CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/12/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06830670
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: December 9, 1958

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� 3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
9 Deceinber 1958
Copy No. C 60
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN'
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. y.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: W)i
NEXT FiEviEw DATE:
AUTH. I -0 "'
DATE.
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REVIEWER: _
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� 9 DECEMBER 1958
L THE COMMUNIST BLOC
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USSR - Removal of secret police chief
Serov underscores Ithrusbchev's con-
trol.
IL ASIA-AFRICA
Iraq - Qasim regime arrests leading
figures in UAR-backed plot; possibil-
ity of action against Iraqi Government
remains. Cairo
radio blames plot on United States.
Jordanian Government unable to meet
army payroll for December.
Sudanese requests for American aid
may come to several hundred million
dollars.
UAR delegate, with support from bloc
individuals, trying to dominate All-
African Peoples' Conference now meet-
ing in Accra. C.)
..r
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IIL THE WEST
0 Adenauer to confer with Macmillan in
London on 12 December.
0 French scientist claims nuclear device
ready for testing.
0 Number of Cuban military officers re-
ported defecting.
�Venezuela - Betancourt presidential
election victory may increase possi-
bility of coup attempt.
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9 December 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
*USSR: The removal of General Serov as chief of the
Soviet secret police is apparently intended to head off the
growth of entrenched power outside the Communist party
and to underscore Khrushchev's control in preparation for
the upcoming party congress. Although there have been no
recent signs of friction between party and police, Serov's re-
lease will pave the way for a reduction of police power in
line with Khrushchev's statement ,to *Senator Humphrey
last week. (Page I)
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Iraq: Two of the leading figures in the UAR-backed
plot against the Qasim regime were arrested on 8 Decem-
ber and other participants were under investigation,
Baghdad radio announced on 8 December that a "serious"
plot engineered by "foreigners" had been uncovered. Cairo
radio has blamed the plot on the United States. The possi-
bility still remains that disaffected army and tribal elements
might act against Qasim regardless of UAR support.
(Page 2)
Jordan: The government insists that it will be unable to
trneet the army payroll due on 27 December unless it either
draws on its reserve funds of about $20,000,000 or obtains
further budzetary sunoort from thp Trnitpri Rtats
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Sudan: Foreign Minister Khayr has asked the United
States for a $43,050;900 long-term loan to "help complete"
cotton acreage expansion schemes. He has also inquired
about military aid, the availability of Export:-IMPOrt Bank
loans, US agricultural surpluses, and other forms of Amer-
ican aid. On the basis of projects discussed by Khayr thus
far, Sudanese requests for US aid may come to several hun-
dred million dollars. It appears that the new government is
no closer to an agreement with Egypt on the Nile waters ques-
tion than the Khalil government.
(Page 3)
All-African Peoples' Conference: Nasir's chief repre-
sentative at the nongovernmental meeting of African nation-
alist movements now in session in Accra is making a vigorous
effort to bring the conference under UAR control and secure
the adoption of extremist resolutions. He is being helped by
individuals from the Sino-Soviet bloc, but opposed by Ghana's
Prime Minister Nkrumah, who is trying to steer the confer-
ence along a more moderate course. (Page 4)
III. THE WEST
West Germany - Britain: In response to an urgent request
from Adenauer, Prime Minister Macmillan has agreed to meet
the West German chancellor in London on 12 December: appar-
ently- to discuss Berlin. (Page 5)
France: A French Atomic Energy Commission scientist
says France has a nuclear device ready, but the government
is awaiting the proper psychological moment for a test. Al-
though recent reports have indicated that the French have had
some difficulty in separating plutonium into usable form, it is
estimated that enough fissionable material now exists to permit
explosion of a crude device should the government, for political
reasons, decide to do so. (Page 6)
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Cuba: Mounting discontent in the Cuban armed forces
has reportedly resulted in the defection of .*,,8 officers, fol-
lowing the government's preventive actions against a military
conspiracy on 27 November. Some officers have sought asylum
in foreign embassies and others are said to have joined the
rebel group operating in Las Villas Province. MeanWhile, the
rapidly expanding rebel movement is again reported proceeding
to establish a provisional _government in rebel-dominated
Oriente Province. Page 7)
*Venezuela: Romulo Betancourt's apparent victory in the
presidential elections--based on an unofficial count, as of 2300
hours EST on 8 December, of about 85 percent of the estimated
total vote--may have somewhat increased the possibility of a
coup attempt because of the traditional military hostility toward
him and his party, the leftist Democratic Action. Such an at-
tempt, however, does not at present appear to have the backing
of the majority of the armed forces necessary for its success.
Demonstrating students, who favored the candidacy of runner-up
Larrazabal, have touched off disturbances in the capital which
might lead to armed forces intervention. All candidates have
stated they would respect the outcome and not include Communists
in the coalition government which they have agreed to establiM.
(Page 8)
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DAILY BRIEF
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Soviet Secret Police Chief Removed
The removal of Ivan Serov as Soviet secret police chief,
announced on 9 December, appears to be another move on
Khrushchev's part to prevent the growth of entrenched power
not completely responsive to his control. The announcement
stated that Serov was to be transferred to other work but gave
no indication of his new job or his successor as chairman of ,
the Committee of State Security (KGB).
There have been no good indications'of friction or dis- �
agreement between Khrushchev and Serov. In his conversa-
tion with Senator Humphrey on 1 December, however, Ehru-
shchev stated that he intended to reduce the tole of the secret
police still further and Serov's removal will probably pave the
way for new moves in this direction. There have been some
suggestions that the new criminal code slated for enactment in
the near future--possibly at the 22 December session of the
Supreme Soviet--will limit secret police Powers in criminal
proceedings.
There has been no information to suggest, however, that
the party and secret police have come into conflict over this
issue or in connection with the current campaign for vigilance
against "capitalist spies." The question of Khrushchev's own
power, rather than policy dispute$, seems to be the basic
consideration in Serov's ouster.
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i II. ASIA-AFRICA
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�L,.aqi Situation
Iraqi Prime Minister Qasim announced over the Baghdad
radio on 8 December that "a serious plot" to overthrow his
regime on the night of 9-10 December had been uncovered.
Qasim accused local "corrupt elements and foreigners" of
being at the bottom of the plot. Qasim said nothing about the
nationality of the foreigners, but Radio Cairo quickly charged
they were Americans. The Iraqi prime minister added that
the "evidence, and the money and the arms" used to carry out
the plot "are now in our possession."
Qasim moved against suspected elements about 7 December
when he ousted the director of police and forced the resignation
of the director of military intelligence. On 8 December two of
the plotters' principal contact men with UAR agents in Baghdad
were arrested On 7 December
Qasim had a long conference in Baghdad with the commander of
the 2nd Division, stationed'at Kirkuk. Several weeks ago this
officer expressed his uneasiness over the increasing Communist
direction of the government and intimated that he and the other
divisional commanders would take action to remove Qasim around
10 December if Qasim did not crack down on the Communists.
About an hour prior to the Baghdad radio announcement, UAR
agents in Baghdad informed Cairo that the conspiracy would pro-
ceed as planned; despite the arrest of the two contact men. It is
still possible that disgruntled elements in southern Iraq may pro-
ceed with a tribal revolt as planned. It is also possible that an
attempt may be made to assassinate Qasim, whose office has ap-
peared to be infiltrated by antiregime elements.
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Sudan Seeks Broad American Aid Program
Foreign Minister Khayr has based his application for a
loan on projects whose scope talietttes .that _Sudanese . requests
for US aid may ultimately reach several hundred million
dollars. Khayr requested an initial $43,050,000 long-term
loan for projects which over the next seven years would add
over two million acres to the 600,000 already planted in long-
staple cotton. He also inquired about the possibility of
mil-
itary aid, the availability of Export-Import Bank loans, US
� agricultural surpluses, and other forms of American aid.
Khayr explained that Khartoum had discussed loans for
these projects with the International Bank but had become dis-
couraged by the bank's insistence on a Nile waters agreement
with Egypt as a precondition. He said he was not sure such
an agreement could be achieved soon and was fearful that fur-
ther Sudanese delay on Nile River developments would permit
the UAR to encroach further on Sudanese water rights. Khayr's
approach to the United States at this time may be designed to
test Western support prior to the possible visit of a *Soviet eco-
nomic delegation, previously scheduled for last month and now
temporarily postponed.
Since the total cost of the cotton expansion projects is
about four times the loan request, Khartoum presumably would
consider this only a first installment.
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UAR Pressing for Control of AU-African Peoples' Conference
Mursi Saad al-Din, Egyptian member of the Afro-Asian
Solidarity Secretariat, who appears to be Nasir's principal rep-
resentative at the current meeting of African nationalist organ-
izations in Accra which ends on 12 December, is making a vig-
orous effort to bring the conference under UAR control and to
secure the adoption of extremist anti-Western resolutions.
Al-Din, with the help of a Pravda correspondent and other
Sib-Soviet bloc personnel present in Accra in various capacities,
Is endeavoring to persuade the delegates to pass anuncoutpromis-
ing resolution "guaranteeing" to expel or destroy all "colonialists."
he has lined up the del-
egates from all French African territories--most of whom, how-
ever, are apparently not representative of dominant political
elements in their homelands--in support of his position and
against the more moderate stand favored by Ghana's Prime Min-
ister Nkrumah, who promoted the gathering. Nkrumah seeks a
resolution recommending Gandhi-style passive resistance and
nonviolence.
Al-Din has approached at least one African--fa moderate
nationalist observer from Angola�with an offer of arms, other
supplies, and trained leaders to assist in an armed uprising
against the Portuguese in Angola. Al-Din made this approach.
with the assistance of Felix Moumie, exiled leader of the Com-
munist-influenced Union of the Cameroun People, which has
been waging guerrilla warfare in CameroUn since 1955. Both -
Al-Din and Moumie, who is financed by the UAR, are reported
to have sharply criticized Nkrumah and predicted.the .ear1y end
of his career as a pan-African leader.
Nkrumah, who hopes the conference will enhance his own
prestige but not alienate the West, has restricted the Solidarity
Secretariat's delegation, including a Peiping representative, to
observer status, largely excluded extremists from the steering
committee, and apparently blocked the seating of Moumie as an
official delegate. In his opening address, Nkrumah pointedly
warned against a new colonialism !tin a different guise"--a ref-
erence presumably aimed at the USSR.
9 Dec 58
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III. THE WEST
Adenauer-Macmillan Meeting
� In response to an urgent request from Chancellor Ade-
nauer, Prime Minister Macmillan has reluctantly agreed to
a 12 December meeting in London, probably to discuss Berlin.
A high-level Foreign Office official feels that the meeting is
"premature," and Macmillan fears such a meeting might
create an impression of undue anxiety.
British officials feel that Adenauer is motivated by his
suspicions of British "softness" on Berlin. Adenauer is at-
tempting to determine to what extent London might make
European disengagement the basis for high-level talks with
Moscow.
The chancellor has apparently taken a new position which
calls for a solution of the Berlin question without linking it to
broader negotiations on the German problem of European
security. He will probably attempt to enlist Macmillan's sup=
port for this approach prior to the 14 December meeting of
the British, American, French, and West German foreign
ministers in Paris.
Adenauer's preference for separating Berlin from any
general East-West talks has led to the collapse of the limited
bipartisan policy with the Social Democrats in Bonn. In his
6 December Berlin election speech Adenauer was sharply
critical of SPD leaders for their advocacy of European secu-
rity plans. The SPD, however, will probably interpret its
West Berlin victory on 7 December as a mandate to proceed
with its disengagement proposals.
British officials feel that Adenauer has gone too far in
his criticism of West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt. Brandt
--may follow up his election success with further attacks on
Bonn's "inflexibility" in opposing negotiations on Berlin with-
in the context of a German and European settlement.
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Early French Nuclear Explosion Rumored
A French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) scientist
who spent the week of 25 November at the modern-weapons
testing ground at Colomb Bechar in the Sahara reportedly
said on his return to Paris that France now has a nuclear
device ready for testing but that the government is waiting
for the proper psychological moment. He is under alert to
return to the Sahara on 24-hour notice. Another CEA offi-
cial, however, is reported to have stated recently that France
would definitely not be in a position to explode an atomic bomb
for at least another year because of fissionable material short-
ages, and a similar view was expressed in mid-September by
a CEA scientist who said an early test was not desirable from
a scientific point of view.
Because of technical difficulties in operation of the chem-
ical separation plant facilities, France is not believed at this
time to have enough usable plutonium to explode a 20- to 40-kiloton
deViCe.but.it is ettimatedAo.hav_p�enough..fis.sionable...'material
perinit.explosion.of.2a.tcrude..deV.Ice,
Political considerations might lead De Gaulle to press for
an early explosion, regardless of its scientific merits, as soon
as the responsible technicians consider it practicable.. One pri-
mary, consideration would be to anticipate the intensifying world
pressure for a cessation of testing. De Gaulle also might hope
to use a test to silence army opposition to a relatively liberal
Algerian solution, to reinforce his demands for a more authori-
tative voice in Western councils, and to achieve a position of
greater prestige in East-West negotiations.
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Situation in Cuba Continues to Deteriorate
The rapid deterioration of the Cuban Government's posi-
tion has become increasingly apparent since the discovery of
a military conspiracy on 27 November. Mounting discontent
in the armed forces caused more than 65 officers to defect
between 4 and 6 December. Some of the officers reportedly
have joined the rebel group operating in the mountains of
Las Villas Province in central Cuba, and others have sought
asylum in foreign embassies. Some 30 or more junior officers
were previously arrested for participation in the conspiracy.
Maj. Gen. Martin Diaz Tamayo, former Cuban Army G-3,
who has beentonsidere'd a likely leader:of a .military .junta should
President Batista be ousted, was relieved of his command and
subsequently resigned from the army after the conspiracy,
although he was apparently not directly involved.
The expanding rebel movement, which has consolidated
its control over almost all of Oriente Province and has drhallen.ged
the government's position in two other eastern provinces, is again
reported planning to establish a provisional government in
Oriente. Previous plans to constitute a government failed to
materialize--most recently in late September--but the rebels
have so improved their position that the attempt may now
actually be made. Manuel Urrutia Lleo, Fidel Castro' s choice
for president, is reported to be
en route from Caracas, Venezuela, to Castro's headquarters in
the Sierra Maestra.
President Batista extended the suspension of constitutional
guarantees for 45 days on 7. December and requested additional
powers under a "state of national emergency," which is expected
to be approved on 9 December,
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Venezuelan Election Results
Unofficial Venezuelan election returns- -based on about 85
percent of the total estimated vote as of 2300 hours EST on
8 December--indicate that Romulo Betancourt, chief of the left-
ist Democratic Action party (AD),has won the presidency by a
substantial margin over former junta president Admiral Wolf-
gang Larrazabal.. Rafael Caldera, the Christian Democratic
candidate, ran a weak third. A preliminary count also indicates
that the Venezuelan Communist party, one of three supporting
Larrazabal, will poll only about 4 percent of the total vote. Pro-
Larrazabal students demonstrated in Caracas on 8 December,
� in protest against Betancourtis lead.
The three presidential candidates formally agreed on 6 De-
cember to respect the election outcome and to establish a coal-
ition government with a minimum reform program which would
include: extension of control over the foreign-owned oil industry
and an increased government share in the existing 50-50 profit shar-
ing folqnula With the oil companies; a similar revision of govern-
ment relations with the two US-owned iron-mining companies in
Venezuela; development of a national oil enterprise with its own
tanker fleet; and establishment of diplomatic and commercial rela-
tions with "all nations." The last provision, publicly voiced by
each of the three candidates, clearly suggests that formal ties
will be considered with one or more Soviet bloc countries.
The declaration is probably designed to reassure the public
that multiparty unity remains intact despite electoral competition
and to remind dissident military elements of civilian strength
against a coup attempt.
Betancourt's victory reportedly may somewhat increase the
possibility of a coup attempt because of the traditional military
hostility toward him and his party. Such a move, however, ap-
parently does not at present have the organized backing of a ma-
jority of the armed forces necessary for its success. Neverthe-
less, disturbances such as those touched off by the pro- Larrazabal
students in the capital could get out of hand and lead to armed
forces intervention.
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LATE ITEM
Bedouin Coup Reported Imminent in. Jordan
an attempt by the important Bani Sakhir
Bedouin faction to seize control of the government appeared
imminent�possibly as early as 9 December. The coup re-
portedly would involve the arrest of Prime Minister Rifai and
officers of rival factions in the army and the installation of
Bani Sakhir leaders in key government positions. Reports are
in conflict as to whether King Husayn would be retained.
Until now the Bani Sakhir faction has formed the main
source of King Husayn's support in the army; it controls the
army's armored brigade, several infantry units, and tribal
auxiliaries which it has trained and armed. The commander
of the armored brigade on 5 December moved two tank regi-
ments from their camp in East Jordan into the Jordan Valley,
and possibly to the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem, without
proper coordination with the army headquarters staff. Deputy
Chief of Staff Shara, a member of a rival officer group, ex-
pressed misgivings on 8 December, adding that the tanks might
be used to intimidate the population in West Jordan in conjunc-
tion with a Bani Sakhir move in Amman.
Although the Rani Sakhir group has been the chief prop of
the monarchy, its key role has increased the ambitions of the
leaders, who may now fear that their power is destined to be
reduced by the lifting of martial law and proposed reforms in
the army. On 4 December the King admitted he was disturbed
by reports that this previously loyal group was plotting against
the regime in conjunction with unidentified elements in Syria
and Saudi Crown Prince Faysal. Increased Saudi activity
among the Bani Sakhir has been reported in recent months.
The Bedouin may also want to see Amman disengage it-
self from West Jordan and its burdensome refugee population.
Any significant change in the status quo in this area could in-
vite an Israeli advance into West Jordan.
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CONFIDENTIAL�

THE PRESIDENT
The Vice President
Executive Offices of the White House
Special Assistant for National Security Affairs
Scientific Adviser to the President
Director of the Budget
Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization
Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination
Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities
Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy
Special Adviser to the President
The Treasury Department
The Secretary of the Treasury
The Department of State
The Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary for Adminigtration
The Counselor
Director, International Cooperation Administration
The Director of Intelligence and Research
The Department of Defense
The Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense �
The Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Air Force
The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
Commandant, United States Marine Corps
The Director, The Joint Staff
Chief of Staff, United States Army
Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy
Chief of Staff, United States Air. Force'
Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Special Operations
Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army
Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of the Navy
Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander in Chief, Pacific
The Department of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
Atomic Energy Commission
The Chairman
National Security Agency
The Director
National Indications Center
The Director
United States Information Agency
The Director
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