COMMUNIST GAINS IN SYRIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000500010028-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 15, 2002
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: January 4, 1955
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For 049ease 2002/05/07:" -G P79R008901 0500010028-1
NSC BRIEFING
4 January 1955
COMMMIST GAINS IN SYRIA
Past year in Syria has seen significant Counist gains,
although threat of forceful takeover is remote.
A. British Middle East experts call Syria"most worrisome
spot in confused Middle East."
Communists have exploited political instability
following overthrow of Dictator Shishakli a year ago
(he reported skirt-chasing in Paris).
They number some 10,000 out of 3 1/2 million population--
are infiltrating government, army, press and labor. Are
on way to acquiring position of public respectability
unique for an Arab state.
A. Moscow-trained party leader, Khalid Bakdash (who
considered ablest Arab Communist) has iron seat in
parliament, is on foreign affairs committee.
B. Minister of Justice---Ali Buzo--is friend of Bakdash.
C. Boss of army's cultural affairs program--a Communist-
is feeding propaganda to army.
D. Among nine directors of major labor federation are
2 Communists, I sympathizer.
One-third of Syrian political press (total 38 dailies
and weeklies) reportedly subsidized by Communists;
another third follows line,
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Ill. Communists collaborating with extremists of left and
right, also with opportunistic independents. Aim:
downfall of Premier Khouri''s ineffectual coalition
government.
A. 8O-year-old Khouri wants to leave office by
March '55 at latest.
i. Center parties impotent to produce better government.
2. Thus, next regime could well be pro-leftist, with
Communists able exercise increased influence.
Alternate possibility is rightist military coup, as
in recent past--though army badly split.
1. Such development probably only major block to
present trend.
2. However, military dictatorship presents own
host of problems.
IV. Recent report of Soviet intent to stimulate Kurdish
nationalism in Syria and Iraq appear unrelated to Commu-
nist planning in Syria.
A. Party leader Bakdash is Kurd himself, but plays down
fact to enhance his appeal to nationalistic Syrians.
B. Syrian Kurds less easily stirred than fellow tribes-
men on Iraq-Iran-Turkey border.
Use of Kurds more probably aimed at making trouble
for "Northern Tier" pair--Iran, Turkey.
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 NSC pBa ' I elease? 2.002/95707- 1A-RC P7yRn0ua8W 2 I
I. Past year in Syria has seen significant
Communist gains, although threat of forc
ful takeover is remote.
A. British Middle East experts call
"most worrisome spot in confused
idle East."
nnists have exploited political
ltd; 0
They` numter some
million population -are
o AJn I M cow-.trained party leader, khal f d
aTi. i unique for an Arab state.
to---c ring position of public respect-
Are on
men- , rmy, press and a 'or.
dash (who considered ablest Arab
{unis c) has won se--t la earl iamen`. <
n foreign affairs corn t tee.
telease 2002/05/07.: CJA -P79R0089OA0005QU01 U0g
 Approved F%,Release 2002/05/07 ?-'" ft DP79R0089OA000500010028-1
B. Minister of Justice--Ali Buzo--is
friend of Bakdash.
C. Boss of army's cultural affairs pro-
gram--a Communist--is feeding propa-
ganda to army.
D. Among nine directors of major labor
federation are 2 Communists,
1 sympathizer.
E. one-third of Syrian political`prese
(total 38 dailies and weeklies)
reportedly subsidized by Communists,
another third follows line.
II Communists collaborating with extremists
I
of left and right, also with opportunistic
remier
independents. Aim: downfall Of
Khouri's ineffectual coalition governmt?
A. 30-year-old Khouri wants to leave
office by March ' 55 at latest.
1. Center parties impotent to prodiEce
better government.
ypproved For Release 2002/05107,
 pro-lefti
exercise increased influence.
tary coup, as in recent past-though
army badly split.
Such development probably= only
major block to present trend.
However, military dictatorship
presents own host of problems.
27, Thus .
Alternate possibility is rightist mlii-
but plays down fact to enhance' s
A,. Party leader BaIkdash iV Kurd himself,
unrelated to Communist planning in Syria.
tl 1. . -1 -Oz
urdish nationalism'in Syria and Traq a*
Recent report of Soiiet intent to stimu'ate
trouble for "Northern Tier"- pair-
Approved For Release 2002105/07 : CIA
appeal to nationalistic Syrians.
rrian Kurds less easily stirred than
fellow tribesmen on Iraq-Iran-Turkey
Use of Kurds more probably aimed ama