation of the north-
ern frontier, further
concessions of Bur-
mese territory near
Hpimaw in the Kachin
State, and grants to
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10 Oct 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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China of Burmese territory in the Wa States in exchange
for the strategic Namwan Leased Tract in northeastern
Burma.
Apparently to forestall strong Bur-
mese reaction to delays in reaching a border agreement,
Chou urged that a "friendship pact" be signed to avoid
"embarrassing either side," and to assure Burma that
no border areas would be "forcibly disturbed." Myint
Thein countered by reiterating Rangoon's position that
any treaty of friendship should be signed simultaneously
with a treaty settling the border dispute.
10 Oct 57
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5. TRIBAL UNREST IN YEMEN
Comment on:
A smoldering revolt by tribes in
southeastern Yemen has threatened
the Imam's control of several districts
near the frontier with Aden Protector-
ate. The Imam has been compelled
to raise a force to march against the
rebels,
and he
has also dispatched newly arrived
Soviet bloc armored cars to the rebellious area0
in the border center of Harib, which was a base
for the Imam's adventures against Western Aden Protector-
ate earlier in the summer, reported "we have lost hope,"
described the situation in Harib and Marib as "desperate,"
and expressed hope that the relief force would arrive. Harib
was advised not to relax its efforts and was assured that
military assistance was on the way.
Harib reported that the situation there and in Matib
had improved.
The trouble may be at least in part
inspired by the British, since it has taken place in an area
from which the Imam during the summer invaded lands
claimed by British -protected rulers of the Western Aden
Protectorate. King Saud
said he had that some of the rebellious
tribes in southeast Yemen had been armed by the British.
Tribal restlessness has been growing
in Yemen in recent months, reflecting opposition to Crown
Prince Badr, who is relying on Soviet bloc arms to help him
succeed his ailing father. Use of armored cars in the
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rebellious area may confirm in the minds of local leaders
that this is Bath.% real objective in promoting the purchase
of Soviet bloc equipment.
If the Imam fails to put down the re-
bellion, the revolt may spread to other areas which resent
his harsh rale. The Imams of Yemen are traditionally
elected by chiefs of the northern tribes. The principal
candidate of these groups appears to be the Imam's eldest
brother, Prince Hassan, now in virtual exile as head
the Yemeni delegation to the United Nations.
10 Oct 57
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J V Jr. JUL.F./1-41. V
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SUMMARY
12 September - 9 October 1957
THE 'TAIWAN STRAIT
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Taiwan Strait Problem
There were no significant developments in the area
during the period.
10 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
CONFIDENTIAL
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