CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/01/03

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161975
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: January 3, 1957

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
Copy No.
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. BEN-GURION ASKS US TO GUARANTEE FREE PASSAGE
IN GULF OF AQABA (page 3).
(page 4).
2. SITUATION IN INDONESIA
3. EGYPTIAN INTENT TO SABOTAGE PERSIAN GULF OIL
FACILITIES REAFFIRMED (page 5).
4. EGYPTIAN ABROGATION OF 1954 TREATY WITH BRITAIN
(page 6).
5. SYRIAN CABINET LEADER FAVORS CLOSE CO-OPERATION
WITH USSR (page 7).
6. SOVIET AID TO YEMEN
3 Jan 57
(page 8).
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1. BEN-GURION ASKS US TO GUARANTEE FREE PASSAGE
IN GULF OF AQABA
Israeli prime minister Ben-Gurion told
Ambassador Lawson on 30 December that
Israeli forces must remain at the mouth
of the Gulf of Aqaba until there are effec-
tive guarantee � that the straits are an international waterway
open to all nations. When asked what would constitute an
"effective guarantee," Ben-Gurion suggested a "United States
undertaking that it would move against any attempt to block
Eilat (the Israeli port at the head of the gulf) as with the case
of Formosa!' He regards a United Nations guarantee as in-
effective.
The prime minister also emphasized re-
peatedly he is determined that the Gaza strip shall never
revert to Egyptian control. He also objected, though less
vehemently, to the idea of the Gaza strip's occupation by a
UN force on the ground that this would merely provide a cover
for a renewal of Egyptian fedayeen terrorist activity.
Comment The Israelis regard the United Nations as
practically valueless to them in view of
the growing influence of the usually hostile Asian-African bloc
and the unfriendly attitude of the USSR.
3 Jan 57
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2. SITUATION IN INDONESIA
A spokesman for the Masjumi has an-
nounced that his party will withdraw from
the cabinet if its proposal for a cabinet of
experts under former vice president Hatta
is not accepted.
The Masjumi's with-
drawal would increase the possibility of a
Communist-influenced cabinet largely un-
der Sukarno's direction, in view of Sukarno's
reported threat to invite Communist par-
ticipation in a new coalition.
Two of the three regimental commanders
in North Sumatra have refused to recognize the authority of
the Djakarta-named territorial commander, Lt. Col. Ginting.
Battalions of both regiments reportedly are moving toward the
Lake Toba area, in the central part of the province, to support
the rebel commander, Colonel Simbolon.
The Communist Party in North Sumatra is
continuing its strong support of Ginting and is reported to be
arming members of the Communist-controlled estate workers'
union in the Lake Toba area. The arms reportedly were ob-
tained from troops in Siantar, presumably those of the regi-
ment which has remained loyal to Ginting.
3 Jan 57
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3. EGYPTIAN INTENT TO SABOTAGE PERSIAN GULF OIL
FACILITIES REAFFIRMED
The Egyptian intelligence representative
in the, Persian Gulf sheikdom of Qatar
has informed
that further saDotage will De carried out
in Qatar,
The rep-
resentative claimed credit for sabotage of oil installations in
Qatar in early November following the Anglo-French attack
on Egypt, and again on 21 December when two oil wells were
set afire.
the emir
of Qatar, who enjoys special treaty relations with Britain,
has co-operated on some sabotage matters with the Egyp-
tians. Abd al-Rahman
Bakir, secretary general of the ultranationalist Committee of
National Unity on nearby Bahrein, was to co-ordinate sabotage
on Bahrein, Kuwait and Qatar. Bakir and four other Bahreini
nationalist leaders have just received 10- to 14-year prison
sentences and face exile to St. Helena island.
3 Jan 57
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a 'P 4, EGYPTIAN ABROGATION OF 1954 TREATY WITH BRITAIN
Nasr's announcement on 1 January that
Egypt considers the 1954 Anglo-Egyptian
treaty on use of the former British bases
in the Suez Canal area nullified by the at-
tack on Egypt reduces Britain's chance of collecting financial
compensation for Egyptian seizure of its military supplies.
These supplies were worth about $140,000,000, and were es-
timated last August to include 20 armored cars, 2,000 trans-
port vehicles, railroad equipment, a small amount of artillery,
18,000 tons of ammunition, and over 130,000 tons of engineer-
ing and general stores. The British probably still intend to
claim compensation to counteract Egyptian claims for damage
inflicted by the military intervention.
London is contesting Egypt's right to abro-
gate the treaty unilaterally but probably has scant hope that
Egypt would ever honor the treaty provision allowing Britain
to re-enter the bases in the event of an attack by an outside
power--except Israel--on any Arab state or Turkey.
3 Jan 57
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5. SYRIAN CABINET LEADER FAVORS CLOSE
CO-OPERATION WITH USSR
Khalid al-Azm, newly appointed Syrian
minister of state and acting defense min-
ister, who is the most influential mem-
ber of the cabinet, said on 28 December
that Syria should co-operate with the USSR,
Azm commented to close associates
that the Soviet Union had given Syria military aid, supported
it in the United Nations, and helped stop aggression against
Egypt. He said he had been assured by Molotov in 1955 that
the USSR had no designs on Syria and desired nothing other
than Syria's neutrality. The new minister of state said Amer-
ican policy had been favorable to the Arabs since the Anglo-
French invasion of Egypt, but that continuing Zionist pressure
would probably force a change.
3 Jan 57
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6, SOVIET AID TO yEMEN
Protectorate,
Soviet ambassador to Egypt Kiselev,
who is also accredited to Yemen, has
promised to inform Moscow of Yemen's
urgent need for arms in connection with
Femen's border dispute with the Aden
Kiselev declared that it would not be
possible for additional arms aid to arrive soon because of
the blocking of the Suez Canal.
it would be inadvisable to send
arms by way of the Cape of Good Hope because of the great
distance involved and the risk of detection by the British.
Comment
Despite the apparent Soviet willingness
to delay further major arms shipments to
Yemen, Moscow is expediting the movement of technical mis-
sions and advisers.
the USSR would "hurry" the
doctors and medicines requested by Yemen to treat the disease-
ridden imam.
3 Jan 57
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TOP SECRET
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