CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/03/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03160431
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: March 21, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160431
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
Copy No. 131
DC.1CLINIENT
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
. UN OFFICIAL OUTLINES SITUATION IN GAZA STRIP
(page 3).
2. NASR TELLS SAUD HE WILL RECEIVE RICHARDS MISSION
(page 4).
3. USSR ENCOURAGES EGYPT'S FIRM STAND ON GAZA
(page 5).
4. ISRAELI SHIPPING IN THE GULF OF AQAB
(page 6).
5. SYRIAN EXTREME RIGHTISTS MAY ENTER CURRENT
STRUGGLE (page 7).
6. NEW SYRIAN ARMS CONTRACTS WITH USSR
(page 8).
19
7. PHILIPPINE LIBERAL PARTY SEES CHANCE FOR COME-
BACK
(page 9).
8',
CHOU EN-LAI DECIDES TO MEET WITH BURMESE PRE-
MIER IN KUNMING (page 10).
21 Mar 57
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41114
1. UN OFFICIAL OUTLINES SITUATION IN GAZA STRIP
A UN official has informed a member
of the American delegation that press
reports concerning the situation in the
Gaza strip and the nature of Egyptian
activity there are not accurate. Accord-
ing to this official, some shift of UN troops designed to place
a higher proportion of them on the Egyptian-Israeli armistice
line has begun, but it is not contemplated that all, or even two
thirds, of the UNEF will now be placed on the line.
As of 19 March, UN officials on the scene
reported that the strip was completely peaceful, with no dem-
onstrations and no Egyptian troops in evidence. Units of the
UNEF were to be seen throughout the strip. UNEF headquar-
ters is remaining in Gaza city, although it has moved out of
the building originally used by it. Reports that the force
planned to move to El Auja, in the demilitarized zone farther
south, are stated to be completely without foundation.
The UN relief agency has not, as some re-
ports stated, turned over its functions to the Egyptians; on the
contrary, it is resuming full responsibility for all refugee mat�
ters, and this constitutes full control as far as two thirds of the
strip's population is concerned.
21 Mar 57
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Anch Azirrn, T771.777117 47
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2. NASR TELLS SAUD HE WILL RECEIVE RICHARDS MISSION
Comment Ambassador Richards is tentatively sched-
uled to arrive in Cairo on 28 April.
It is unlikely that Nasr expects to gain much
from the Richards mission and there are indications he is en-
couraging Jordanian and Syrian hostility to it.
Nasr's reference to Aqaba suggests he
still wants to convince Saud that problems such as this should
be resolved before any decision is made regarding co-operation
with the United States.
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oft /.013 SLCULT
3. USSR ENCOURAGES EGYPT'S FIRM STAND ON GAZA
G. T. Zaitsev, chief of the Middle
East Division of the Soviet Foreign
Ministry, advised the Egyptian ambas-
sador . that he did not see
"great danger in the Gaza events" and
commended Ezvpt for its "firm stand there,"
Zaitsev urged Egypt to try to get rid
of all United Nations Emergency Forces "in the fastest time,
before other forces replace them."
Comment
Moscow radio told Arab audiences on 13
March that the UNEF personnel "should
take off their blue hats and return to their homelands," and
Soviet deputy foreign minister Zorin privately warned Cairo
on 7 March that "General Burns might one day call American
troops" into Gaza and that "once in, they will be difficult to
get out."
Although Cairo would almost certainly
interpret the Soviet remarks as support for the Egyptian po-
sition, it apparently does not intend to press for the withdrawal
of the UNEF from Gaza at this time. Cairo consulted the So-
viet Union and India before issuing its "communiqu�on the
Suez Canal.
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4. ISRAELI SHIPPING IN THE GULF OF AQABA
Comment on:
Contrary to earlier reports, it now
appears that no Israeli-flag vessel
has yet passed the former Egyptian
blockade positions at the entrance of
the Gulf of Aqaba and that neither
Israel nor Egypt regards the passage
of foreign flag vessels under present
conditions as constituting tests of
Israel's right to free and innocent
passage.
The Malkat Sheva (Queen of Sheba),
which was to have sailed from Eilat for the straits on 18
March, returned to port. From 10 November until this
week, this ship sailed between Eilat and Massawa, Eritrea,
under Israeli colors; it has now resumed its previous name,
Pandora, and its Costa Rican flag, under which it reportedly
departed Eilat on 20 March.
A Cairo press report that Saudi Arabia
would oppose by force the passage of Israel-bound shipping
at this time appears to be without foundation.
King Saud's fear that
Israel "will undertake some unpredictable, surprise action"
and his belief that the Arabs should maintain "calm and quiet"
so that the Israelis cannot use any Arab action to attain their
aims. The passage used by vessels going through the straits
appears in any case to be beyond the effective range of the
25-pounder artillery which the Saudis placed on the eastern
shore last summer.
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AM& 3 LA-1(E i
5. SYRIAN EXTREME RIGHTISTS MAY ENTER
CURRENT STRUGGLE
Leaders of the extreme rightist Syrian
Socialist National Party exiled in Lebanon
have decided to capitalize on the present
Syrian crisis by launching a coup d'etat
against the leftist government clique in Damascus,
The party's "fighters" in Lebanon
were ordered to assemble and be ready to move to Syria by
the evening of 19 March.
Comment
The Baath has been engaged in trying to
liquidate the Socialist Nationalists during
the past several years and has largely broken their strength
inside Syria even though many adherents still remain there.
The Socialist Nationalists do, however, maintain a disciplined
and fanatic cadre in Lebanon which could create trouble inside
Syria.
If this group intervenes in the present Syrian
situation, the currently contending factions might well draw together
into a common front against the Socialist Nationalists, since
both G-2 chief Sarraj and the leaders of the group which is try-
ing to oust him are opposed to the Socialist Nationalists' aims.
Chances of eliminating leftist influence in Syria would then be
considerably reduced.
21 Mar 57
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6. NEW SYRIAN ARMS CONTRACTS WITH USSR
Comment on:
The Syrian arms mission in Moscow
asked Damascus to indi-
cate the quantity desired of napalm
bombs for use by jet planes. Since
napalm bombs were not included in
the initial contract under the Novem-
ber Soviet-Syrian arms agreement, additional contracts
appear to be under consideration. On the same day, Syria
confirmed orders for four additional radar-controlled
85-mm. antiaircraft guns and 500 additional 12.7-mm. ma-
chine guns.
The initial contract included up to 30
MIG-17 aircraft, over 300 artillery pieces and several hun-
dred vehicles. A substantial part, including possibly as
many as 20 MIG-17's, has already been delivered. Soviet
military technicians have accompanied this materiel to as-
semble it and instruct in its use.
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41* Aft
7. PHILIPPINE LIBERAL PARTY SEES CHANCE
FOR COMEBACK
Leaders of the opposition Liberal
Party, now free of a commitment to
help re-elect Magsaysay in Novem-
ber, decided in a strategy meeting
on 18 March to persuade a former Speaker of the House,
Jose Yulo, to run as their candidate, according to a Lib-
eral congressman. They believe the Nacionalista Party
will split over support for the ultranationalist Recto or
the new incumbent, President Garcia, opening the way to
a victory for the Liberal Party in the election.
Comment In conversations with American offi-
cials, the Liberals have pointed out
that their own foreign policy views are closer to Magsay-
say's than those of the Nacionalistas, who traditionally
have stood for a narrow nationalism.
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8. CHOU EN-LAI DECIDES TO MEET WITH BURMESE
PREMIER IN KUNMING
CommentLon:
Premier Chou En-lai, con-
trary to an earlier decision, will make
an effort to meet with Burmese premier
U Nu on the border question when the
latter isits Yunnan Province the end of this week. Origi-
nally, Vice Premier Ho Lung had been scheduled to do the
honors.
Chou's decision is in line with Peiping's
effort to maintain the appearance of reasonableness in re-
gard to a border settlement and thus to forestall renewal of
Rangoon's propaganda campaign on the problem.
21 Mar 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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