CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/03/10

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03180489
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: March 10, 1957

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OFFICE OF CURit
10 March 1957
1, o py NO.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
ISRAELIS ROUTE SHIPPING TO TEST PASSAGE OF SUEZ
AND AQABA (page 3).
. JAVANESE OFFICER IN EAST INDONESIA SUGGESTS COUN-
TERCOUP (page 4).
UNGARIAN REGIME ARRESTING THOUSANDS TO FORE-
STALL POSSIBLE 15 MARCH REVOLT (page 6).
u
n 4. THAI ARMY MOVES TO FORESTALL POSSIBLE COUP BY
POLICE (page 7).
art. POWERFUL ARGENTINE NAVAL OFFICIAL ARRESTED
(page 8).
6. JAPAN EXPECTED TO REJECT US PROPOSAL FOR STRICTER
TRADE CONTROLS (page 9).
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41IN CONTTDENTIAL
1. ISRAELIS ROUTE SHIPPING TO TEST PASSAGE OF
SUEZ AND AQABA
The American embassy in Tel Aviv
reports that the Israeli government
apparently has decided to route mer-
chant shipping under Israeli charter
through the Suez Canal and the Gulf of
Aqaba in the near future. The well-informed Jerusalem
Post stated on 8 March that the "highest authority in the
government" has ordered the Commerce Ministry to re-
route the Danish freighter Brigitte Toft from South Africa
to Eilat via the Tiran Straits instead of to Haifa.
According to another Israeli press
statement, the government will attempt "next month" to
send another merchant vessel from Haifa to Burma via
the Suez Canal.
Comment According to a press statement as-
cribed to an Israeli Foreign Ministry
spokesman, the Brigitte Toft is scheduled to arrive at
Eilat about 20 March. The attempt to send this vessel
through the Tiran Straits would be in line with Israeli
foreign minister Meir's statement to the UN secretary gen-
eral on 5'March that Israel would exercise "next week" its
right to navigate the gulf freely.
Egyptian press and government spokes-
men have insisted that the Suez Canal is still barred to
Israeli shipping, but President Nasr, in an interview on
9 March, reportedly stated, "We have not decided on this
issue yet."
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i0 AT/DENT/4 14
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2. JAVANESE OFFICER IN EAST INDONESIA
SUGGESTS COUNTERCOUP
Colonel Sudirman, Javanese operational
commander in Celebes, has resigned,
apparently from Sudirman's suc-
cessor, to the army commander in East Java. This officer
pointed out that he and Javanese troops under his command
were responsible to Djakarta rather than to Colonel Samual,
territorial commander in East Indonesia who carried out a
bloodless coup on 2 March, He said that although "on princi-
ple, I am not going to meddle with political views on the for-
mation of autonomous areas_ it is hoped that we will use this
opportunity to take over this undisciplined organization."
Colonel Sa.mua,1 informed Djakartz
that he had decided to send Java-
nese troops in the Operational Command back to East Java.
Comment
Sudirman commanded the South and South-
east Celebes Operational Command, which
was carved out of the East Indonesian territorial command in
July 1956 and made directly responsible to the army chief of
Medan .
BRUNEL-
'
1NSINGAPORE SAf
.Buliittinggi
SUMATRA
Palembang.
DJAKARTA�
INDONESIA
.NORT1-1
PORNO.
BORNEO CELEBES
Bandjermasin.
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JAVA 'Makasal.'
FAS MalaTng iAST INDONESIA
/
LESSER
SUNDA IS.
9 MARCH 1957
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In
Nose' Itour
staff in attempt to gain more effective control over dissidents
in that area. It is largely composed of troops detailed from
East Java.
The success of a countercoup in East Indo-
nesia similar to that of Colonel Ginting in North Sumatra would
depend on these East Javanese forces. Of 40 infantry battalions
in East Indonesia, 18 are Javanese, and nine of these are in the
operational command.
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Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
SECRET
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CU.NFIDEN_UVIL
3. HUNGARIAN REGIME A ESTING THOUSANDS TO
FORESTALL POSSIBLE 15 MARCH REVOLT
The American legation in Budapest re-
ported on 8 March that, during the last
few days, thousands, and perhaps tens
of thousands, of Hungarians have been
arrested in order to reduce the likelihood of serious trouble
on 15 March, a Hungarian national holidp.y. lltis rumored
that old concentration camps are being reopened to hold the
prison overflow.
The legation notes that the pattern of
arrests indicates that the regime plans to arrest virtually
all potential troublemakers. Some of those arrested might
be held until after 4 April.
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NiWOP-
4. 'THAI ARMY MOVES TO FORESTALL POSSIBLE COUP
BY POLICE
Army security measures have been in-
creased in Bangkok as a precaution
against a possible hostile move by po-
lice director general Phao's followers,
losing their jobs if their chief is dis-
missed, Troops
in Bangkok have been placed on 24-hour duty
witnessed the issue of live ammunition to
tanks and various strong points around the city. The king's
bodyguard is also reported to have been doubled to guard
against his being kidnaped and held hostage by Phao's men.
Comment Phao has
suomittea nis resignation irom all his of-
ficial positions; the premier gave no indication, however,
that the resignations had been accepted. Phao's
action was probably taken at a time when he was in a "gloomy
mood" over the "current confused situation:' In addition to its
fear of violent action by Phao's followers, the government is
also concerned over the possibility of disturbances in connec-
tion with the convening of the National Assembly on 14 March.
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MAJ(E,
"me N.0
5. POWERFUL ARGENTINE NAVAL OFFICIAL ARRESTED
Comment on:
The 30-day "disciplinary" arrest of
Rear Admiral Arturo Rial, the power-
ful under secretary of the navy, reflects
a new intensity in the differences over
political and economic issues among top
military leaders, whose unity is the key
factor in Argentine stability. Rial, the
first important navy official to be ar-
rested, has many supporters among top
commanders in all branches of the armed
forces. According to a press report of 10 March, a group
of naval'officers has demanded that the arrest be deferred.
The official reason given for Riars ar-
rest was his failure to safeguard confidential correspondence
to President Aramburu--a reference to five reportedly criti-
cal letters published this week by an opposition political or-
gan. Aramburuis willingness to arrest so important a figure
suggests that differences among the ruling military factions
are sharper than he had previously been willing to admit.
10 Mar 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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6. JAPAN EXPECTED TO REJECT US PROPOSAL FOR
STRICTER TRADE CONTROLS
apanese prime minister Nobusuke Kishi
has drafted a reply to a US proposal for
stricter enforcement of COCOM and
CHINCOM trade controls which states
that Japan is not in sympathy with the proposal,
Comment
The Japanese government may claim it
was forced to take a stronger stand
against the American proposal than it actually desired be-
cause information concerning this proposal had "inadvertently"
been leaked to the Japanese press. In fact, however, Japan
has long sought a relaxation of controls against China and
probably has taken particular objection to the US attempt to
gain stricter enforcement of these controls.
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SECRET
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