CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

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Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET COPY NO. 74 OCI 23 Nnn.c,~eaz CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY State Department review completed OSD & DIA review(s) completed. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE SECRET OSD & DIA review(s) completed. Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECT- ING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS, TITLE 18, USC, SECTIONS 793 AND 794, THE TRANSMIS- SION OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. The Current Intelligence Weekly Summary has been prepared primarily for the internal use of the Central Intelligence Agency. It does not represent a complete coverage of all current situations. Comments and conclusions represent the immediate appraisal of the Office of Current Intelligence. Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 23 March 1962 T H E W E E K I N B R I E F (Information as of 1200 EST 22 Mar) SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY DEVELOPMENTS . . . . . . . . , . , . Page 1 Moscow appears to view the Gromyko-Rusk talks in Geneva as a point of departure for more comprehensive negotiations on Berlin which could culminate in a.heads-of-government.. meeting. The moderate tone of Khrushchev's remarks on Ber- lin and Germany in his 16 March speech was intended to re- assu.r the West that Moscow is still interested in a nego- tiated settlement. The Soviets have indicated that their future actions in the Berlin air corridors will be in- fluenced by developments in the US-Soviet talks and have relaxed pressures in the corridors somewhat since 17 March by conducting transport flights below the altitudes nor= mally used by Western commercial aircraft. Gromyko's rel- atively mild presentation of the USSR's disarmament pro- posals in the 17-nation Geneva conference and Soviet ac- ceptance of the proposal by the US and Britain for three- power talks on a nuclear test ban were also calculated to improve the atmosphere for bilateral discussions with the us. FRANCE-ALGERIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 French officials still expect serious trouble in Algeria, despite the absence of major OAS-inspired violence immedi- ately following the announcement of a cease-fire. These of- ficials hope, however, that Moslem restraint will continue and that the gradual resignation of the Europeans to the new situation will reduce OAS capabilities. The OAS may be delaying action until the provisional executive is in- stalled or until some other step is taken in connection with implementation of the accords. De Gaulle is seeking massive public approval for the agreements in the national refer- endum scheduled for 8 April, and his public statements fur- ther emphasize his desire to undercut claims by the OAS that it is resisting his "dictatorship." ARGENTINA , . . . . . . , , , Page 8 The victories of the pro-Peronista slates in Argentina's 18 March provincial and congressional elections prompted precipitate military pressure on President Frondizi. Coup- minded military.elements have been temporarily restrained by various anti-Peronista measures, such as federal inter- vention in five provinces where Peronistas won, and by Frondizi's agreement to form a new cabinet partly selected by the mil- itary. CONGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 The meetings between Adoula and Tshombe finally got under way on 18 March; their positions and attitudes still appear to be far apart. Tshombe meanwhile is trying to woo pro-Leopoldville Baluba leaders in northern Katanga and to weaken Adoula's parliamentary support. Adoula, under SECRET i BRIEFS Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 23 March 1962 increasing pressure from radical members of his cabinet to work out a solution of the Katanga problem, has threatened to expel the UN by late April if no progress is made and to seek aid outside the UN framework. LAOS . . . . . . Page 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phoumi's resistance to a coalition government on Souvanna Phouma's terms has reached the point where he has refused even to consult with Secretary Harriman in Bangkok. Prospects for progress toward a settlement have also been dimmed by the insistence of Souvanna and Souphannouvong on another meeting of the three princes. With the exception of brief heavy shelling of Nam Tha by enemy forces, military action SOUTH VIETNAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Government forces conducted the first major helicopter troop movements yin the northern..part _.of,,the -country t week, but failed to trap sizable Viet Cong forces. :lei; Cong military action continued at a highlevel, and there are tentative indications that bloc :a.irdrop, support may have begun. North Vietnam continues to call for an inter- national conference on Vietnam. The USSR, however, in its statement of 17 March and its covering note to the UK as 1954 Geneva cochairman, stopped short of calling for a con- ference, requesting a joint appeal for an end to US "inter- ference" in South Vietnam. GUATEMALA . . President Ydigoras, just entering the fifth year of his six-year-:torm,faced the most serious crisis of his admin- istration during the week beginning 13 March. Communist- led students clashed repeatedly with the police, and there were more than 20 deaths and several hundred wounded be- fore the army was called in to restore order on 16 March. Public demands that Ydigoras resign led key army leaders to give serious consideration to forcing him to do so. By 20 March, order had been-restored in the capital and the im- mediate crisis appeared to be passing. Ydigoras, however, still faces a difficult situation, including continuing guerrilla activity in the mountains north of the capital. .ii'GOD PROBLEMS IN CUBA . Page 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Stringent rationing became effective in most parts of Cuba on 19 March. Cuba must import about 30 percent of its basic foods, and although the bloc now provides most of these imports, the amounts are smaller than formerly supplied by the US. Cuba's 1958 level of per capita food consumption was considerably higher than the Latin American average and there is still no immediate prospect of widespread hunger or malnutrition, but further disruptions of its normal con- sumption patterns are likely. The 1962 sugar harvest' is ex- pected to be no more than 4,500,000 tons, or about two thirds of the 6,800,000 tons harvested in 1961. SECRET ii BRIEFS Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 23 March 1962 Page 16 The Syrian-Israeli border clashes of the past two weeks probably mark the beginning of a period of sharply height- ened Arab-Israeli tensions. Both Syria and Israel seem ready for further action, and Damascus appears to believe that "the battle of the Jordan waters" has already begun. The Dawalibi cabinet in Syria has made some political gains from what it describes as its "victory" over Israeli units, but it is under increasing domestic criticism on other counts and may soon fall or be reshuffled. In Saudi Arabia, last week's drastic cabinet revision returned Crown Prince Faysal to a key position of power in the government. STALINISTS REMOVED FROM BULGARIAN CABINET . . . , . . . . Page 19 The newly elected Bulgarian National Assembly at its first meeting approved changes in the Council of Ministers which were another victory for the pro-Khrushchev leader- ship of party First Secretary Zhivkov over the powerful Stalinist segment in the party and government. With his control of the party leadership nowrmore solidly assured, Zhivkov stands a better chance to avert a Stalinist challenge at the next party congress, scheduled to begin,: in late August, MONGOLIA: KHRUSHCHEV'S ADVOCATE IN ASIA . , . . . . . . . Page 20 Mongolia has made it clear that it is solidly behind the Soviet Union in its controversy with the Chinese Com- munists. After denouncing the Albanians and openly criti- cizing Peiping's support for Tirana, the Mongolians em- barked on their own version of de-Stalinization yy attacking Marshall Choybalsan, who ruled the Mongolian party and state from the 1930s until his death In 1952. A similar effort to follow Moscow's lead in the de-Stalinization campaign of 1956 had severe repercussions within the Mongolian party before the pro-Moscow faction asserted its control. Page 21 A protest vote against the Macmillan government has been registered in four recent by-elections,-'in one of which the Liberal party captured a "safe" Conservative seat by nearly 8,000 votes. The Conservatives, in office since 1951, have appeared unsure in dealing with a wide range of foreign and domestic issues. Although the Labor party has failed to capitalize on the government's shortcomings and general elections need not be called for another two and a half years, five more by-elections are due this spring, and the government may be unusually sensitive to popular pressures during this time on such issues as dis- armament. COMMON MARKET RELATIONS WITH AFRICA e o e . . . . . . . . Page 21 The six European Common Market (EEC) countries are agreed that the 1957 convention associating 16 African states with the EEC should be renewed when it expires at SECRET iii BRIEFS Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 23 March 1962 the end of this year, but they differ on the exact terms to be offered the Africans. This issue is expected to come to a head in the next few weeks. Present prospects are that the EEC will offer closer institutional ties, an expanded aid program, and some arrangement on a free trade area. Continued preferential access for African ex- ports to the European market will hurt competing under- developed areas. B d/! :IL' S SIX MONTHS UNDER GOULAItT . . . . , . . . . . . . Page I President Joao Goulart, who is scheduled to visit Wash- inton on 3 April, has ret :,,ined most of the authority the- oretically transferred tc the prime minister by the con- stitutional amendment passed last September, when he suc- ceeded to the presidency after Quadros' resignation. Goulart's position now is challenged, however, by the return of Quadros, who is expected to seek the prime ministry unless Goulart .succeeds in his current move to restore chief executive authority to the president through a national referendum. Gou- lart, like Quadros, has tried to appeal to Brazilian nation- alism by pursuing a foreign policy clearly independent of that of the United States. He has thus far taken little action on Brazil's economic and social problems--such as the politi- cally explosive land reform issue, the rising cost of living, and the serious foreign exchange shortage. TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 The Turkish Government has adopted a record budget for the 1962 fiscal year in order to establish a base for continued economic growth during a Five-Year Plan (1963-68). To accomplish their objectives in the preparatory phase and during the plan period, Turkish planners must count heavily on continued foreign aid. Efforts to make the country self- sufficient will depend largely on Turkey's success in in- creasing exports of minerals and agricultural products. Long-term prospects for doing this appear generally good, but serious economic and social problems must first be solved. SECRET iv Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY WEEKLY REVIEW SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY DEVELOPMENTS Moscow appears to view the Gromyko-Rusk talks in Geneva as a point of departure for more comprehensive negotiations on Berlin which could culminate in a heads-of-government meet- ing. The moderate tone of Khru- shchev's remarks on Berlin and Germany in his 16 March speech was intended to reassure the West that Moscow is still interested in a negotiated settlement. The Soviets have indicated that their future actions in the Berlin air cor- ridors will be influenced by developments in the US-Soviet talks and have relaxed pressures in the corridors somewhat since 17 March. Gromyko's relatively mild presentation of the USSR's disarmament proposals in the 17-nation Geneva conference and Soviet acceptance of the proposal by the US and Britain for three-power talks on a nuclear test ban were also cal- culated to improve the atmos- phere for bilateral discussions with the US. Berlin and Germany In Khrushchev's 16 March speech--a pre-election address delivered at the Kremlin to his Kalinin constituents and his first major speech on foreign policy since the party congress last fall--he again indicated a willingness to work out an agree- ment with the West on the status of West Berlin and Allied access which would be incorporated in a separate peace treaty with East Germany. He also reiter- ated that there is no "fatal deadline" for the conclusion of such a treaty and sought to convey an impression of restraint by declining to comment on the current US-Soviet talks. He em- phasized, however, that a Ber- lin settlement must include not only guarantees for Allied ac- cess but also "recognition and respect for the sovereign rights of the German Democratic Repub- lic." The Soviet press continues to give increased prominence to Soviet determination to conclude a peace treaty with East Germany while accusing the West of stall- ing on serious negotiations. In letters to President De Gaulle and Prime Minister Macmillan, delivered on 14 March, Khrushchev also reaffirmed his proposal for a prior four-power agreement for inclusion in a sub- sequent Soviet peace treaty with East Germany. It would cover the status of West Berlin, free access, and other "important postwar problems"--such as for- malizing existing German fron- tiers and prohibiting nuclear weapons in both German states. Here again, he emphasized that access arrangements must respect East German "sovereignty." He warned that if the West rejects an agreement, the USSR will proceed with a separate treaty. Air Corridors As part of their effort to maintain the sense of urgency for negotiating a Berlin settle- ment, the Soviets have continued their harassing tactics in the Berlin air corridors. On 15 March, shortly after six Soviet transport flights in the south- ern corridor had been completed as scheduled, the USSR protested that Western aircraft had "de- liberately violated established flight procedures" and "endan- gered air safety in the corri- dors." The protest reflected Moscow's immediate intention SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 1 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET to demonstrate further that present procedures in the Ber- lin Air Safety Center (BASC) are inadequate for air safety. The Soviets apparently hope thereby to gradually build a case for demanding changes in the BASC operations which would increase Communist control over Western flights. The Soviets have again tried to persuade the US chief controller in the BASC of the necessity to provide the Soviet representative with the esti- mated time of Western flights over the Mansbach radio beacon, a navigational aid in the south- ern corridor located just out-. side the East German border. They could interpret Western compliance with this request as conforming with their demand of 15 February that estimated time of crossing the East Ger- man "national" border be pro- vided with Allied flight plans and as implicit recognition of the East German law of 1 August 1961, which required aircraft entering East German territory to give notification by radio. Stromov, the chief Soviet controller in the BASC, has frankly acknowledged that So- viet moves in the corridors are linked to the US-Soviet talks at Geneva. He remarked to his US counterpart on 16 March that if the Geneva conversations were successful, the situation in the corridors would change for the better. On the following day, the Soviets discontinued trans- port flights at altitudes from 7,500 to 10,000 feet--normally used by Western commercial air- craft. Soviet flights since 17 March have been conducted be- low 7,500 feet. Moscow may also be employ- ing a new device in order to achieve Western recognition of the USSR's right to use the cor- ridors for local flights. On 19 March, Stromov formally re- quested of the chief US con- troller in BASC the installa- tion of a low-power radio link between the BASC and Karlshorst, which would be added to exist- ing communications facilities. He alleged that the present telephone circuit had been faulty on occasions and that the new link was necessary to ensure contact with Soviet headquarters, particularly at times when Soviet aircraft were operating in the corridors. Karlshorst does call the BASC constantly to check the time and location of Soviet and Western flights, to dictate protests to the West, and to obtain detailed reactions of Western BASC representatives to Soviet flights. The sharp increase in telephonic communi- cations between Soviet repre- sentatives in BASC and their headquarters in Karlshorst dur- ing periods of Soviet corri- dor flights is a further re- flection of Moscow's intention to maintain tight control over these operations. Moscow is apparently in- creasing its harassment of West- ern ground access routes to Berlin in its continuing ef- forts to demonstrate that all forms of access to the city are contingent on Communist suffer- ance. On 20 March, Soviet con- trollers at Babelsberg refused for a time to clear an outbound US Army convoy of five vehicles on the grounds that they had not received advance notification SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 2 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY of its movement across the Helmstedt-Berlin Autobahn and lacked personnel to complete the processing. The same day, the Soviet controllers at Marien- born, at the opposite end of the autobahn, cleared an inbound con- voy of the same size after an hour's delay, with the warning that in the future they would insist on advance written noti- fication. The practice of notifying the Soviets of Western military movements was begun on an ad hoc basis last August to facilitate the transfer of a special US Army battle group from West Germany to West Berlin. Since that time, local US military authorities have continued to alert Soviet officials to the movement of convoys of eight or more vehicles. The Soviets ap- parently are seeking to extend this practice to all military movements on the autobahn. Disarmament and Test Ban In his 15 March speech at the Geneva disarmament confer- ence Gromyko tabled a plan for general and complete disarma- ment in the form of a draft treaty. The plan is largely a rehash of the September 1960 Soviet proposals presented to the UN by Khrushchev. The only significant new element is the point that there should be no veto in the control organiza- tion. Soviet leaders probably calculate that their ostensible renunciation of the veto will have a favorable impact, par- ticularly on the nonaligned powers. Gromyko also formally ex- pressed Soviet willingness to discuss the USSR's 26 Septem- ber "partial" disarmament meas- ures, implementation of which allegedly would decrease inter- national tensions, strengthen confidence between states, and promote final agreement on gen- eral and complete disarmament. He singled out the "partial" proposals calling for creation of a nuclear free zone in Cen- tral Europe and a nonaggression treaty between the NATO and Warsaw Pact powers--proposals more related to the German and European security issues than to disarmament. In a 20 March private con- versation with a US delegate, a prominent member of the Soviet delegation said that the "main areas of possible agreement" at the conference are on these is- sues: nontransfer of nuclear weapons, a NATO - Warsaw Pact nonaggression treaty, an Afri- can nuclear-free zone, a test ban, and outer space. The Soviet press has given little publicity to Secretary Rusk's presentation of the US disarmament program. A 19 March Pravda article, however, dis- torted the US proposal for a 30-percent reduction in the number of vehicles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and of major conventional armaments in the first three years. Pravda claimed that it was ac- companied by a demand for cre- ation of a 100-percent far-flung system of international control. The Soviet press line has been that while the USSR presented concrete proposals to achieve general and complete disarma- ment, the US advanced "only" an unclear outline. T SE 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 3 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY In an obvious attempt to impress the nonbloc powers represented at the conference with Soviet flexibility and de- sire for agreement, the USSR has formally agreed to the US- British proposal of last January that a Big Three subcommittee be established to discuss the test ban issue. Soviet delegate Zorin announced the decision at a 19 March press conference in Geneva. He made clear, however, that the subcommittee discussion should be on the Soviet draft proposals of 28 November 1961. In a 15 March private talk with US and British delegates, Soviet delegate Tsarapkin firmly rejected such modifications of the US test ban proposal as making the treaty cover all tests from the beginning, allocating an agreed limited number of in- spections in zones where there is little seismic activity, pro- viding safeguards against prep- arations for testing, and short- ening the time before the begin- ning of inspections. Tsarapkin stated that "the idea of inter- national control is completely unacceptable" to the USSR, un- der the situation existing now. He maintained that "the only basis for agreement possible is national control." He reiterat- ed his views publicly at a press conference on 16 March. Moscow has so far not com- mented on neutralist calls for a moratorium on atmospheric test- ing while the conference is seek- ing the basis for agreement. Nor has there been any Soviet com- ment on India's proposal that the national inspection systems of the Soviet Union and the West be supplemented by a test-detec- tion system to be set up in neu- tral countries. Khrushchev denounced the US decision to resume atmos- pheric testing in his 16 March speech, terming it a "severe blow" to the 17-nation disarma- ment committee. He again warned that the USSR would respond to US nuclear testing in the atmos- phere by "staging its own tests," and contended that Soviet tests would preclude any possibility that the US might achieve a "military advantage." Khrushchev made it clear that the USSR will continue to reject Western proposals for in- ternational controls over a test ban agreement and will insist that national detection systems provide a "sound foundation" for an agreement. In the first pub- lic Soviet reference to the USSR's 2 February underground test, be said that this test, promptly announced by the US Atomic Energy Commission, was staged deliberately to disprove the West's contention that it is impossible to detect some underground tests. Two days earlier in Geneva, Soviet delegate Usatchev had discussed the 2 February SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 4 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 SECRET ?inderground test with a US del- egation officer. He cited the US announcement of the test as evidence that "national systems are improving all the time." Al- though they are not yet perfect, he remarked, each nation must assume some risks and not ex- pect perfection. Khrushchev did not mention in his formal speech the latest Soviet launching of an earth satellite, although he had ear lier interrupted another speaker to report the launching. He did claim in his speech, however, that the USSR has developed a "global rocket" which cannot be detected and is invulnerable to "anti-missile weapons." He said the new global rocket "can fly around the world in any di- rection and deal a blow at any set target" and cited the flights of space vehicles Vostok I and II as "proof" of the accuracy of Soviet calculations. The timing of the launching of the latest Soviet earth satellite suggests that Khrushchev ex- pected that it would be con- sidered abroad as a prototype of the "new" weapon. The timing was also probably linked with the opening of the disarmament conference. Soviet propaganda promptly pointed out that the new "invulnerable" weapon would be destroyed if the Soviet dis- armament proposals were accepted. Khrushchev used his speech to reply to Communist critics of the Soviet disarmament posi- tion. Obviously pointing to his Peiping and Tirana adversaries, he noted that "there are people who either incorrectly explain or deliberately distort" the So- viet proposals on disarmament. In an awkward attempt to rebut their "allegations" that Soviet championing of disarmament is "harmful and even dangerous" to peoples struggling for libera- tion, Khrushchev asserted that the Soviet Union renders substan- tial economic assistance "includ- ing assistance in armaments" to states which ask for support "in the struggle against the imperialists and colonizers." Mikoyan's pre-election speech two days before Khrushchev's, while making the same points, specifically took issue with "Albanian theoreticians who have a confused knowledge of Marxism." Peiping has given consid- erable publicity to the Geneva disarmament conference; Gromyko's 15 March speech has been re- ported, and the full text of the Soviet draft treaty has been published in People's Daily. Outer Space Moscow on 21 March re- leased Khrushchev's response to President Kennedy's letter of 7 March urging joint US- Soviet cooperation in outer space projects. Khrushchev welcomed the President's attitude toward his proposal to pool the efforts of the Soviet Union and the US in space exploration--a proposal contained in Khrushchev's 21 February letter to the President congratulating the US on the success of Glenn's space flight. The 21 March letter, however, revived a standard point-- omitted on the earlier occasion-- linking outer space cooperation with agreement on disarmament. Khrushchev said it was "obvious" that the "scope of our coopera- tion" in the peaceful explora- tion of space depends "in some degree" on solution of the dis- armament problem. He concluded that "much greater prospects" for cooperation and the pooling of scientific and technical achievements "up to and includ- ing joint creation of space- ships for reaching other plan- ets--the moon, Venus, Mars-- will appear only when agreement on disarmament is achieved." Following Ambassador Plimp- ton's presentation of the US outer space statement at the 19 March meeting of the UN outer space committee, bloc spokesmen praised his speech. Czech del- egates went out of the way to state to an Australian delegate that they were pleased with the speech. A Moscow radio correspond- ent said privately that the Soviet attitude in the outer space com- mittee will be "much more construc- tive than in Geneva." SECRET (Concurred in by OSI) 25X1 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 5 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY French officials still expect serious trouble in Algeria, despite the absence immediately following the announcement of a cease-fire of any major violence inspired by the Secret Army Organization (OAS). These officials hope, however,'that Moslem restraint will continue and that the gradual resignation of the Europeans of Algeria to the new situation will reduce OAS capabilities. The OAS may be delaying action until the pro- visional executive is installed or some other step is taken in connection with implementa- tion of the accords. The organization appears to have adopted a strategy of harassment of the French Gov- ernment and provocation of the Moslem population rather than risk' a 'coup attempt or a mass- settler uprising which could ex- pose it to destruction by the French Army and security forces. The army had notyet been faced with massive violence that would test its willingness to enforce the terms of the cease-fire agreement in the face of OAS opposition. In Paris, the 25X1 25X1 director of De Gaulle's personal cabinet told a US Embassy officer on 18 March that if serious trouble could be avoided for about a week, the French would be "out of the woods," but various other officials told the officer they felt that many trials still lie ahead. Premier Ben Khedda of the rebels' provisional Algerian government (PAG) has publicly insisted that the French must control the OAS, Ben Khedda, who greeted vice premier Ben Bella and other liberated ministers in Rabat on 21 March, will probably attempt to keep his visit as short as possible, as there are indications that both he and 25X1 25X1 SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 6 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Ben Bella are irritated over Moroccan efforts to capitialize on the release of Ben Bella. Meanwhile, De Gaulle is proceeding with steps to im- plement the accords. The new post of French high commissioner got off to a bad start last week when De Gaulle's first nominee, retired general Pierre Billotte --a long-time "leftist Social- ist"--refused to accept the position. Christian Fouchet was appointed shortly after the cease-fire took effect on 1;~ March, and the French cabinet has approved--although not announced--the composition of the provisional executive. Fouchet will presumably give loyal support to De Gaulle's Algerian policy, even though he personally opposed the policy which resulted in relinquishment of French control over Tunisia and Morocco. The risk of assassination by the OAS will be great for all individuals accepting responsible positions during the transitional period. In France, complete calm prevailed following announcement of the cease-fire. Public opinion from extreme left to center right welcomed the agreements. In parliament-- which the government permitted to debate but not to vote on the accords--rightists stig- matized them as "abandonment" and "capitulation." De Gaulle, both in his cease-fire address and in his subsequent 'grief message to parliament, stressed his desire for massive public approval of the agreements in a national referendum scheduled for 8 April. He made it clear it would be held not only to ap- prove the accords but also to authorize him to take all neces- sary measures, while applying them, to preserve public order and the security of the state. He thus hopes to avoid again invoking Article 16 of the constitution--the much-criti- cized emergency powers he as- sumed during the April 1961 mutiny--and thus to counter charges by the OAS and other critics that he has usurped power and should be resisted as a dictator. The prompt Soviet extension of de jure recognition to the PAG and the declared willingness of Khrushchev to establish diplomatic relations mark the end of Moscow's ambivalent attitude toward the Al- gerian rebellion. Whereas Commu- nist China gave the PAG formal dip- lomatic recognition shortly after its formation in 1958, Moscow re- fused to extend even de facto recog- nition until after France opened talks with the rebels. However, even after this recognition in the autumn of 1960, and Khru- shchev's remarks shortly there- after characterizing the rebellion as a "just" war of national libera- tion, the PAG up to now had never received full Soviet support. SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 7 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY The victories of the pro- Peronista slates in Argentina's 18 March provincial and con- gressional elections prompted precipitate military pressure on President Frondizi. Coup- minded military elements have been temporarily restrained by various anti-Peronista measures, such as federal intervention in provinces where Peronistas won and by Frondizi's agreement to form a new cabinet partly selected by the military. The Peronista victories surprised the military and the Peronistas themselves as well as the government. Much of their strong showing is to be attributed to the unpopu- larity of the austerity meas- ures in Frondi'zi's economic stabilization program--such as his program for drastic cuts in the payroll of Argentina's government-owned railroads. There were also probably a con- siderable number of political deals giving Peronista candi- dates the support of other par- ties: normally the(Peronistas have been able to count on about a fifth of the total vote; in these elections they polled almost a third. In the confusion resulting from the election upset, the military reacted by forcing Frondizi to impose federal control over five provinces in which Peronista guberna- torial candidates won, and some military elements wanted to oust Frondizi himself. Some Peronistas, on the other hand, sought to call a general strike to protest Frondizi's anti-Peronista measures. Disagreements, within the Peronista ranks and among mili- tary leaders have helped Fron- dizi maintain an uneasy balance, but he is still under strong pressure. A tentative agree- ment with the military report- edly calls for formation of a coalition cabinet including military representatives, con- tinuing strong measures against the Peronistas and Communists, and the rapid ouster from gov- ernment posts of supporters of Rogelio Frigerio, Frondizi's close adviser whom the military hold responsible for the situa- tion. It was announced on 21 March that the cabinet minis- ters who resigned to permit the. organization of the joint eight-man military and civil- ian cabinet would continue in office until the new one is chosen. Frondizi condoned the military takeover of the prov- inces when the pro-Peronistas won, since this is permitted by the constitution under the state of siege. He is reject- ing,however, military demands that the 43 Peronistas elected to the Chamber of Deputies be barred from taking their seats on 1 May as scheduled, on the grounds that this would be illegal. Although the military cur- rently accepts Frondizi's con- tinuance in office, neither the navy nor a large part of the army is satisfied with the ex- isting compromise. The threat of Peronista violence has not yet been removed, but instead of going on strike Peronista labor leaders agreed to issue a statement sup- porting constitutional government. SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 8 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET Adoula and Tshombe on 18 March held an initial meeting devoted to "identi- ying the problems" and then got together for a short pri- vate showe no resentment over Adoula's absence from Leopoldville on his arrival, is in a good mood, and has apparently settled him- self and his 30-member entou- rage for a long bargaining period. Adoula's 15 March trip to Coquilhatville, in Equateur Province, was required for political reasons. Adoula, who is of course interested in trying to impress on Tshombe that he is only a provincial leader, claims he had no of- ficial word that Tshombe was coming. The two sides have ap- parently worked out a schedule of daily meetings, but there is as yet no information on the substantive content of the talks held so far. Adoula, pessimistic and sensitive to charges that he let Tshombe "off the hook" at Kitona last December, is trying to play the meetings in as low a key as possible. The prime min- ister appears less flexible, probably reflecting the mount- ing pressure on him to demon- strate to his followers some progress on the Katanga problem and a growing awareness that he may be in serious political trouble unless he can do so. In a talk with Ambassador Gullion on 14 March, Adoula insisted that the Loi Funda- mentale--the draft constitution which establishes the primacy of Leopoldville over the provinces---could not be sus- pended by agreement between him and Tshombe and must remain in effect until revised. Adoula said bluntly that "it was time to find out whether Tshombe would or would not integrate." Other remarks by Adoula suggested that he continuesto believe that only force will bring Tshombe around. Adoula's frustrations are evident in a letter he sent on 15 March to UN chief Gardiner to the effect that unless the Katanga problem were settled by late April, he would have to withdraw from UN forces the facilities and authority pre- viously given. Adoula crit- icized the UN Command for its lack of support for Leopoldville's efforts to quash Tshombe, accused the UN of not carrying out its mandate, and charged that as a consequence Tshombe's gendarmerie had increased its effectiveness and firepower. While UN of- ficials tend to discount Adoula's resolve for a showdown with the UN, his remarks are in line with his reported new interest in direct bilateral aid out- side the UN framework. The letter may have been designed to set the stage for some move in that direction if his talks with Tshombe: f ai l . Tshombe gives every indica- tion that he will hold to his long-standing position of autonomy for Katanga within a loose Congo federation. SECRET 25X1 25X1 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 19 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 iation with Baluba leaders from northern Katanga to form a "united Katanga" and undercut Leopoldville's attempts to split LLIANDA ANGOLA SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Kongolo~ Kibalo. Albertville While he negotiates with Adoula, Tshombd is also attempt- ing political maneuvers designed to weaken the prime minister's position. Tshombe's main effort appears to be toward a reconcil- While a Conakat-Baluba reconciliation appears to be at the core of Tshombe's maneuvers, there is evidence that Tshomb6 is trying to convert other present and potential anti-Adoula support within the Congolese parliament and in the provinces. He has reportedly asked Joseph Kasongo, former Congo Assembly president and a leader of Lumumba's old National Congolese Movemen' (MNC), to send a delegation to Elisabeth- ville, and he has also agreed to send a Conakat delegation to an MNC-sponsored congress of anti= Leopoldville groups in Stanley- ville in late April or early May. The embassy believes that the principal Baluba leader, Jason Sendwe, one of Adoula's vice premiers, will oppose the scheme, but notes that other lesser Baluba leaders are tempted, and an alignment between Tshombe's Conakat party and other parties may develop. The Katangan youth group's call for the release of Gizenga may be part of an attempt to make a line-up of radicals with Tshombe's Conakat more palatable. Gizenga, although still out of circulation, may produce still another problem for Adoula. He is reported to be threatening a hunger strike unless he is released or tried soon. Should he follow through on this threat, the propaganda campaign such a move could generate might force Adoula to take further steps against him and thereby create more strains between moderate and radical forces. SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 10 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY General Phoumi, by his re- fusal to meet with Secretary Harriman in Bangkok this week, has underscored his opposition to US policy in Laos. Phoumi, who earlier had "welcomed the opportunity" to confer with the Secretary, now claims that his cabinet has ruled against such a "clandestine mission." Western efforts to reach agreement with Souvanna and Souphannouvong at Khang Khay on a suitable cabinet slate have been hampered by their in- sistence that coalition terms must be settled at another meet- ing of the three princes. While Souvanna claims that this cur- tailment of talks with the West is designed merely to allow "a certain flexibility" in bargain- ing with Vientiane, it probably resulted from Souphannouvong's fear that Souvanna might reach a unilateral accommodation with the West. tinues to absent himself from Geneva, and Moliakov, acting bead of the Soviet delegation (now comprising himself and a secretary), has informed his British counterpart that Gromyko confirmed he had no intention of interfering in the Laotian situation while in Geneva. This indicates that Moscow does not expect an early resumption of formal Laos conference activity and has no desire to work ac- tively to resolve the present impasse. This view is supported by remarks made by Soviet Ambassa- dor Abramov on his return to Vientiane after an absence of about a month. He said that a solution in Laos now depends on US actions, and told the British ambassador he is planning a three-month vacation beginning in April and will not return un- til August. Souvanna and Souphannou- vong say that their future bar- gaining will be based on the principles that the posts of defense, interior, and foreign affairs must go to the neutral- ist center and that posts given to the two wings, Vientiane and Pathet Lao, must correspond in number and importance, The USSR apparently regards Phoumi's intransigence and the present stalemate in the Geneva conference and in Laos as devel- opments which can only accrue to Soviet advantage. Deputy Foreign Minister Pushkin con- Heavy enemy shelling of the Nam Tha airstrip in north- western Laos resumed on 18 March but has tapered off to only sporadic firing. This action presumably was triggered by the recent reinforcement of the government garrison with several 105-mm. howitzers and elements of a paratroop battalion from southern Laos, The Nam Tha area had been relatively quiet since the end of February. Elsewhere, government forces have continued to move slowly north in the Nam Beng valley to the west of Luang Prabang, while other activity has been limited to minor probes and ambushes by the two sides. SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 11 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET Government operations in South Vietnam during the past 'week inflicted some casualties on the Viet Cong by strafing and bombing but failed to trap .sizable forces. In Quang Ngai Province, where two Viet Cong groups totaling more than 1,800 had been reported,the first major helicopter troop movements in the northern part of the country were conducted last weekend; government ground forces made contact with only one enemy company northwest of the town of Quang Ngai. In the south- err. provinces, Viet Cong military action continued at its normally high level. Throughout the country, however, Communist activity of all types dropped during the week ending 12 March to 406 incidents from the pre- vious week's high of 552. Hanoi continues to show a desire for an' international conference on Vietnam and to exhibit some impatience with the USSR's failure to move in that direction. In a letter to the Geneva cochairmen on 16 March, North Vietnam's foreign minister called on them to hold consultations among the countries concerned. North Vietnamese editorial comment on the letter pointed out that it was nearly the twentieth time that Hanoi had found it necessary to report to the cochairmen on TJS activities in the Smith. Quan Long. Ca Maru) ..~~ Railroad Road SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW sari ?/ie/ssasn Communist Guerrilla Activity Page 12 of 22 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET Although the Soviet Foreign Ministry statement on 17 March charging that US actions in South Vietnam are a serious threat to the peace and security of the area is the strongest Soviet diplomatic move yet on South Vietnam, it falls short of calling for the international conference which both Hanoi and Peiping have indicated they prefer. In a covering note to the UK as a cochairman of the 1954 Geneva conference on Indo- china, the USSR merely asked the British to join in demanding that the US immediately stop its interference in the internal affairs of South Vietnam. The Soviet reluctance to call for a conference at this President Ydigoras, just entering the fifth year of his six-year term, faced the most serious crisis of his adminis- tration during the week begin- ning 13 March. Communist-led students clashed repeatedly with the police, whose inept- ness and brutality led to more than 20 deaths and several hundred wounded before the army was called in to restore order on 16 March. Widespread public repudi- ation of Ydigoras for permitting time is probably related to Khru- shchev's expectation that a summit meeting is in the offing and his desire to deal now with what he considers to be higher priority problems, such as Berlin and Ger- many. Moscow may fear that insisting on a conference to take up alleged US interven- tion in Vietnamese affairs might lead to a refusal by the President to take part in the more important confer- ence. The North Vietnamese and the Chinese are not re- strained by this consideration; the Chinese, in fact, fear So- viet-Western meetings which do not include them and would prefer, if possible, to sabo- tage such meetings. the police excesses led to strong demands for his resigna- tion--supported by some business and professional groups--and strikes by a number of labor unions The unqualified support for Ydigoras offered by such officers as Colonel Jose Luis Lemus, chief of the air force, overcame the wavering of certain SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW page 13 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY highly placed army officers who feared that Ydigoras' continua- tion in power in the face of public hostility would lead to an extremist takeover of the government Mar n ch, when the worst of the crisis had abated, Ydgoras ap- parently ordered the replacement of Army Chief of Staff Ponciano and the commander of one of the capital's two key garrisons. There are some indications he may have had to reverse the order. The American army and air attaches expect further high- level military reassignments of officers who wavered during the crisis. The minister of defense, Colonel Enrique Peralta, may be among those replaced in the near future. The acute crisis had abated by 20 March, but Ydigoras ex- tended the state of siege to 22 April. He still faces a diffi- cult situation, and a new series of incidents could quickly cause a new deterioration of his posi- tion. Student groups are still on strike, although they have called off their demonstrations. Communist-supported guerrilla activity continues in the moun- tains north of the capital, but this by itself does not consti- tute an immediate threat to the regime. The deep wounds and rancors aroused during the crisis will complicate Ydigoras' already difficult job of developing workable relations with the non-Communist opposition par- ties--the moderate leftist Revolutionary party, which has significant popular support, the rightist National Liberation Movement, and the small Christian Democratic party. These parties formed a loose alliance during the crisis and formally demanded his resignation. Although the progovernment coalition has at least 48 seats in the 66-member unicameral Congress, there have been defections from this coali- tion and Ydigoras may have diffi- culty working with Congress. A continuing problem of considerable importance is the strong opposition in rightist circles to the candidacy of the popular ex-President Juan Jose Arevalo in the elections sched- uled for December 1963. Even his enemies concede that Arevalo would win in a free election. He will not be constitutionally eligible for the presidency, how- ever, until March 1963, when he will have been out of office for the required 12 years. During the course of this year, there- fore, opponents of Arevalo will continue to press for Ydigoras' removal, since this would require new elections within four months --while Arevalo is still ineli- gible. Arevalo is opposed not only by rightists because of his socio-economic reform pro- gram but also by certain mod- erate leftist leaders who are personally antagonistic to him. SECRET :23 ' r 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 14 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SII.MIdARY FOOD PROBLEMS IN CUBA The stringent rationing which became effective in most parts of Cuba on 19 March reflects Cuba's continuing need to import about 30 percent of its basic foods because most of its cropland is planted to sugar cane. Although the bloc now provides most of these imports, many foodstuffs are received in smaller amounts than were formerly supplied by the US. The US used to take two thirds of Cuba's agricultural exports, but its trade break with Cuba and Havana's involve- ment in barter trade.with the bloc have sharply reduced Cuban sales of agricultural products for hard currency, thereby impairing Havana's ability to pay cash for food- stuffs from Western markets. The bloc has not supplied enough of such foods as lard, vegetable oils, rice, beans, and pork, all of which formerly came from the US. The rationing will in- clude rice, beans, beet, butter, lard, and cooking oils in quantities ranging roughly from one third to two thirds of - average consumption levels in 1958. Also rationed are fish, poultry, eggs, milk, fresh produce, soap, and detergents, some of which are rationed at levels higher than 1958 con- sumption levels. Each adult is to receive one and a half pounds of beans per month, three quarters of a pound of beef per week, and one cake of soap per month. Cuba ranked among the best fed nations in Latin America in 1958, with an estimated per capita caloric intake of 2,870-- well above the minimum require- ment of 2,500 calories to sus- tain good health. While domestic food production has not fallen greatly since Castro came to power, there have been widespread shortages caused by a reduction in imports, inade- quate storgge, increased de- mand, and mismanagement of transport, marketing, and dis- tribution facilities. Recent shortages of meat and other livestock products are attribu- table mainly to excessive slaughtering--precipitated largely by fear by expropriation-- in 1959 and 1960. Although there is no evi- dence of serious hunger or malnutrition, Cuba faces further inconveniences and disruptions in its normal consumption pat- terns. Dissatisfaction over the quality and variety of the diet and resentment over dis- tributional failings are ex- pected to continue. However, per capita consumption could fall 20 percent from the 1958 level and still exceed that in most countries of South America. Cuba's sugar harvest in 1962 is expected to be no more than 4,500,000 tons, or about two thirds of the 6,800,000 tons harvested in 1961. This drop in production can be attributed to the following: rainfall has been below normal; little new cane was planted in 1959 and 1960; cultivation of the cane was neglected in the-last three years; some cane land was plowed up in the crop diversification effort; inex- perienced cutters damaged the perennial root stock in 1961; and finally, all standing cane was cut in 1961, leaving no carry-over for 1962. Beyond these factors, the most important single problem in harvesting has been the difficulty in obtaining labor to cut the cane and transport it to the mills. Many of the experienced cane cutters, dis- appointed by low wages last year, have found other employ- ment and are not volunteering their services in spite of re- peated exhortations from the government. Volunteers are apparently less willing to co- operate this year because grandiose promises made last year were not fulfilled. The sugar content of the cane, which reaches a maximum con- centration during late March and early April, falls off rapidly if the harvest is prolonged or if transportation from fields to grinding mills is delayed. Furthermore, cutting and hauling would be handicapped by the rainy season beginning in May. (Prepared by ORR) 25X1 23 Mar 62 WEEKLUTEW Page 15 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET Israeli-Syrian Hostilities The heaviest fighting along the Israeli-Syrian border in two years broke out on the night of 16-17 March when Israel launched a "reprisal" raid along the eastern shore of Lake Ti- berias in the area from which the Syrians had fired on Israeli fishing craft and patrol boats on 8, 15, and 16 March. The Israelis attacked two villages --Al-Nuqayb, in the demilita- rized zone, and Al-Kursi--and claim they killed 30 Syrians at a cost of only five Israeli dead; the raid was followed by an artillery duel and Israeli air attacks. The UN Mixed ' Armistice Commission negotiated a cease-fire after seven hours of fighting. There continue to be sporadic exchanges of fire, however. On 20 March the Syrians on two separate oc- casions again fired on Israeli patrol boats that approached Tiberias' eastern shore, main- taining that the patrol boats opened fire first. On 21 March,Foreign Minister Meir said Israel's cabinet had de- cided that, to permit a relaxa- tion of tension, patrol boats would be kept off the lake during the next few days and Israel would not "at this time" initiate further retaliatory action. Later that day an air battle took place in which the Syrians claim to have shot down an Israeli Super-Mystere jet and the Israelis charge that the Syrians fired on two villages north of Lake Tiberias. It accordingly seems likely that additional and possibly more serious hostilities will occur. The Syrian regime evidently initiated the incidents, probably hoping that it could divert both ISRAELI -SYRIAN BORDER AREA Site of Israeli reprisal raids Canal or conduit, proposed or under construction XNW Demilitarized Zone LEBANON NEGEV \I DESERT UAR COY P1 Tel Aviv - Jaffa GAZA STRIP / / NEGEV oe DESERT i SECRET Haifa 1 O STATUTE MILES 32326 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 16 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY the fractious army and the public from their dissatisfac- tion with internal policies, as well'asgive the lie to Nasir's recent accusations that revo- lutionary Syria, the defector from the UAR, is. not effectively opposing the, Israelis. The promptness and vigor of Israel's reaction reflect not only an immediate grievance but also its sensitivity to disturbances which might jeopardize its Jordan River diversion project. Syria's Premier Dawalibi emphasized the primacy of the Jordan waters issue in the pres- ent crisis during a conversa- tion with Ambassador Knight on 19 March. He stressed the Arab view that it is not a "tech-, nical" question of how much water Israel should take but a political one. The Arab states, which refuse even to recognize Israel's existence, deny that the-Israelis have any right at all to exploit an "Arab" re- source. Ambassador Knight came away with the impression that the Syrian regime believes the "battle of the water" has already begun and that Dawalibi is under severe pressure.- The ambassador suspects the Syrians may be gambling that the UN will step in and force Israel to stop work on the diversion project before the situation deteriorates to outright war. Both Syria and, Israel have protested to the UN Security Council and have requested a meeting to consider their com- plaints. Damascus, in an apparently premeditated attempt to place the US in an unfavorable light, is displaying captured Israeli half-tracks which speakers point out are of American manufacture. As a result, anti-American feel- ing reportedly is running high. Syrian Internal Developments Although the Dawalibi cabi- net may have scored some political gain from the border clashes, it is under increasing criticism and may soon fall or be reshuffled. Conservatives and leftists both are dissatisfied with the cabinet's handling of land reform, indus- try, and denationalization of banking. Supreme Arab Army Command (SARC), which leads the army and exerts considerable influence over the government, appears temporarily to have settled its internal differences, but is likely to be subjected to new internal strains. Its membership probably will be changed from time to time as factions strive for control. The government's announce- ment of a military and economic cooperation agreement with the Qasim regime in Iraq may tend to solidify opposition to it. on the part of such diverse elements as the Socialist Baath, SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 17 of 22 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 SECRET pro-Nasirites, many army of- ficers, and certain conserva- tive politicians. Since Syria's independence following World War Ij,one of the country's most controversial political questions has been its relation- ship with Iraq. The army's fear of union between the two countries precipitated a coup in December 1949 and brought on the Shishakli dictatorship which lasted until early 1954. While the present agreement is a limited one which does not contemplate union, it is likely to heighten such fears. Although rightists have controlled the government since last September's coup, and rightist military and civilian elements may continue to score tactical successes in the near future, an eventual shift to the left appears likely as left-wing elements increase their influence over the SARC and, hence, the government. Even the present government has had to compromise to a certain extent with radical sentiment. Saudi Arabia An almost total change of cabinet made by King Saud eight days after his return to Saudi Arabia makes Crown Prince Faysal again a key figure. He was named assistant prime minister.and foreign minister, and the fact that many of the ministers, particularly in the economic field, are known as "'Faysal men" indicates that SECRET he will have considerable control over the rest of the cabinet. Although Saud retained his son Muhammad and his nephew Faysal Bin Turki, eleven ministers have been replaced, including Oil Minister Tariki, who had been feuding with Faysal. Most of 25X6 the newcomers are commoners with some administrative experience. 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 18 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY AL]*NIST3 REMOVED ROM BULGARIAN CABINET At its first mee>?ng on this post last December. This 15 and 16 March, the newly elect -- suggests that Tsankov and Mikhai- ed Bulgarian National Assembly by will not be included in the approved changes in the. Council propaganda drive against Cherven- of Ministers which represent 1 kov and the Stalinist 'influences another victory for the pro- I in Bulgaria. Khrushchev leadership of party Iirst Secretary Todor Zhivkov over then powerful ;Stalinist seg- ment in the party ft,*d govern- ment. With his control now more solidly assured, Zhivkov stands a better chance to avert a Stal- inist challenge at the next par- ty congress, scheduled to begin in late August. The most important change was the ouster of Georgi Tsankov as minister of interior, a move which probably portends his ous- ter also from the party polit- buro. A powerful and feared in- dividual who had held his min- isterial post since 1951, Tsankov was perhaps the most hard-line Stalinist in Bulgaria after ex- party boss Vulko Chervenkov, who was dropped from the polit- buro last November at the onset of the new de-Stalinization campaign. The next most important change was the removal of Gen. Ivan Mikhailov as minister of defense. Mikhailov, who is at retirement age, saw service in the Soviet Army in World War II and had been Bulgarian defense minister since 1958. His role in the factional problems of the Bulgarian leadership is not Tsankov was appointed, and Mikhailov reappointed, deputy chairmen of the Council of Minis- ters--less influential positions than ministerial posts--whereas Chervenkov was removed even from The regime appointed as Tsankov's successor Diko Dikov, a former deputy defense minister and most recently the head of a party central committee depart ment, thus bypassing the Ministry of Interior. Deputy defense minister Dobri Dzhurov was named to replace Mikhailov. There were a number of other ministerial changes and appointments which probably have political overtones as well as being moves to im- prove administration. Even though he probably has weakened the Stalinists by de- moting Chervenkov, Tsankov, and members of the lower party ap- paratus, Zhivkov still faces major problems in trying to erad- icate Stalinist influence. A large part of the membership of the party organization--built up under Chervenkov--remains ori- ented toward policies enunciated under him and now labeled Stalin- ist. Regime theoretical journals, moreover, have reported that at 25X1 the November central committee meeting Chervenkov did not re- cant his "erroneous" views. Because he cannot purge all suspected Stalinists from public life without crippling the party and government appara- tus, Zhivkov at present is re- lying mainly on propaganda in an attempt to discredit Cherven-25X1 kov and his policies. however, party members are not being dissuaded, and the people profess to see SECRET ar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Paee 19 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY little difference between the Stalinists and the regime. Thus the Stalinists may still be able to mount an effective campaign of resistance within the party apparatus which could affect the August party congress. Zhivkov's de-Stalinization drive is also faced with other potential problems. De-Stalini- zation was discussed in December and January in the Writers' Un- ion, a source of dissidence from 1956 to 1958. At these meetings, Without so much as an ideo- logical nod toward Peiping, Ulan Bator has aligned itself solidly behind the Soviet position in Moscow's feud with Communist Chi- na: Mongolia is the only Asian Communist state to do so; North Vietnam equivocates, while North Korea's Stalinist Kim Il-sung cautiously shows a preference for Peiping. Over the past few months, Mongolia has displayed its pro-Soviet stand by attack- ing the Albanians, openly criti- cizing the Chinese, and launch- ing an imitation de-Staliniza- tion campaign against Marshal Choybalsan, who headed the Mon- golian state and party from the 1930's until his death in 1952. Addressing the party's cen- tral committee in late January, Yumjaagiyn Tsedenbal, Mongolia's premier and party first secre- tary who himself was a Choybal- san protege, charged that the cult of personality had led to unjustified mass repressions against "honest" party, state, and military officials and "even against ordinary citizens." The plenum adopted a resolution for "complete liquidation" of Choy- balsan's harmful influences, and in late February the marshal's name was removed by decree from the industrial combine in Ulan Bator and from the national uni- in an unfavorable light. would also cast the regime several prominent writers who had figured in the earlier dissi- dence appeared to be again call- ing into question the role of party direction in literature. The regime appears for the time being to have squelched pres- sures by some union members to review policy since 1956; al- though such a review would re- dound against Chervenkov, it versity. Mount Choybalsan also will be renamed.. The attack on personality cultism is not without hazard for Tsedenbal. Several years ago the Mongolian politburo was torn by a power struggle during which Tsedenbal found denigration of Choybalsan being turned into criticism of his own policies. This struggle culminated in 1959; the more nationalistic members in the politburo were purged, and Tseden- bal emerged in firm control. Mindful of those events, Tseden- bal took pains to warn the cen- tral committee last January that close watch would be kept for anyone who might try to use the attack on Choybalsan as an excuse "to throw doubt on the correctness of party policy." 22nd party congress." In his role of Asian advo- cate for Khrushchev, Tsedenbal charged the Albanians with "mali- cious, slanderous attacks" on the Soviet party. Announcing that criticism of the Albanians was "absolutely correct," Tseden- bal stated, "We cannot agree with the reservations on this ques- tion which, for instance, the 25X1 delegation of the Chinese Com- munist party made at the Soviet SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Page 20 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY THE MACMILLAN GOVERNMENT'S POLITICAL PROBLEMS Gains by Britain's small Liberal party in recent by- elections point up the. public's disappointment with the Mac- millan government's performance on a wide range of issues dur- ing the past six months. In four by-elections between 8 and 14 March, the Liberals cap- tured by nearly 8,000 votes a seat the Conservatives had carried by over 14,000 in 1959, nearly won another equally "safe" seat, and relegated the Conservative candidate to third place in one of the two seats the Labor party retained. The Macmillan government has been suffering less from any single issue than from a failure to radiate self-confi- dence and vitality. The American Embassy in London notes an appearance of "reticence, muddle, and inadequacy": reticence on the case for Britain's entry into the Common Market and on its policy re- garding the Rhodesian Federa- tion; muddle in fighting infla- tion and stimulating the near- stagnant economy; and inadequacy of top cabinet members, in- cluding Macmillan, to cope with pressing domestic and overseas problems. With Labor candidates barely holding their own, the by-elections provide further evidence that even with Hugh Gaitskell's moderates again in control of defense and foreign policy issues, the Labor party is failing to ex- ploit the government's short- comings. A party official recently admitted privately that Labor had not found a winning issue. On the momentous question of Britain's entry into the Common Market, the Labor party remains noncommit- tal. The Liberals, however, benefited-only from the protest vote against the government-- much as they did in 1958--and party officials recognize the vast organizational and finan- cial improvement needed before they can threaten the major parties when control of the government is at stake in a national election. While the government can take heart that the Liberals rather than Labor- ites have been gaining and that it need not hold a general election for another twa and a half years, in the coming weeks it will be examining its stand on all issues partly with a view to reversing the voting trend in the five more by-elections due this spring, and it will be especially sensitive to popular pressures during this time. The six Common Market (EEC) countries are agreed that the 1957 convention which associates 16 African states with the EEC should be renewed when it ex- pires at the end of this year, but they still differ on the exact terms to be offered the Africans. This issue is ex- pected to come to a head in the next few weeks. Discussion of the new con- vention has been under way for more than a year, with the major area of contention the advisa- bility of continuing the present arrangement for an EEC-African free trade area. France, sup- ported by the Africans, has taken the lead in insisting that exporters in the associated states continue to enjoy tariff SECRET WEEKLY REVIEW Page 21 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY preferences in the EEC. On the other hand, West Germany and the Netherlands--supported by the United States--contend that the preferential system is out- moded, distorts the economic development of Africa, and raises major problems for competing areas, such as Latin America, which lack equal access to the European market. Although this gap has in the past appeared unbridgeable, a compromise now may be taking shape. In meetings since early March, France has agreed to a reduction in the level of pref- erence accorded the associated states, provided they are com- pensated by increased develop- mental aid. West Germany and the Netherlands have in turn agreed to a "transitional" system with reduced preferences, provided it is terminated as soon as alternative arrangements can be agreed on. Among these alternatives would be the US proposals for global agreements to eliminate tariffs on certain tropical products, stabilize their prices, and provide pro- ducers with compensating aid. Other major problems still to be solved are joint EEC- African institutional arrange- ments, the future level of developmental aid to the Africans, and the apportionment of the burden among the EEC countries. All six present members are committed to continue EEC aid at least at the previous level--i.e., $581,000,000 over a five-year period. Some in- crease in this aid is anticipated by all the member countries, but France, perhaps with the future needs of Algeria in mind, reportedly contemplates an in- crease to $1.1 billion for the next five years. Agreement on any amount close to this appears doubtful--especially if France appears to hh asking its EEC partners to pick-up part of the tab for the French-Algerian settlement. SECRET SENEGAL PO RG UINEAS SPANISH SAHARA D- IIK', NET _0 E ERtfAyNN NEST ,HOMEY NIGERIA SOUTH WEST AFRICA B ONGO UGANDA O CRi P REPUBLIC N r OF THE RHODES AND CASH LA SAUDI ARABIA Further consideration of these issues is expected at a ministerial meeting on 2 April. Most observers agree that the present association arrangements have important advantages for the Africans and that further development of the Eurafrican partnership would be a major gain for the West. However, there will be serious reserva- tions over the contemplated continuation of preferential trading arrangements between the two areas--especially so since the area of preference will prob- ably be extended. Britain has repeatedly stated that it can enter the EEC only if African Commonwealth members get the same treatment as other African states. SECRET 23 Mar 62 WEEKLY REVIEW Paine 22 of 22 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SU1IMARY SPECIAL ARTICLES Joao Goulart, who is scheduled to visit Washington on 3 April, has retained most of the authority theoretically transferred to a prime minister by the constitutional amendment passed last September when he succeeded to the presidency af- ter Quadros resigned. Tancredo Neves, who became prime minis- ter after the Brazilian con- gress adopted a parliamentary system of government to con- ciliate military opposition to Goulart's leftist tendencies, has not exercised the power conferred on this office. At the same time, however, Goulart appears to have had no clear idea of what to attempt as president, beyond taking of- fice and maintaining as much political patronage as possi- ble. In his many years as political protege of former dictator Getulio Vargas and as vice president under Kubitschek and Quadros, he had never really concerned himself with questions of national policy. In Goulart'6 first months in the presidency, the Chamber of Deputies passed a profits-remittance bill in ef- fect excluding new foreign in- vestment from the country, and the Senate initiated action to emasculate SUDENE, the organiza- tion established for the eco- nomic development of the poten- tially explosive northeast. Goulart, possibly because of his uncertain political posi- tion, took no action. In De- cember he gave his active sup- port to the pro-Communist slate which won the national labor confederation elections. A steady rise in public; criticism of the leftist tend- encies of his presidency appar- ently caused Goulart to change his tack later in the month and throw his influence against a threatened general strike in Sao Paulo. Public opinion also caused swift passage of SUDENE's master plan and first-year ap- propriations, despite the sen- ators' opposition to the organ- ization. Goulart's efforts early this year to reassure the more conservative elements of the country appear to have had con- siderable success. In mid- January he met with represent- atives of the Commercial Asso- ciation of Rio de Janeiro and listened to a presentation of their concern over Communist infiltration throughout the country. Subsequently, although Goulart had apparently only lis- tened, the association president reported favorably on the meet- ing, calling Goulart "a man of the center." Goulart also engaged in ap- parently effective conciliation talks with opposition governors in the states of Sao Paulo, Parana, and Rio Grande do Norte. On 21 February he received what was generally interpreted in Brazil as a display of growing military support for his admin- istration when only about five of 81 general officers failed to appear at the celebration of an armed forces holiday. In recent weeks numerous influen- tial Brazilians of pro-American and anti-Communist stamp have expressed the conviction that Goulart is resolved to pursue a domestic policy along moderate, progressive lines and an in- 25X1 creasingly pro-American foreign policy. SECRET 23 Mar 69 CDTN'TAT_ AT?TTPT.'G'C 00 M7 1 of 8 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY During this same period, however, Goulart insisted on meeting with Cuban President Dorticos immediately prior to the Punta del Este conference, gave no sign of breaking with his pro-Communist labor allies, and replaced an anti-Communist with a neutralist as head of Brazil's politically important petroleum monopoly, Petrobras. Moreover, Goulart has taken no action against Communists in the governmental structure. The Return of Quadros Quadros' return to Brazil on 7 March has been generally interpreted as a challenge to Goulart. Quadros apparently hopes next October to win elec- tion to congress--or a key gov- ernorship--and then to become prime minister, but his long- awaited television address on 15 March was widely appraised as meaningless bombast and evoked little favorable re- sponse. Quadros, however, has on previous occasions recovered completely from seeming polit- ical oblivion, and for this reason open opposition to him in Brazil is likely to be re- strained. In a campaign for federal deputy--which he would almost certainly win because of the proportional representation system--he may generate consid- erable support from continuing opponents of the regime and from those who support the be- lief--widely attributed to Qua- dros--that Brazil needs a dic- tatorship. Status of Parliamentary System The failure thus far of parliamentary government to take firm root was highlighted on 15 March by President Gou- lart's public request to congress to hold a national plebiscite on whether to continue the system. Goulart almost certainly con- ceived his request as an effort to blunt Quadros' effort to be- come prime minister. If prospects appear favor- able for continuing the parlia- mentary system, the entire cab- inet may resign soon, since, according to the constitution, cabinet ministers may not run for congress unless they resign at least three months prior to elections. Most of the incum- bent ministers were chosen be- cause they held seats in the Chamber of Deputies, and they can be expected to seek re- election even if their resig- nations threaten the country's political stability. Under the parliamentary system, elections to the lower house will be harder fought than previously, since this house is the source from which ministers are most likely to come and is the body with power to oust the Council of Ministers. Gains in popularity made by leftist na- tionalist forces in Brazil in recent years could be reflected in a substantial increase and possible control by this element. Foreign Relations The Goulart government, like that of Quadros, seeks to appeal to Brazilian nationalism by demonstrating that its for- eign policy is independent of US policy. Formulation of spe- cific policies appears to be in the hands of Foreign Minister San Tiago Dantas--in the 1930s a high official of Brazil's fascist Integralista party and more recently the intellectual leader of the leftist Labor party. The * regime: has not SECRET 23 Mar 62 SPECIAL ARTICLES Page 2 of 8 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET indulged in the petty sporadic anti-USasctivities of the Quadros government, but neither is it interested in reasserting Bra- zil's traditional claim to be the best friend of the United States in Latin America. At the Punta del Este conference, Foreign Minister Dantas took the most pro-Castro position of any chief delegate. Dantas now is heading Brazil's delega- tion to the 17-nation disarma ment conference in Geneva and appears inclined to take a more neutralist position than Mex- ico, the only other Latin American country at the con- ference. The Goulart government has continued Quadros' policy of developing closer relations with the Sino-Soviet bloc. Qua- dros had added to Brazilian representation in Eastern Eu- rope--previously confined to, Czechoslovakia and Poland--by establishing relations with Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Albania. He had also ini- tiated diplomatic negotiations with the USSR and trade negotia- tions with Communist China. The Goulart regime re-established relations with the USSR last November and ratified a banking and payments agreement with Communist China in December. A Soviet industrial exposition is scheduled for Brazil in May, and a Chinese Communist exposi- tion is to take place in August. Soviet First Deputy Premier Mikoyan is reported planning to attend the May exposition and may offer Brazil large- scale economic aid at that time. Gubernatorial Autonomy Individual Brazilian states have considerable autonomy, and recent activities of several governors have further reflect- ed the nationalist pressures BRAZIL 3,288,050 square miles pppuloIaion 70,528,625 s of 1961) SECRET ,.e. 1. oes. ari r Estodo or terrimrio boundary Estado or territorio Capitol 23 Mar C2 SPECIAL ARTICLES Pace 3 of 8 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 affecting foreign policy in Bra- zil. Governor Brizola of Rio Grande do Sul, for example, on 27 February advocated the ex- propriation of all foreign enter- prises in Brazil, including banks. He announced preparations for seizing a local subsidiary of an American-owned power company. The governor took over a subsid- iary of International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation earlier in February, and in May 1959 he seized the American and Foreign Power outlet in his state cap- ital. The governor may have timed these moves to embarrass Pres- ident Goulart, his political rival and brother-in-law, prior to Goulart's visit to the United States. Brizola, however, is also seeking to build his na- tional political reputation by exploiting widespread Brazilian dislike for foreign ownership of utilities. He hopes to win election as federal deputy in October and then to be chosen prime.'.minister. Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET The problem of foreign utilities is highlighted by the repeated suggestion of Parana Governor Braga--a po- litical moderate--to American officials that one of the great- est steps the US Government could take to promote better relations would be to facilitate the sale of US privately owned public utilities to local au- Governors also show their autonomy by negotiating inde- pendently for economic aid from foreign countries. Brizola, for example, has been negotiating with the East Germans for as- sistance with the telephone system of his state; Alves has negotiated with Polish repre- sentatives for industrial equip- ment; and Governor Aurelio do Carmo of Para visited Czech- oslovakia in 1961 and appears to have secured a credit of at least $5,000,000. The Land Reform Issue The land reform problem is becoming an increasingly acute political issue, It has already resulted in small-scale violence and may cause serious outbreaks, in view of reported arms distribution to peasant groups both in the northeast and in Rio Grande do Sul. The diversity of agricultural con- ditions in Brazil seems likely t.o delay enactment of any effec- tive national agrarian reform while stimulating action by in- dividual states. Sao Paulo al- ready has full-scale legislation on the problem, and in several other states some distribution of state lands and colonization is programed. In a more demagogic ap- proach to land reform, Brizola has encouraged landless farmers to seize two tracts of land-- one belonging to private Uruguayans and one largely state-owned. Brizola and Gou- lart both own vast tracts of land. In his political ex- ploitation of the land question, Brizola has encouraged the or- ganization of peasant leagues on the model of those formed in the Brazilian northeast over the past two years by pro- Castro Francisco Juliao. While peasant leagues now exist in most Brazilian states, most of them are in the key northeastern state of Pernam- buco, where they have a total membership of about 20,000. The most active league in the northeast, however, and the one reported most likely to resort to violence is in Sape, in the state of Paraiba. It has a membership of 5,000 and apparently forms a nucleus of opposition to the local govern- ment dominated by the National Democratic Union. Orthodox Communists have expressed some disapproval of Juliao because he advocates more violence than the party wants at this time when it is seeking legality. The expul- sion in late 1961 from the Communist party of high-level popular members who advocate SECRET 23 Mar 6^ Or]i c'1 AT A om-rni 0-1 n., 4 of 8 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE; MEEKLY SUMMARY PERCENTAGE 250 a more revolutionary line and who, with Juliao, are sympathet- ic to Chinese Communist methods has resulted in the formation of a dissident Communist group. The dissidents may provide ideo- logical and financial support for peasant agitation. Economic Disequilibrium Brazil has for some years faced fundamental economic dis- equilibrium in its balance of payments as well as an erratic but rapid rise in the cost of living which contributes to po- litical tensions. The balance of payments problem arises from the failure of export revenues to rise sufficiently over the past ten years, while gross na- tional production has increased about 8 percent annually and has been reflected in an increasing demand for imports. Under both Quadros and Goulart, the Brazilian Govern- ment has attempted to increase exports, find substitutes for imports, and expand net receipts .from foreign loans. In all three aspects of its effort to improve its balance of payments, Brazil under Quadros and now un- der Goulart has sought help both from free world and from Commu- nist bloc countries. Brazil's effort during 1961 to expand exports--which includ- ed a slight rise in trade with the bloc--resulted in an 8-per- cent expansion of receipts. The export products that showed better than average increases were sugar, iron ore, cotton, tobacco, meat, castor-seed oil, IAN - AUG I SEP - DEC 1961 VALUE OF BRAZILIAN EXPORTS (MILLION DOLLARS F.O.B.( 1950- 1955- 1958 '54 '59 (AVG.) (AVG.) 1960 1961 (EST.) menthol, and miscellaneous prod- ucts (which include the rapidly growing manufactured goods ex- ports). Petroleum is the single commodity which figures largest in Brazil's imports. The sub- stitution of domestic produc- tion for petroleum imports would contribute greatly to- ward a solution of the balance of payments difficulty. Petro- leum imports amount to $250,- 000,000 annually--one sixth of the cost of Brazil's total com- modity imports. Even at this cost, the Brazilian military reportedly found supplies of petroleum inadequate for their operations during the political- military crisis of 1961. Some high officials now are consid- ering exploitation of the coun- cry's large reserves of oil- bearin: shale, possibly with US or Soviet assistance. Such a program, if it promised to be successful, would have strong support from political and mil- itary leaders who have long op- posed dependence on foreign sources of oil. Brazil's efforts to expand its foreign borrowing met with considerable success in 1961, largely because of assistance arranged in May 1961 and subse- quently from the International Monetary Fund, US agencies, and European creditors. Despite improvement in 1961 over 1960, Brazil's foreign exchange short- age is still critical, since ex- port revenues barely equal the cost of imports, and debt re- payment in the next few years may come to 15 or 20 percent of exhort receipts. SECRET 23 Mar 62 SPECIAL ARTICLES Page 5 of 8 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927A003500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS The Turkish Government, with its prospects somewhat improved by the weakening of organized opposition at both ends of the political spectrum, is beginning its first fiscal year in office (1 March 1962 to 28 February 1963) with a one-year program designed to prepare the national economy for a period of growth during the 1963-1968 Five-Year Plan. As in the past, Turkey will need to rely on outside assist- ance to cover current deficits as well as to finance long-term development projects. Although its strategic value as an ally will be stressed in appeals for aid to the US, West Germany, and NATO, Turkey must also con- vince potential sources of foreign credit that its long- term economic prospects make the country a sound investment. The obstacles are formid- able. The country's failure to put to good use the massive as- sistance received during the past decade, the legacy of waste and mismanagement inherited from the Menderes government, and the generally poor showing of the state enterprises which dominate the most active sectors of the economy tend to discour- age investment in Turkey. In- flation, which threatened na- tional bankruptcy in the summer of 1958, is not now a serious threat, however, having been checked by the fiscal austerity of the Committee of National Unity (CNU) government which held office between the over- throw of the Menderes regime and the October 1961 elections. The most pressing problems with which Turkish economic planners must cope during fiscal 1962 are unemployment, which is growing as surplus rural workers move to the cities, and general economic stagnation. Short-term Outlook The 1962 budget, approved on 28 February, is of record size (approximately $1 billion) and calls for a deficit of nearly $130 million. Aid from the US and West Germany is ex- pected to offset about $75 mil- lion of this deficit. If addi- tional foreign credits are not obtained from NATO or from in- ternational lending agencies, the remainder will be met by currency issue. The "fixed" items of de- fense and administrative costs have been held at levels only slightly higher than in 1961. Roughly proportionate across- the-board increases are planned in government investment in hous- ing, agriculture, electric power, transport and communications, education and public health, and industry, but these also appear set at reasonable levels. Revenue estimates seem somewhat optimistic, perhaps in the expectation of a con- tinuation of recent better than average exports of certain com- modities. The hope that Turkey will be admitted to the European Common Market may also have in- fluenced some of the foreign trade projections. Several new sources of revenue not reflected in the estimates may develop, however, in the form of increased transfer payments from Turks work- ing abroad and direct tax rev- enues from agricultural produc- tion. These may help to offset the expected decline in private capital inflow. Longer Term Prospects Turkey's economic progress toward self-sufficiency under the coming Five-Year Plan will depend on its success in raising SECRET "' ?&".L ' Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO035001 1 0001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY capital to finance industrial expansion. This could be accom- plished through increased ex- ports of raw and semifinished products during the 1963-68 period if a well-designed pro- gram of resource allocation were followed. Metallic and other mate- rials appear to offer the best immediate prospects. Commer- cially exploitable deposits of iron ore, chrome, copper, mer- cury, zinc, and boron are found in many parts of Turkey, and current exploration suggests that large deposits of these and other minerals still re- main undiscovered. Nearly all the mines now being worked are fairly accessible to ports or markets. It appears likely therefore that the mining out- put could expand rapidly to meet increases in demand. The fuel situation is less promising. Although coal production can probably keep pace with growing domestic re- quirements, oil production has fallen far short of earlier estimates and now shows little promise of relieving the seri- ous drain of foreign exchange for imports of petroleum prod- ucts. Some saving will be realized by the planned expan- sion of refining capacity, how- ever. Agricultural products will remain an important source of foreign exchange, but consid- erable revision of present prac- tices will be needed. Turkey's agriculture was characterized until the present decade by vast areas devoted to produc- tion of a few locally consumed items. Specialized cash crops which entered into international trade were grown in several places, but the amount of rev- enue they produced was slight. These crops included tobacco, dried and fresh fruit, hazel- nuts, pistachios, and cotton. Tobacco and cotton are usually good export items, but Turkey's tobacco crop is de- pendent on special conditions of soil and climate found only in a small area along the Black Sea coast which is already in- tensely cultivated. Production of short-staple cotton couldbe greatly expanded, however. Con- siderable land suitable for cot- ton growing is found along the Syrian border, and water from the Upper Euphrates system is available for irrigation. If Turkey were admitted to the Common Market, increased demand from this quarter could be met by eastward expansion of the present cotton-producing area. Turkey's leading cereal crop, wheat, appears to hold little promise of becoming a reliable export item. Its pro- duction was artificially stimu- lated under the Menderes gov- ernment, and for a time Turkey ranked as one of the leading world exporters. A great deal of marginal land was brought into production, however; and droughts of recent years cul- minated in the disastrous crop failure of 1961, which necessi- tated a Turkish request for US wheat. The government plans to convert much of the marginal wheat land in the eastern prov- inces to livestock use, and to increase intensive farming practices in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. Both of these schemes appear feasible and could result in more effi- cient land use, but they will require heavy capital outlays and extensive retraining of the local populations. Large areas of Turkey are well suited for stock raising, and a ready foreign market ex- ists for meat and animal prod- ucts, but although sales of live animals and hides from the east- ern provinces to neighboring countries have increased in re- cent years, Turkey's potential as a meat-producing region of international significance has gone unrecognized. The scrub stock raised on open pasture is slaughtered and consumed lo- cally, with finishing-off for market practiced only in areas near sugar refineries, where the animals are fed beet pulp. With adequate government invest- ment in breed improvement, in refrigerated storage and trans- portation equipment, and in feed- lot and slaughterhouse facilities, the establishment of a good stock- raising and meat-packing industry in Turkey seems possible. The development of inten- sive agriculture in the western SECRET 23 Mar 9 COIWTAT. ARTTfT.T+`S pasrA 7 ;Of 8' Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY regions would probably require less initial investment than the expansion of livestock pro- duction. The mild climate and cheap agricultural labor in the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal regions favor both expansion of the truck farming already car- ried out there and the estab- lishment of a local food-proc- essing industry to handle the high-value food items which the area can produce. Such lo- cal items as peaches, artichokes, peas, shrimp, and anchovies could compete in quality and price in any market, if proc- essed, packaged, and delivered according to market standards. Another potential source of foreign exchange now receiv- ing great attention is tourism. present plans call for large- seale government support, in- cluding promotional advertising, low-interest loans for the con- struction of modern tourist fa- cilities, relaxation of many of the petty customs regulations which have irritated foreign visitors, and the establish- ment of a government-sponsored training school in hotel manage- ment. It is too early to assess the chances for developing an important tourist industry in Turkey, but, as a West German adviser on tourism has recently pointed out, the road distance between Hamburg and Istanbul is approximately the same as from New York to Miami, the number of potential tourists in Western Europe is increasing rapidly, and the roads across Yugoslavia and Greece are being improved. These factors, together with the pleasant climate and scenery of western Turkey and its prox- imity to the. heavily traveled Mediterranean cruise routes, favor the expansion of tourism and have made it an important objective of the Five-Year Plan. Drawbacks Although Turkey's natural endowments offer the prospect of significant increases in foreign exchange earnings, prog- ress is threatened by a number of institutional factors. The peasant population, while docile .and hard-working, is conserva- tive and resistant to change. There is also a serious short- age of technically qualified personnel to carry through many of the government's planned programs. The dead hand of bureaucracy rests heavily on enterprise, stifling initia- tive and often imposing exor- bitant administrative costs. Despite widespread under- employment and a low wage scale, labor is expensive in Turkey because of its low produc- tivity. Private capital is scarce, and tends to be in- vested either in land or in urban housing, Entrepreneu- rial and managerial classes are lacking, and young Turks with better than average edu- cation prefer to seek their fortunes in government or the professions rather than in business. Nevertheless, despite its reliance on outside financing, its weak currency, lack of know- how, and poor past record, the Turkish economy possesses an essential vigor which could project the nation into an era of higher living stand- ards. The country's natural resources, if properly used, are capable of providing the base for a rate of capital formation adequate to sustain unaided economic growth. As in the past, much will depend on the integrity and ability of the governing body. The present regime appears more willing to face reality in economic planning than its predecessor. Much of the re- sponsibility for coordinating governmental development pro- grams is exercised by Minister of State Turban Feyzioglu, an able administrator with a repu- tation for hard work. Feyzioglu has brought together a group of advisers, many of whom--hold- overs from the CNU period--are less subject to political pres- sures than those whom they have replaced. There are hopeful signs that the present group will carry out the government's programs in a more coordinated manner than was achieved by the previous administration. SECRET 23,;,i11ar 62 SPECIAL ARTICLES Page 8 ,of 8.-, Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 SECRET SECRET Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 Next Page(s) Next 3 Page,(s) In Doc Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP79-00927AO03500110001-2 u ment Denied