CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/01/27

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161984
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: January 27, 1957

CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
for Release:
CW/07./. 4
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
27 January 1957
Copy No. 131
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
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CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S
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EVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
fr/A/ row
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CONTENTS
1. THE ALGERIAN SITUATION
(page 3).
2. ATHENS MAY BE PREPARING GREEK PUBLIC FOR UN
COMPROMISE RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS (page 4).
3. ARABS CONTINUE ENCOURAGEMENT OF YEMEN
(page 5).
4. BONN GIVES APPROV DE DELEGATION TO
COMMUNIST CHINA page 6).
. U NU INFLUENTIAL IN CONCLUDING EXTENSIVE
BURMESE-SOVIET AID AGREEMENT (page 7).
6. ARGENTINE CABINET REORGANIZATION
(page 8).
. NICARAGUAN MILITARY REPORTEDLY PLANS COUP SOON
(page 9).
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1. THE ALGERIAN SITUATION
General Quenard, French commander in
the southern territories of Algeria, told
the American consul general in Algiers
recently that the Algerian National Libera-
tion Front (FLN) hopes to assure UN inter-
vention in Algeria by provoking the European settlers into
retaliatory action in which thousands of Moslems will be killed.
To this end, Quenard said, the FLN is planning to step-up in-
discriminate killings in Algiers during the "insurrectionary'
general strike scheduled to coincide with UN consideration of
the Algerian problem.
Quenard also said that rebel military groups
numbering several thousand are forming in Morocco and Tuni-
sia and that an attack across both frontiers would be co-ordi-
nated with the strike. The goal would be the capture of the
Algerian cities of Tlemcen and Tebessa near the borders of
Morocco and Tunisia respectively.
Comment This information supports other reports
that the rebels intend to promote widespread
violence throughout Algeria when the General Assembly's polit-
ical committee takes up the Algerian item, probably this week.
Any success the rebels achieve is likely to prolong and ex-
acerbate the UN discussions and reduce prospects of terminat-
ing them without a French "walkout."
27 Jan 57
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2. ATHENS MAY BE PREPARING GREEK PUBLIC FOR UN
COMPROMISE RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS
Comment on:
The Greek government appears to be
initiating a campaign to prepare the
Greek public for a UN compromise
resolution on Cyprus. The Greek charg�
in London told the American embassy on 24 January that, ac-
cording to one of the British envoys who visited Archbishop
Makarios in the Seychelles, the Cypriot leader "did not take
exception" to the Radcliffe constitutional proposals and was
prepared to denounce violence on Cyprus if released from
captivity.
The Greek charg�n putting forth this
version of Makarios' views is probably reflecting Athen's
desire to create an atmosphere favorable to acceptance of
a UN resolution creating a co.mmittee to investigate the
Cyprus problem. Publicly, however, it cannot retreat from
its demand for a resolution favoring self-determination and
as of now a resolution creating an investigatory committee
would be interpreted by the Greek public as a severe defeat.
Widespread dissemination of reports that Makarios was
ready to accept London's terms on Cyprus, however, might
disarm the government's domestic opposition and enable the
government to claim a victory in the UN.
27 Jan 57
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.att,
3. ARABS CONTINUE ENCOURAGEMENT OF YEMEN
Comment on:
In response to an appeal from the
imam of Yemen, Egyptian army offi-
cers and "their assistants" are being
flown to Yemen to train troops, ac-
Syria has promised to dispatch
immediately officers and arms. King
Hussain of Jordan has told the Yemeni
minister to Egypt that "all of our fa-
cilities are at your disposal!'
Saudi Arabia
has also sent military forces to help
fight the British in Aden.
Various recent reports on volunteers
for Yemen carry figures as high as
7,000. It is unlikely that large numbers
have gone to Yemen in view of trans-
portation problems, but a small number of Arab technicians
and training officers have arrived.
27 Jan 57
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4, BONN GIVES APPROVAL FOR TRADE DELEGATION
TO COMMUNIST CHINA
The Bonn government has approved send-
ing a West, German trade delegation to
Communist China to negotiate an exchange
of goods agreement, according to the head
01 e semio icial East-West trade committee. The delega-
tion will consist of members of six or seven business firms.
About $56,000,000 worth of trade in each direction is antici-
pated. Bonn officials state that no embargoed goods will be
included.
The American embassy in Bonn thinks the
undertaking is inappropriate at this time, since it expects
Moscow and Peiping to use it for propaganda purposes. While
the West German Foreign Ministry supports this view in part,
the embassy believes it would be difficult to press the govern-
ment to reverse its approval.
Comment
27 Jan 57
Trade between West Germany and Commu-
nist China amounted to $62,600,000 during
the first nine months of 1956.
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5. U NU INFLUENTIAL IN CONCLUDING EXTENSIVE
BURMESE-SOVIET AID AGREEMENT
Burma's agreement for a large-scale
Soviet construction program reflects
the influence of U Nu, who will soon re-
turn as prime minister, according to
information reaching the American embassy in Rangoon.
U Nu had promoted these projects, and Burmese negotia-
tors were also pressed into signing the generally unfavor-
able accord by the "overpowering tactics" of the Soviet aid
mission.
Burma will pay the entire cost of the program,
amounting perhaps to $50,000,000. Earlier Burmese ex-
pectations had been that Burma would reciprocate for these
"gifts" with only token payments of rice. Projects such as
the sports stadium and theater included in the agreement
will contribute little to Burmese economic development and
may actually impede development progress by diverting
limited Burmese resources and administrative and technical
skills from more useful projects.
As a result of its long-term nature, which
may require Burmese payment in rice and other products
over a 20-year period, the contract will assure the continued
economic presence of the USSR and will work against Burmese
efforts to export its rice for cash.
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6, ARGENTINE CABINET REORGANIZATION
Comment on:
President Pedro Aramburu requested the
10 civilian ministers to resign on 25 Jan-
uary to facilitate reorganization of the
cabinet, in order to end cabinet feuding,
and to help the provisional government
play a more effective role until national
elections are,11,Ad within the next year.
Since only(f611-19x/esignations were accepted, --
however, the request seems aimed 44-Ty-
at dropping the ministers of interior, for-
eign affairs, education and justice, and
treasury. The labor ministry has been
vacant.
Former treasury minister Blanco, whose
policies have antagonized both the military and commerce min-
isters, was considered the main target of the reorganization.
the "current crisis" was precipitated
by the air minister, whose plans to purchase new aircraft were
frustrated by Blanco. The commerce minister, who was re-
tained, had objected to Blanco's narrow, nationalistic views on
economic policy, a criticism recently voiced by Aramburu with-
out naming Blanco. Blanco's successor is his former deputy,
an exponent of expanded and freer trade.
The cabinet changes seem favorable both
to domestic policy and continued cordial relations with the
United States.
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Aft 46,
7. NICARAGUAN MILITARY REPORTEDLY PLANS
COUP SOON
national guard,
is ex-
pected to take over the government by
e date set for national
"the guard at all levels
rule of the Somozas" and is
elections.
is sick of the greedy, unjust
willing to risk a coup.
Serious disagreements have been re-
ported between President Luis Somoza and his brother,
Colonel Anastasio Somoza, chief of the national guard, who
is now viewed as the "real boss" of the government.
Comment
The national guard, the ultimate locus
of political power in Nicaragua, lost its
traditional source of unity and loyalty last September with
the assassination of General Somoza, long-time dictator
and father of the Somoza brothers. This is the first de-
tailed report since then, however, of serious dissatisfac-
tion within the guard and its readiness to assume direct
control of the government.
Colonel Somoza has probably made many
enemies in the guard by his arrogance and greed. If he is
becoming the dominant figure in the government, guard of-
ficers will probably be strongly motivated to oust him and
possibly his brother.
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