CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/04/17

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06814001
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: April 17, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C06814001
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN C S
I .1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS
NEXT REVIEW DATE �
17 April 1957
Cow N�134 3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
s '7,003
EVIEWER;
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
-
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CONTENTS
. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
(page 3).
A2. EGYPT AND SYRIA COIrD (174T V Vill:)"1 ri" RESTORE
SITUATION IN JORDAN page 4).
3. TURKS TAKE STRONG STAND AGAINST GREECE ON
CYPRIOT ISSUE � (page 5).
0A 4. BRITAIN AND FRANCE BELIEVE USSR SERIOUS ABOUT
DISARMAMENT AGREE MEN t page 6).
11
5. JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES CABINET HAS DECIDED
TO SEEK ATOMIC ENERGY AGREEMENT WITH USSR
Noforn) (page 7).
o h 6. USSR CONDUC7 FIFTH NUCLEAR TEST IN TWO WEEKS
(page 8).
is 7. SOUTH SUMATRA MAY FORMALLY CLAIM FEDERAL
STATUS (page 9).
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2. EGYPT AND SYRIA CONFER ON EFFORT TO RESTORE
SITUATION IN JORDAN
Reference:
Syrian authorities have urged Cairo to
join in an effort to carry out any action
possible to restore the situation in Jor-
dan,
The Syrians feel that
"if the situation is left, Jordan will turn
to the Eisenhower doctrine and then imperialist pressure will
turn upon Syria!"
the Syrians are
distressed over the weakness of Saudi policy and feel that they
"must not remain silent over what Saudi Arabia is doing in
Jordan and in Lebanon, and the assistance it is affording to
reactionary elements" in Syria.
Nasr has suggested to the Syrians that Palestinian ele-
men in Jordan be stirred up against Hussain, and that Hus-
sain be assassinated.
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1. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
�
Comment on:
With the formation of Khalidi's compro-
mise cabinet, King Hussain is moving
to consolidate his control of the army
and to assert full authority in West Jor-
dan. The king has requested military
and police commanders in West Jordan to
prevent demonstrations, and only minor
demonstrations were reported on 16 April.
In Amman, leaders of leftist groups have
been warned that they face drastic action
if they start trouble. According to press
reports, special tribunals will be set up
in Amman to try troublemakers.
With the notable exception of Nabulsi, old-
line politicians predominate in Jordan's
new 7-man cabinet. The king has appar-
ently succeeded in breaking up the coali-
tion of four left-wing political parties which dominated the
previous cabinet of Nabulsi. Nabulsi appears to have lost the
support of the ultranationalist Baath, which is probably Jor-
dan's most effective party, and may also lack full support from
his own National Socialists. National Socialist leader Nimr
has reportedly stated that the party's support of the cabinet
would depend on the program which it presents to the legis-
lature.
The fact that former army chief of staff
Nuwar was accompanied on his flight to Damascus by at least
five key officers loyal to him, and by four pro-Egyptian "free
officers:I including three brigade commanders, attests to the
extent of subversion among the Jordanian officer corps.
Nuwar had attempted to take over control "for his
personal ends" and that the "free officers" faction had ac-
cepted failure without any attempt at resistance, had abandoned
their units and fled.
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Page 3
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3. TURKS TAKE STRONG STAND AGAINST GREECE ON
CYPRIOT ISSUE
Comment on:
Turkey may make a dramatic inove in
response to the arrival in Athens of
Archbishop Makarios, expected on 17
April, according to the American army
attach�n Ankara. The attach�elieves
that if the Turks decide to act, they might
confiscate Greek assets in Turkey. Ac-
cording to a high Turkish official, "con-
trolled demonstrations" will be permitted
in order to allow the people to "let off steam:'
On 14 April Ankara sent Athens a strongly
worded note charging Greece with a "hos-
tile" attitude toward Turkey and warning
against "ostentatious manifestations" upon
the arrival of Makarios. The note stated
that Turkey reserved the right to determine
its future action "in accordance with the exigencies of the situ-
ation" and cautioned Greece that it would be responsible for
"all that might occur:'
The Turks apparently believe the British
have softened with regard to Greek demands on the Cyprus
problem. They seem to feel that they must now take a strong
stand to protect their interests.
Ambassador Allen in Athens comments
that Prime Minister Karamanlis now recognizes that the Turk-
ish actions are not mere moves in a war of nerves. Kara-
manlis terms the note "insolent and unbearable,," According
to a fairly reliable source, Athens has rejected the note. If
anti-Greek incidents occur in Turkey, Greece plans to mo-
bilize some reserves and will bring accusations against Tur-
key in the United Nations and the North Atlantic Council.
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� 4. BRITAIN AND FRANCE BELIEVE USSR SERIOUS ABOUT
DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT
The top-ranking British and French dele-
gates to the UN disarmament subcommittee
talks in London now believe that the USSR
is "keen for some sort of agreement" on
cusarmament. both delegates were told by
chief Soviet deegate Zorin that the USSR attaches great im-
portance to troop reductions in Germany. French delegate
Moch adds that the USSR is also anxious to move on the issues
of stopping nuclear tests and production of nuclear weapons.
The British ambassador in Moscow is also
reported to believe that the USSR is anxious to take a step
toward an international agreement on disarmament but is "not
quite sure how to proceed!'
American delegate Stassen warns that the
difficulties and obstacles in the way of an agreement are still
very large but believes that the West is engaged in the most
serious disarmament negotiations with the USSR since the sub-
committee was established in April 1954.
Comment Zarin assured the American delegation on
12 April that the American proposals made
in the subcommittee were being given serious consideration in
'Moscow and that he would soon have an answer. Zorin is ex-
pected to spend the four-day Easter recess in Moscow. In
their reply the Soviets probably will include some concessions
to the Western position while anticipating further bargaining.
� On the question of troop reductions in Ger-
many, the USSR, with 22 divisions stationed in the east zone,
can reduce strength and still maintain internal security.
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5. JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES CABINET HAS DECIDED
TO SEEK ATOMIC ENERGY AGREEMENT WITH USSR
Comment The statement that the Japanese cabinet
had decided to seek an atomic energy
agreement with the USSR was made by Koichi Uda, state min-
ister in charge of the Japanese Atomic Energy Commission,
at a press conference on 29 March. Subsequently a Japanese
businessman with access to commission proceedings said the
statement was merely "something which flitted through Uda's
mind'
Leftist Japanese scientists and some
businessmen, however, favor co-operation with the USSR in
the field of atomic energy, and their influence probably will
increase as Japan's scientific and cultural exchange with the
Sino-Soviet bloc expands.
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6. USSR CONDUCTS FIFTH NUCLEAR TEST IN TWO WEEKS
.Comment
� in 14 days
equaled in
17,Apr 57 "
This latest explosion, the seventh of the
1957 series, was the fifth to be detected
.� This frequency of testing has not previously been
the Soviet nuclear test program.
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7. SOUTH SUMATRA MAY FORMALLY CLAIM
FEDERAL STATUS
Lt. Col. Barlian, dissident commander
in South Sumatra, will proclaim a federal
State for South Sumatra within the next
ew days,
Barlian hopes to induce other
uma ran areas to follow his example.
� Comment Non-Javanese areas in general have
strongly resented the left-wing com-
plexion of Indonesia's new government with its exclusion
of former vice�president Hatta. Their basic economic and
political grievances remain unsatisfied. Barlian can al-
most certainly count on the backing of Lieutenant Colonels
Hussein in Central Sumatra and Gaharu in North Sumatra,
and similar action on their parts would probably follow quickly.
Hussein has already termed Sukarno's new cabinet "completely
unacceptable;' and has said that Java and Sumatra would have
to go their separate ways under present circumstances.
If Djakarta rejects a demand for federal
status, the dissidents may then declare their independence.
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