CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/08/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03189012
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: August 20, 1957

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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AUTH:H 7
DATE.
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
20 August 1957
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This document contains classified information affecting
the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws, US Code Title 18, Sections
793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an un-
authorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States
or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detri-
ment of the United States.
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
POSSIBLE TI-AMERICAN MOB VIOLENCE IN SYRIA
(page 3).
2. SUKARNO REJECTS "POLITICAL DEMOCRACY"
(page 4).
3. BRITISH SEEN FAVORING COALITION GOVERNMENT IN
LAOS (page 5).
4. TURKEY REBUFFS SOVIET SUGGESTION FOR HIGH-LEVEL
ECONOMIC CONVERSATIONS (page 6).
20 Aug 57
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1. POSSIBLE ANTI-AMERICAN MOB VIOLENCE
IN SYRIA
The Syrian press reports that a mass
rally to denounce the alleged American
conspiracy is scheduled in Damascus
for 20 August, according to the American
embassy in Damascus. One leftist paper has significantly
pinpointed the location in Damascus of the "American colony"
with its "tens of houses and hundreds of American families."
Comment
Any mass rally in Syria is dangerous and
can lead to a complete breakdown of pub-
lic order. An anti-American demonstration at this time, in-
stigated and directed by leftist elements, could well result in
property damage and injuries to Americans resident in Damas-
cus unless the security authorities take strong measures. Con-
sidering the attitude of the present Syrian regime, the mob
might not be restrained until after some damage had been done.
20 Aug 57
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2. SUKARNO REJECTS "POLITICAL DEMOCRACY"
The central theme of President Sukarno's
17 August independence day speech was
that "political democracy" is not feasible
for Indonesia and that the country must
strive for "social and economic democracy:' Sukarno said
Indonesia's existing political system had failed because of indis-
criminate imitation of foreign institutions, and because the
Indonesians felt "that talk and criticism constitute democracy."
His social democracy, he said, should "place the interest of
the state before group or individual interests." To achieve his
objectives, a "disciplined guided democracy" would be neces-
sary.
He devoted the latter part of his speech to
a "new life movement" which apparently is devised to reassert
Sukarno's concept of discipline. The American ambassador in
Djakarta comments that it is not clear from Sukarno's speech
exactly what final form the new system will take but it could be
either a form of Communism or a Hitlerian national socialism.
Whatever the form, it is clear that the most important place at
the top will be reserved for Sukarno.
Sukarno stated that the return of Netherlands
New Guinea and complete abrogation of the 1949 agreements with
the Dutch are prerequisites to the establishment of an economic
base for his new democracy.
Comment The Communist Party has been the only polit-
ical organization to support Sukarno's concept
consistently and vigorously. As a result he has encouraged Com-
munist support and activity, and he can be expected to continue to
work with the Communists and to increase their influence in the
government as he enters this new phase in the implementation of
guided democracy,
20 Aug 57
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3. BRITISH SEEN FAVORING COALITION GOVERNMENT
The Bri ish government is inclined to
favor an early settlement of the Pathet
Lao issue in Laos on the basis of a
coalition government, the American
embassy in London reports. This stems from concern in
the Foreign Office that time is working against the free
world in Laos and that the "pot may not be worth the ante."
Comment The French have long endorsed Laotian
Premier Souvanna Phouma's efforts to
achieve Laotian unification by means of a coalition with the
Pathets while the British, until recently at least, have tended
to support American efforts to prevent coalition. In June,
however, a British official stated a coalition seemed inevita-
ble and that the main problem was to obtain safeguards against
excessive Pathet Lao influence. British concern over the pros-
pects of continued inconclusive negotiations in Laos apparently
has been heightened by recent reports of Communist subversive
gains in the ten provinces under government control.
Such a shift in British policy at this stage
would undermine efforts by the recently achieved alliance of
anti-Communist political forces in Laos to block Souvanna's
goal of coalition within a few months.
20 Aug 57
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4. TURKEY REBUFFS SOVIET SUGGESTION FOR HIGH-
LEVEL ECONOMIC CONVERSATIONS
Secretary General Esenbel of the Turkish
Foreign Ministry has stated that he recently
told Soviet Ambassador Ryzhov in blunt terms
that Turkey sees no need for any high-level
conversations on relations between their two countries. Ryzhov
had proposed such conversations in order to settle "certain ques-
tions" of an economic nature and to improve relations between
the two nations. According to Esenbel, the Turks agreed only that
Soviet industrial credit offers are possible subjects for further
discussions between the USSR and private Turkish organizations.
Comment Despite recent indications that the Turks have
been considering an expansion of economic re-
lations with the USSR, this report suggests that traditional Turk-
ish fears of Russian economic and political encroachment continue.
Ankara may permit or even encourage the private sector of the
Turkish economy to take advantage of beneficial Soviet credit of-
fers. The recent acceptance by a Turkish bank delegation of a
Soviet offer to build a glass factory in Turkey is an example of
the type of agreement that the Turkish government will permit.
20 Aug 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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