CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/02/22

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03153747
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: February 22, 1958

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22 February 1958
Copy No. 17
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLA
I-1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: T
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: J1R17
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22 FEBRUARY 1958
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR appears concerned over reaction
in East German party to purge by
Ulbricht.
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Indonesia - Dissidents say Indonesian
Air Force bombed two Sumatran towns.
Egyptian-Syrian plebiscite on union
conducted without serious incident.
Nasir backs down in Sudan border
dispute; agrees to put off negotiations.
Bourguiba's closure of French con-
sulates makes any French conciliatory 0
gesture unlikely.
III. THE WEST
French defense minister's plan to re-
inforce French strength in Algeria will
be difficult to carry out.
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR - East Germany: The Soviet Union appears to
be concerned over the adverse reactions within the East
German Socialist Unity (Communist) party, to the recent
purge by Ulbricht. If the opposition to Ulbricht appears
to be so strong as to threaten party unity, the Kremlin
may be persuaded to reassess the political-economic
situation in East Germany.
it is likely that they will question Fritz
Selbmann, a top Ulbricht opponent, who is now in Mos-
cow.
Indonesia: The rebel government has announced that
the Indonesian Air. Force bombed two Central Sumatran
towns on 21 February. This could be the beginning of
harassing air and naval raids against the dissidents,
within the very limited capabilities of the government
forces. Djakarta will not be able to mount�a ground
attack against Central Sumatra in the near future. Su-
karnots speech on 21 February, while couched in mod-
erate language, did not reveal any intention to make
concessions. (Page 2) (Map)
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
IL ASIA-AFRICA
Egyptian-Syrian union: The plebiscite in Egypt and
Syria expressing approval of union of the two countries
was conducted without serious incident on 21 February,
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despite concern over possible disturbances in Syria. The
governments of Iraq and Jordan have agreed to postpone
recognizing Nasir's United Arab Republic until after formal
federation of Jordan and Iraq on 15 May.
Egyptian-Sudanese dispute: Nasir has retreated from
his previous position and has agreed to earlier Sudanese
proposals to put off negotiations. Nasir ordered plebiscite
commissioners to function in the disputed areas on 21 Feb-
ruary, apparently to maintain Egypt's legal position, but
instructed them not to resist if the Sudanese halted their
activity. The Sudanese have taken into custody a group
of Egyptian officials who entered the Wadi �Haifa area.
Tunisian situation: Bourguiba's closing of five French
consulates in Tunisia has probably set back any show by
Gaillard's government of making conciliatory gestures.
Gaillard's political position has weakened, and he was
able to defeat a rightist motion attacking his Tunisian
)14 policy in the National Assembly on 19 February only be-
cause the 143 Communist deputies abstained. In Tu-
nisia, the government and the population have been
further aroused by reports that the French army unit
at Ramada in southern Tunisia has seized control over
an area about 25 miles in radius.
III. THE WEST
French troops for North Africa: Defense Minister
Chaban-DelmasWans to withdraw 50,000 French troops
from Europe and Central Africa as replacements and re-
inforcements for the army in Algeria. These plans will
be difficult to carry out in view of limited manpower re-
sources in Europe and security and logistical considera-
tions in Black Africa. It is believed that although a
22 Feb 58
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; substantial proportion of the troops will be taken from
:-N, France, the deficiency will be made up by drawing troops
�k from Morocco and by extending the term of conscript serv-
ice beyond 24 months. Growing opposition to the military
t \ pacification effort in Algeria will probably be strengthened.
X\
At the same times political and military extremists can be
expected to increase their insistence on holding firm against
Nthe rebels and Tunisia.
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR Appears Concerned Over East German Reactions
To Party Purge
The Kremlin may be having second thoughts about
the recent East German purge because of the unsettling
effect it is having among the East German Communists.
If the opposition to Ulbricht appears to be so strong as
to threaten party unity, the Kremlin may be persuaded
to reassess the political-economic situation in East Ger-
many. The USSR apparently has felt obliged to retain
Ulbricht for fear that his ouster might encourage exces-
sive popular and party demands for liberalization.
Fritz Selbmann, a top Ulbricht opponent recently
appointed to a subordinate government job and rumored
dropped as a deputy premier, is now in Moscow where
he may be questioned about the East German party situa-
tion by Soviet party leaders. Selbmann is ostensibly
negotiating an atomic energy agreement with the USSR.
Premier Otto Grotewohl left East Berlin on 12 February
for a "health cure" and reportedly is in the Soviet Union.
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22 Feb 58 CENTRAL INTFI I inFw-F RI II I FTIN Page 1
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Admil
MEDAN �
MALAYA
PADAN_
SALIDO
PAINAN
PALEMBANG �
SUMATRA
22 FE1181.1ARY 1958
1110
MILES
DJAKARTA
1 A V.
4-..
80221
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II. ASIA-AFRICA
Aerial and Naval Harassment in Central Sumatra Expected
Indonesian Air Force bombings on 21 February of Painan
and Salido, small Sumatran towns south of the rebel capital
of Padang, as reported by the dissidents, may represent the
first implementation of President Sukarno's firm attitude
toward the dissidents. Djakarta has announced that increased
naval and air strength is to be deployed against dissident-
held areas. These forces have extremely limited capabilities
and probably will be used primarily to enforce economic sanc-
tions, but further harassing raids against the dissidents can
be expected.
Air Vice Marshal Suryaclarma, the air force chief of staff,
apparently has been pressing Sukarno to use force and to avoid
compromise. The air force is Communist-infiltrated, and
both Sukarno and the Communists may independently be using
the air force as an instrument to maintain their positions in
the Indonesian political complex.
The Indonesian Army's plans for dealing with the dissident
problem apparently have not been finalized, and technical
problems and uncertain troop loyalties probably will delay
any contemplated ground action against the dissidents for a
considerable period.
Djakarta's foreign exchange problems, which have been
seriously aggravated by the dissident problem, may be tem-
porarily eased by Soviet assistance. An Indonesian Foreign
Ministry official told an American embassy officer that "in-
teresting" conversations were taking place with the USSR,
which had renewed its offer of foreign exchange assistance.
A deal for several Soviet ships has also been accepted "in
principle."
22 Feb 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
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AL id,
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III. THE WEST
French Reinforcements for Algeria
French Defense Minister Chaban-Delmas' recommenda-
tion that 50,000 French troops be withdrawn from Europe
and Central Africa as replacements and reinforcements for
the army in Algeria will be difficult to implement in view of
limited manpower resources. General Salan, commander of
French forces in Algeria, requested 50,000 reinforcements
in February, and the serious military situation in eastern
Algeria has evidently convinced the defense minister of the
necessity of the move.
The decision to take troops from Black Africa was an-
nounced the day after the notice that withdrawals from Europe
were planned. This may have resulted from concern over
stripping France's NATO contribution. Chief of Staff Ely is
opposed to any cuts in France's NATO-committed units in
Germany, and a large proportion of the personnel in France
are conscripts insufficiently trained for service in Algeria.
The security situation in the Cameroons and the western
Sahara and the logistics problems involved in transporting
forces from these areas seem to rule out this source. With-
drawals from Tunisia are not contemplated. Therefore, un-
less substantial withdrawals are made from French forces
in Morocco, conscripts may be retained in service beyond the
current maximum of 24 months, probably by administrative
decree.
Growing domestic French opposition to the pacification
campaign in Algeria will probably be strengthened by the re-
inforcement program, but political and military extremists
will be encouraged in their refusal of any compromise with
the rebels or Tunisia.
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22 Feb 58
CFNTIMI INTFI I inFKIrF RI III FTIKI Page 3
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
22 February 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR - East Germany: The Soviet U
be concerned over the adverse reactio
German Socialist Unity (Communis
purge by Ulbricht. If the oppos
to be so strong as to threate
may be persuaded to rea
situation in East Ger
appears to
ithin the East
arty, to the recent
n to Ulbricht appears
arty unity, the Kremlin
ss the political-economic
is nicely that tney wiii question Yritz
Selbm7 aloron Mbrieht 9pponent, who is now in Mos-
cow. (Page 1)
Indonesia: The rebel government has announced that
the Indonesian Air. Force bombed two Central Sumatran
towns on 21 February. This could be the beginning of
harassing air and naval raids against the dissidents,
within the very limited capabilities of the government
forces. Djakarta will not be able to mount �a ground
attack against Central Sumatra in the near future. Su-
karno's speech on 21 February, while couched in mod-
erate language, did not reveal any intention to make
concessions nix
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