CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/11/13

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03177759
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: November 13, 1957

Aopproved
for Reas 2019/12/10 7777107117,4
13 November 1957
3.3(h)(2)
CRET
LL
LL
Copy No. 13S
3.5(c)
,
nr)C,LIMENT no. -
No CHANCE IN CLASS.
. DECLASSIFIED
CL/3S. CHANGED TO: T
NEXT REVIEW DATE-
AUATTti:
HR 70 2
De
141( EVIEVVE
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
gAol)
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
"RIM'
CONTENTS
1. SITUATION ON THE TURKISH SYRIAN BORDER
(page 3).
A.-to 2. EGYPT CONTINUING CLOSE MILITARY COLLABORATION
WITH SYRIA (page 4).
-AA> 3. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JORDAN
(page 5).
04e..
04_
4. BRITISH TO MOVE AGAINST OMANI REBELS ON 15 NO-
VE ER (page 6).
5. INDONESIAN COMMUNISTS LEAD IN JOGJAICARTA ELEC-
TIONS (page 7).
6. SITUATION IN LAOS
(page 8).
7. USSR PROPOSES EXCHANGE OF SCIENTISTS WITH JAPAN
(page 9)0
8. HONDURAS THREATENED BY REVOLUTION
(page 10).
13 Nov 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
L.. II-6 Ne-s 1 t JIL
�Iwo'
1. SITUATION ON THE TURKISH-SYRIAN BORDER
Comment on:
The beginning of Turkish maneuvers
has resulted in renewed Syrian charges
that a Turkish attack is imminent. The
maneuvers, apparently on a relatively
small scale, now are scheduled to con-
tinue until 15 November. They are being
conducted primarily by ground forces al-
though there will be some practice coordi-
nation with air-support units.
Following the maneuvers, the Turks are
expected to withdraw to their permanent duty stations all
forces not regularly assigned to the Syrian border area. One
F-86 squadron, deployed near the Syrian border in September,
has already returned to its home base in northern Turkey.
13 Nov 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
See, %OA 1.4,
Nwl
2. EGYPT CONTINUING CLOSE MILITARY COLLABORATION
WITH SYRIA
Comment on:
Egypt is continuing
to increase its military influence in Syria
and attempting to restore prestige to the
Arab Joint Command. Egyptian forces in
Syria now are believed to number between 1,000 and 1,500.
During the week of 11 November, commit-
tees of Egyptian officers concerned principally with logistics
and maintenance matters are to inspect Syrian army units and
Egyptian forces in Syria. an
unspecified number of Egyptian national guard personnel is also
scheduled to be sent to Syria this week�probably to train Syrian
o ular resistance groups.
Egyptian officers are to take command of several armored
and parachute companies in the Syrian army.
13 Nov 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 4
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: _2019/12/10 C03177759
�0101 '414.01
3. -POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JORDAN
Comment on:
ng Hussayn believes that Egypt and
yria will attempt a coup in Jordan
uring parliamentary by-elections
cheduled for 23 and 30 November.
action would be initiated, in the King's opinion, after
candidates backed by Egypt and Syria have failed to win in
the elections. In the interim, he expects that Egypt and
Syria will continue to flood Jordan with money, will foment
disorders and attempt assassinations. Hussayn added that
the situation may force him to dissolve parliament and place
Jordan under a military government. He indicated that at
the end of this week he may contact Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and
Lebanon to determine what help they might provide if the sit-
uation in Jordan became more serious.
The King's assessment of the menace
facing Jordan may lead to a request that the United States in-
voke its Middle East Doctrine, since Hussayn's allies would
probably be reluctant to intervene militarily against the Jor-
danian population.
The King has received information that
a "free Jordanian government" under Egyptian-Syrian spon-
sorship has been created in Damascus, headed by former ul-
tranationalist premier Nabulsi. Jordanian political refugees
are probably being organized into a military force under ex-
iled former Jordanian officers. It is possible that some of
the Egyptian military personnel now in Syria may be prepar-
ing to assist an antimonarchical coup in Jordan.
Moscow Arab-language broadcasts have
joined Cairo and Damascus in denouncing Hussayn as an "ally
and friend of the bitterest enemies of the Arab world--the
USA, Britain and Turkey:'
13 Nov 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Noe' �Rimpl
4. BRITISH TO MOVE AGAINST OMANI REBELS
ON 15 NOVEMBER
Comment on:
Britain plans to provide military sup.,
port for the Sultan of Muscat's foray
against the newly active Omani rebels
scheduled to begin on 15 November.
A few aircraft from Aden will reinforce locally based planes
and armored cars in their attempt to ensure the seizure of
a rebel village and perhaps capture Talib, the principal rebel
leader. London hopes that a successful operation would in-
crease the Sultan's prestige and encourage a rebel chief,
Suleiman bin Himyar, to come to terms with the Sultan. The
British have earlier reported that Suleiman is disgusted with
Talib and considering negotiating with the Sultan.
The British have been concerned over
Talib's regaining the initiative in Muscat as a result of his
seizure of the village of Tanuf on 17 October, and are anx-
ious lest the rebels increase in strength and cause other vil-
lages to waver in their loyalty to the Sultan.
13 Nov 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 6
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
tAll IA, .1_, ill,
'sod
5. INDONESIAN COMMUNISTS LEAD IN
JOGJAKARTA ELECTIONS
Comment on:
The Indonesian Communists have taken
what appears to be a commanding lead
in early returns from the central Java
sultanate of Jogjakarta, where the last
of Java's local elections was held on
7 November. The major non-Communist parties--the Na-
tionalist party, Masjumi, and Nandlatul Ulama�follow in
that order. These results are in line with Communist
gains registered in local elections since late June which have
given the Communist party a larger electoral base than any
other political organization in Java.
The Communist party has been deeply
involved in the anti-Dutch campaign in support of Indonesia's
claim to Netherlands New Guinea. President Sukarno has
called for the severance of trade relations with the Nether-
lands if the area is not "returned" to Indonesia, and has also
suggested the confiscation of all Dutch property in Indonesia.
Communists and left-wingers apparently
have been among Sukarno's major advisers in formulating the
anti-Dutch drive. The Jogjakarta election results, if the
present trend continues, will further convince Sukarno that
he is right in bringing Communists into high government po-
sitions. I
13 Nov 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Nese
6. SITUATION IN LAOS
Comment on:
Prime Minister Souvanna hopes to
present a coalition government, in-
cluding representatives of the Com-
munist Pathet Lao for investiture
on 16 November.
he
will request that a special session of the National Assembly
convene on 15 November, at which time the Pathet Lao
would formally surrender control of the two northern prov-
inces. He would then present for investiture a government
headed by him in which Pathet leaders Souphannouvong and
Phoumi would receive the portfolios of reconstruction and
religion, cabinet posts which would involve the Communists
in national affairs on a wide front.
The prime minister asserted that the
Independent party, Laos' second largest, had agreed to
this timetable. If true, this would confirm tentative indi-
cations that Phoui Sananikone, leader of the Independents,
was preparing to drop his opposition to the proposed settle-
ment. Under the circumstances, Crown Prince Savang would
be isolated in his opposition to a settlement with the Pathets,
and would probably feel forced to accede to the government's
request for a special session of the assembly.
13 Nov 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 8
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
utjrri
Nitre Nosi
7. USSR PROPOSES EXCHANGE OF SCIENTISTS
WITH JAPAN
Comment on:
Japanese Prime Minister Kishi prob-
ably will find it difficult to block an
exchange of scientists which has been
proposed "very recently" by the USSR.
The Soviet offer is likely to have strong appeal in Japanese
scientific circles which include persons who have won inter-
national prominence in the field of theoretical physics.
The proposal apparently is timed to
take advantage of the new Soviet scientific prestige to pro-
mote closer Soviet-Japanese relations. The influential
Japan Science Council, which has a strong leftist minor-
ity and acts in a semiofficial advisory capacity to the gov-
ernment in scientific matters, is reported to have recom-
mended acceptance of the Soviet proposal and would handle
the actual exchange. One of the major functions of the coun-
cil is to assist in formulating Japan's nuclear energy policies.
The exchange of scientists probably would
strengthen those Japanese scientists, industrialists, and polit-
ical leaders who advocate drawing on the Sino-Soviet bloc as
well as the free world in developing the nation's atomic indus-
try,
13 Nov 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 9
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759
LAIL" .L 11.
Nkgre NMINi
8. HONDURAS THREATENED BY REVOLUTION
The aged General Tiburcio Carias,
powerful chief of the Honduran Na-
tionalist party and dictator of Hondu-
ras for 16 years before 1949, seems
determined to prevent the Liberal
party, which received 61 percent of the votes in the 22 Sep-
tember constituent assembly election,from coming to power
even if it means revolution.
Carias told Nicaraguan President Somoza
that under no circumstances will he "allow" the popular Lib-
eral leader, Dr. Ramon Villeda Morales, to become president
and asked Somoza to help him prevent it. Although help will
probably not come from Somoza, Carias may be receiving
money from Generalissimo Trujillo of the Dominican Republic,
who would like to make the Caribbean area his sphere of influ-
ence. With sufficient financial backing, Carias could cause
serious trouble. He probably could not, however, gain effec-
tive control of the country, which gave his party only 32 per-
cent of the votes in the election.
The country is still ruled by a military junta,
pending the constituent assembly's completion of its work. Col-
onel Oswaldo Lopez, ambitious defense minister, may seize
on any outbreak of political violence to justify continued military
rule. Liberal leaders, miffed by Callas' flat rejection of their
conciliatory offer that would have given the Nationalists three
cabinet posts in the new government, may precipitate trouble by
instructing the Liberal majority in the assembly to name Villeda
constitutional president immediately. They had intended to de-
lay this until after agreement was reached for Nationalist par-
ticipation in the government.
13 Nov 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 10
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03177759