CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/12/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03177769
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: December 11, 1957

Approved for; 201222110
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
11 December 1957
Copy No. 138
DOCUMENT NO. _ _
NO CAE IN CLASS.
DFCLAS..',FIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: -remit)
NEXT REVIEW DA E�
AUTH: HR 70te
OFFICE OF CURRENT- HOE 1GEK _
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
LATE ITEM
BULGANIN LETTER TO PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
()age '2b)
1. SOVIET BL7C OFFERS TECHNICAL PERSONNEL TO
INDONESIA (page 3).
2. SPAIN WITHDRAWJNG ITS AFRICAN FORCES TO
COASTAL AREAS (page 4).
3. VIOLENCE ON CYPRUS
(page 5).
4. SYRIAN BAATH LEADER SHOWS CONCERN OVER PRO-
SOVIET TREND (page 6).
6-47.-- 5. PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT RESIGNS
(page 7).
21-o 6. MAO TSE-TVNG'S ROLE AT MOSCOW MEETINGS
DESCRIBED (page 8).
7. NORTH VIETNAM AND BURMA TO EXCHANGE CONSULAR
REPRESENTATIVES (page 9).
8. CZECHS RELUCTANT TO SUPPLY ARMS TO BURMA
(page 10).
9. THAI GOVERNMENT PLANNING ROUNDUP OF PRO-
COMMUNISTS (page 11),
10. WEST GERMAN POLITICAL LEADER FEARS NEUTRALIST
SENTIMENT Dage 12).
11 Dec 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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LATE ITEM
BULGANIN LETTER TO PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
Comment on:
In anticipation of the forthcoming NATO
meeting, Soviet Premier Bulganin has
sent a personal letter to President Eisen-
hower once again suggesting a meeting of
Leaders of states to discuss various prob-
lems which presently cause international tension. Bulganin
warned that if the present competition in arms continued,
there was no guarantee that NATO would be the victor, and
that the theory of "local wars" was dangerous.
A preliminary analysis of the letter shows
the USSR reiterating its past disarmament proposals for a ban
on nuclear weapons; a 2-3 year testing ban (this one to start on
1 January 1958); an agreement not to introduce nuclear weapons
in either East or West Germany; and a quid pro quo by Czecho-
slovakia and Poland not to manufacture or station nuclear weap-
ons on their territory if both the Federal and German Demo-
cratic Republics will also agree.
Bulganin repeated proposals for a treaty of
friendship and peaceful cooperation, for a NATO-Warsaw pact
non-aggression treaty, and for an agreement to respect the in-
dependence of the countries of the Near and Middle East and
renounce the use of force there.
Expressing some alarm at Western re-
actions to Soviet accomplishments in scientific research and
military technology, Bulganin repeated Soviet protestations
that ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons not be used de-
structively. He prophesied that giving atomic weapons to
West Germany may set in motion forces "which may not be
expected" by the NATO participants.
In addition, he warned that the use of force
to change the present territorial "status quo" would have catas-
trophic consequences and pointed to the absurdity of a situation
in which the US and USSR, two huge countries with everything
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necessary for economic development, cannot achieve normal
mutual relations,
Similar letters 'will probably be sent
to London and Paris as part of a general effort to inhibit de-
cision and action at the forthcoming NATO conference. These
letters and a 10 December personal message from Bulganin
to Nehru will probably be well publicized in order to contrast
the "aggressive character" of the NATO meeting with the
"peaceful intentions" of the USSR.
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1. SOVIET BLOC OFFERS TECHNICAL PERSONNEL
TO INDONESIA
Comment on:
oviet bloc countries are offering their
ervices to take the place of Dutch per-
onnel in enterprises recently seized by
he Indonesians. East Germany has vol-
nteered to replace the Dutch "in all
ields" and specifically has offered pi-
ots for Indonesia's national airline
(Garuda) and East German educational
acilities for Indonesian students who
ust leave Holland.
he Soviet Union has said it
ould provide ships to meet shipping de-
ficiencies and air service to replace KLM. Poland has also
offered technical personnel.
In Djakarta, the Indonesian government
announced that KPM, the recently seized Dutch interisland
shipping company, will be controlled by an administration
committee aided by a "labor assistance team." The latter
presumably will be composed of Communist-affiliated workers
who earlier took over the Dutch firm. It is likely that the ar-
rangement at KPM will be duplicated at other enterprises first
seized by SOBSI, the Communist-affiliated labor federation,
and later turned over to the government. The inability of mod-
erate government elements to force the Communists out of the
companies is clearly indicative of the extent to which the Com-
munists1 hv hn he to consolidate their gains in the present
crisis.
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2. SPAIN WITHDRAWING ITS WEST AFRICAN FORCES TO
COASTAL AREAS
Comment on:
The deputy chief of staff of the Spanish
army informed the American army at-
tach�n Madrid on 9 December that all
Spanish forces in West Africa are being
withdrawn to the following defense perim-
eters near the coast: Sidi Ifni, the capital of Ifni; Villa Bens
in the southern Moroccan protectorate; El Aiun in the Span-
ish colony of Saguia el Hamra; and Villa Cisneros and La
Aguera, both in the colony of Rio de Oro.
The withdrawal does not mean that Spain
intends to quit Spanish West Africa. The decision is pre-
sumably based on Madrid's estimate of the difficulty of de-
fending desert outposts.
The deputy
staff chief expects
the irregular Mo-
roccan Army of
Liberation to at-
tack in force at
Sidi Ifni, The
American army
attache in Madrid
estimates Span-
ish forces defend-
ing Sidi Ifni at
5,000 to 6,000,
and opposing Ar-
my of Liberation
forces at as high
as 6,000. He fur-
ther estimates
Spanish forces in
the other West
African perim-
eters at about 4,000 and
about 2,500.
SPANISH WEST AFRICA
1077 1957
1000
MILES
CANARY ISLANDS #
V .411,
1P ik
VILLA CISNEROS
LA AGUERA
RIO
DE
ORO
IFNI
SIDI IFNI
SOUTHERN MOROCCO
�EL AIUN
SAGUIA EL HAMRA
opposing Moroccan irregulars at
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3. VIOLENCE ON CYPRUS
Comment on:
Greek-Turkish rioting occurred on
Cyprus on 10 Decem14er during the
fourth consecutive day of large-scale
riots against the British. The risk of
seribus outbreaks between the Greek and Turkish commu-
nities is now greater than at any time in the two years of
violence on the island, according to the American consul
in Nicosia. The leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Fazil
Kuchuk, has inflamed his followers ,by warning that they
face imminent massacre by the Greeks.
These latest incidents could lead to
bloodshed not only on the island but also in Greece and
Turkey � Ankara has repeatedly warned that it will take the
necessary steps to protect the Turkish population on Cyprus.
The Greek foreign minister has stated that communal vio-
lence on Cyprus will lead to a break in diplomatic relations
with Turkey and the possible fall of the present Greek gov-
ernment.
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4. SYRIAN BAATH LEADER SHOWS CONCERN OVER
PRO-SOVIET TREND
Khalid Azm, pro-Soviet Syrian de-
fense minister, who arrived in
,Moscow on 10 December leading an
-economic delegation to work out the
details of the recent Syrian-Soviet economic accord, has
recently become deputy prime minister. Azm's other of-
fices include the Ministry of Finance and chairmanship of
the Economic Development Board.
Azm's recent political successes and
increasing identification with a pro-Soviet foreign policy
have alarmed Akram Hawrani, leader of the neutralists'
Baath party. Hawrani, in an effort to counter both Azm
and local Communist influence, has recently made ges-
tures toward "pure" nationalists of the more moderate
stripe who have hitherto opposed him. He is reported to
have stated that "our next fight is against the Communists"
and that cooperation between the radical Baath and more
moderate nationalists is possible so long as the moderates
follow the Baath's pro-Nasir policy. In Hawranits view,
such cooperation is especially important to prepare for the
Syrian parliamentary elections due in the fall of 1958.
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5. PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT RESIGNS
Comment on:
Pakistan's seven-week-old coalition
government, led by I. I. Chundrigar
of the Moslem League, resigned late
on 10 December on the eve of a sched-
uled National Assembly session to vote
on the controversial separate electorate
issue. After accepting the resignation,
however, President Mirza is reported
to have called on Chundrigar to try to
form a new government. The President also postponed re-
convening the assembly for three weeks.
Earlier in the day, the executive com-
mittee of the Republican party, major partner in the coal-
ition, was reported to have stiffened in its opposition to the
prime minister's plan to restore the system of separate com-
munal electorates and to have sent the party's leader to deal
with Mirza. At the same time, Republican representatives
approached former Prime Minister Suhrawardy to negotiate
a revival of their coalition with his Awami League.
Chundrigar's resignation suggests that his
Moslem League concluded it could not command a majority
vote in the National Assembly without full Republican support
and must follow through on its threat to resign. Mirza may
have asked Chundrigar to try to form a new government merely
as a delaying tactic while he works out terms for a new coalition,
possibly composed of epublicans and Suhrawardy's Awami
League.
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6. MAO TSE-TUNG'S ROLE AT MOSCOW
MEETINGS DESCRIBED
Comment on:
'the Moscow meetings portrays Mao Tse-
tung as actively moderating Soviet-bloc
differences at the meetings on some spe-
cific issues ,particularly between the USSR and Poland� Pre-
vious reports as well as Mao's speeches in Moscow had sug-
gested that he had confined himself to supporting--in unusu-
ally emphatic terms--the strong Soviet claim for bloc lead-
ership�
Mao reportedly rewrote the original con-
ference agenda to harmonize Soviet and East European
requirements. When the Poles objected to the revival of
a new international Communist journal, Mao is said to have
helped persuade the Poles to agree to 'a journal in which they
would not be required to participate. Mao also is said to have
convinced Kadar to fall in line with the Soviet position that
Imre Nagy should be brought to trial on treason charges based
on his repudiation of the Warsaw pact.
At the same time, Mao criticized the Poles
for "going too far toward the imperialist camp."
Peiping
lea mat ywana ma misused China's previous support "to prop-
agate a hate campaign against the Soviet Union." Mao warned
Gomulka that under no circumstances would China support
Poland if the Poles "try to destroy socialism."
Since the East European disorders of 1956,
Peiping% objective has been to enhance bloc stability. An ad-
ditional motivation for Mao's efforts to promote harmony at the
Moscow meetings was the prospect of new military and scien-
tific aid from the USSR.
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7. NORTH VIETNAM AND BURMA TO EXCHANGE
CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES
Comment on:
In response to Viet Minh pressure for
diplomatic exchanges, Burma has in-
dicated it is prepared to enter into
"consular" relations with North Viet-
nam and to receive a consul general
in Rangoon. Burma recently accepted
a consul general from South Vietnam.
The Viet Minh ambassador in Peiping in-
formed the Burmese ambassador on 30 November that his
government would welcome a Burmese representative in Hanoi
and that quarters and offices for him are ready for "immediate
occupancy" without cost. He stated that the Burmese official
need not be highly trained, but only "friendly to the Vietnam-
ese."
Rangoon told the unofficial Viet Minh
representative on 3 December that it could not extend de jure
recognition to either of the two governments of Vietnam nor
enter into "diplomatic" relations with either.
While the Burmese decision for consular
relations avoids diplomatic recognition of North Vietnam,
Hanoi probably will exploit it as proof of a rising international
prestige. India and Indonesia have previously established con-
sular relations with both Hanoi and Saigon.
The Viet Minh has also been successful in
its effort to induce the Burmese to invite Ho Chi Minh for a
visit next spring. Hanoi apparently hopes to counterbalance
any good will which President Diem may win if he carries out
his plans for a visit to Rangoon.
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8, CZECHS RELUCTANT TO SUPPLY ARMS TO BURMA
Comment on:
Prague does
not wish to conclude an arms deal at the
present time. The Czechs cited as rea-
sons a review now in progress of specifications of existing
armaments "to tie in with a long-term engineering plan" and
allegations that Czech arms supplies to the Middle East have
increased tensions in that area. The Burmese were assured,
however, that the question of supplying arms would be re-
viewed in Marchor April� They recommended that Rangoon
postpone the arrival of a Burmese arms purchasing mission
to Prague scheduled for this month.
Prague, before making its own offer, is
probably waiting for the results of the visit by the United States
arms survey mission presently in Burma. Postponement of the
Czech commitment at this time may also reflect a political de-
cision to wait until insurgent Communists in Burma attain legal
status. The Czechs are currently negotiating new contracts and
shipping military equipment to the Middle East but also have the
capacity to supply Burma.
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9. THAI GOVERNMENT PLANNING ROUNDUP OF
PRO-COMMUNISTS
ommen on:
3.r he Thai government is planning a large
roundup of suspected pro-Communist ele-
ments sometime after the 15 December
parliamentary elections,
The left-wing Socialist Front has 100 candi-
aates contesting the elections, many of whom would be likely
to be included in any police roundup.
Thai officials, including Premier Pote
and armed forces commander General Sarit, have frequently
voiced concern over increased Communist activity in Thai-
land.
Official public statements on Communist
activities have been coupled with a strong defense of Thai-
land's membership in SEATO, opposition to which has been
the principal plank in the Socialist Front's campaign plat-
form.
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10. WEST GERMAN POLITICAL LEADER FEARS
NEUTRALIST SENTIMENT
Comment on:
The leader of Chancellor Adenauer's
Christian Democratic Union in the West
German lower house, Heinrich Krone,
told American officials that Bonn's si-
lence on plans for the NATO meeting has created public un-
easiness in view of the headline treatment given by the West
German press to proposals of the opposition Social Demo-
cratic party and of George Kennan for a neutralized Germany.
Krone will recommend to the cabinet on 11 December that
Bonn issue an expression of confidence in NATO.
Krone's views reflect fears that neutral-
ist sentiment may be gaining ground in West Germany, Bonn
has been reluctant to commit itself publicly to the acceptance
of a US-controlled NATO stockpile of nuclear warheads or
the stationing of IRBM's on German territory because such
actions would expose West Germany to added Soviet pressure
without the compensating factor of control over nuclear war-
heads. Instead, Bonn assigns top priority to equipping its
own forces with tactical atomic weapons, improving military
integration of continental air defense, and initiating common
production of short-range rockets and missiles.
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