BOOK THREE: COUNTRY BRIEFINGS

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CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0
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RIPPUB
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T
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111
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 8, 2008
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1
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Publication Date: 
January 1, 1967
Content Type: 
BRIEF
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Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 PACOM review completed. State Dept. review completed Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 BOOK THREE: COUNTRY BRIEFINrS ? ASIA: Korea ..................... 5 9 Pakistan ..........foesoe 9 MIDDLE EAST: Cyprus .................... 12 Turkey .................... 16 Iran ..................... 22 Egypt.................... 26 Syria .................... 29 Yemen .................... 33 AFRICA: "White Southern Africa"...... 35 Portuguese Africa 36 South Africa 38 "Radical Africa"............. 43 Congo(Brazzaville) 44 Mali 45 Guinea 47 Nkrumah's Ghana. 50 Tanzania 53 Algeria 56 Nigeria ...................... 58 Spain .................... 66 25X6 LATIN AMERICA: Cuba ...............o.o.o. 70 Dominican Republic....... 79 Haiti .................... 83 Guatemala. ............... 87 Panama ................... 90 Venezuela................ 95 Ecuador .................. 99 Bolivia.... ........ ...... 102 Brazil .................. 105 Argentina ............... 108 Uruguay.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 112 ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Iq Next 2 Page(s) In Document Denied Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 A. In addition to the effect of the election on the respective strengths of the major parties, and of their competing factions, a new element has been added. 1. For the first time, the Komeito Party, the political arm of the militant Buddhist Soka Gakkai sect, is seeking lower house seats. 2. The mass base of Soka Gakkai and the fanaticism it imbues in its followers could produce a volatile, unpredictable swing vote in the Diet. 3. One critical question is whether the Komeito vote comes from the normal Liberal Democratic following, or from the united opposition of the Left. 4. Since the war, population trends favored the elements which normally produce votes for the Left. The long-range growth rate of the Leftist vote declined in 1963, however. .3. Continued setbacks for the Leftist growth rate probably depend on the electoral performance of the Buddhist sect. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE (MAP, KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE) I. The North Koreans raised the tension along the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea last fall with a series of armed incidents, but the pressure was maintained only for a few weeks. A. A flurry of attacks between mid-October and November 2 brought casualty figures for 1966 to 6 American and about 30 South Korean fatalities in 40 incidents. The 36 deaths compare with 20 South Korean soldiers killed in 1965, and only four in all of 1964 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 2. This year, the North Koreans have been sending larger teams, more heavily armed, on operations in the DMZ. Uniformed patrols on sev- eral occasions deliberately sought out and attacked South Korean forces. C. The South Koreans retaliated. They mounted a raid on October 26 which inflicted about 30 casualties, and may have. penetrated all the way through the DMZ into North Korea. D. Up to this point, the North Koreans had centered their harassment in sectors not manned by U.S. troops. On November 2, however, they ambushed an American patrol, killing six Americans and one South Korean who accompanied the Americans. E. The South Koreans carried out another strong reprisal raid the next day. Three teams made four separate attacks on North Korean installations in the DMZ. The North Koreans did not retaliate. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 II. The Military Armistice Committee met at Panmunjon on November 4, and the UN senior representative delivered a stern warning against further North Korean raids. A. The Communist representatives made no mention of the South Korean operations, and there have been no serious incidents since that time. B. The UN commander and the U.S. Ambassador also privately warned the South Koreans against any further attacks on the Communists. 1. The South Korean army, however, will probably try to undertake carefully concealed repri- sals if they continue to take casualties from North Korean harassment. III. We can not say for sure just what the intention of the North Koreans was. A. They may have been testing the effectiveness and reaction of South Korean troops which had only recently been deployed to the Demarcation Line. B. If their intention was to show the South Korean government that the Communists could retaliate for Korean participation in the Vietnamese war, the Communists appear to KOR-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 have given up early, after a minimal effort. 1. A major policy statement by,Kim Il-song on October 5 contained the customary offer to send North Korean volunteers to Hanoi, but there was no threat to open a "second front" in Korea. 2. Pyongyang has made little or no effort in its propaganda to claim that the DMZ clashes show Communist support for the Viet Cong. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 January 1967 PAKISTAN I. In Pakistan, the tension arising from the hostilities with India over Kashmir has eased. President Ayub Khan is still in full control, and apparently able to deal with any threat to his rule. A. The military appears solidly behind Ayub,~__ B. Most members of Ayub's political party remain loyal to him. There is some dissatisfaction, partly led by the pro-Chinese former foreign minister, Bhutto. C. A seven-year ban against political activity, imposed by Ayub on most of the country's leading civilian politicians of the 1950s,expired on December 31st. To the extent that these men resume political life, at least as many will support Ayub as oppose him. D. East Pakistani separatists are less active than last spring and summer, but are still vocal. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 II. No progress is being made toward negotiating Pakistan's problems with India. A. off arms aid, and for not backing Pakistan against India. L the I:ndians:rejected the perennial Pakistani demand that the Kashmir dispute be included in talks. B. Indian plans to build a dam which would divert a. large part of East Pakistan's water could become a serious problem. C. Neither country appears willing to push the disagreements:.to.open hostilities again in the near future. III. Ayub continues to try to maintain a balance between East and West in his foreign policy. A. Relations with China are still good, although Peking apparently can spare no more-arms. The Chinese Communists have already supplied nearly 70 jet aircraft, and more than 100 tanks. B. Relations with the USSR have warmed, but neither country has gotten anything significant from the other. IV. Many ?akistanis are upset with the US for cutting Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 there has been some speculation that Pakistan might withdraw from CENTO and SEATO; and the Pakistani press is featuring a number of anti-American articles. B. Ayub realizes that he needs food and economic aid from the US to keep Pakistan going, and so will be extremely cautious about risking any cpen break with Washington. ? ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE CYPRUS I. The Cyprus dispute is still with us, and there is no solution in sight. A. Conversations between the Greek and Turkish governments have caused some cautious optimism, but there has been no agreement on substan- tive differences. Athens still insists that any solution must not rule out even- tual enosis, meaning union with Greece. Ankara demands some form of Turkish presence on the island as,an adequate guarantee of the safety of the Turkish Cypriot community. B. As long as Greece is under a caretaker gov- ernment, the negotiations can hardly lead to any solid decisions, but both countries will probably try to keep the talks going. II. If the Greeks and the Turks should reach some agreement on the future of Cyprus, they will still face the major job of selling their solution to the President of Cyprus, Arch- bishop Makarios. CYP-l Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? A. Makarios has given the talks his unen- thusiastic endorsement, but his actions continue to undermine chances for success by raising the tensions on the island. B. His latest move of this kind was the ac- quisition of weapons from Czechoslovakia. 1. Athens controls the Cypriot National Guard, Makarios wants a military force independent of Greek control, and ordered the Czech arms to beef up the Cypriot national police force. The first Czech shipment reached Cyprus before the Greeks were even aware that Markarios was dealing with Prague. 2. Athens had tried to take possession of the weapons, but Makarios has re- fused to turn them over to the Cypriot National Guard. He agreed only to let the UN Peace Force inspect them, and says they will remain in storage at least until February. B. The Turks have also raised a strong protest, and as a result Prague suspended an addi- tional shipment, which was to have included CYP-2 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? 0 C. The incident points up how little lever- age Athens has with Markarios. Greece has kept about 10,000 mainland troops on Cyprus since 1964, and General Grivas com- mands the Cypriot National Guard, but Markarios still manages to go his own 0 way. With a caretaker government and a political crisis, Athens has even less chance of controlling him. III. The United Nations Peace Force, which has the task of heading off serious confronta- tions between the rival forces of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, now numbers about 4,500 men. Its mandate at present runs to June 26, 1967, and there is financial pressure-in the UN to reduce the strength. Most observers believe that any substantial reduction would seriously downgrade the ability of the UN Force to keep the peace. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 IV. Makarios obtained some SA-2 surface-to-air missiles from the Soviet Union, but to date only some of the support equipment is on Cyprus. The Greek Government managed to prevent delivery of the missiles, which are still stored in Egypt. V. The Communist Party of Cyprus (AKEL), with a membership of about 12,000, is the largest and best organized political group on the island. Makarios apparently believes he can control AKEL by exploiting its tacit sup- port for Cyprus' policy for self-determina- tion and territorial integrity. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 in power for one year, and retains wide public support. It has strengthened its control of parliament, bolstered the confidence of the business community. and solidified its relations with the top military command. A. The military leaders were wary and suspicious a year ago when government passed to Demirel's Justice Party. They considered it a re-grouping of the elements which had. supported former Premier Menderes. TRK-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 I. The Government of Turkey continues to affirm that Turkey is aligned with the West and loyal to NATO. A. Jr the wake of the Cyprus crisis, however, there is a new attitude of independence in Ankara; there is less cooperation with the United States; there is a growing desire for trade with the Communist countries; and leftist elements have been able to mount an active campaign of anti-Americanism. II. The government of Sulevman Demirel has now been 0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 is ? B. At the same time, however, they recognized that it had the strongest popular backing of any party, and offered the best chance of stable is and effective government. Demirel's responsible leadership over the past year has justified the almost reluctant decision of the military command to let the Justice Party take over. 1. There are still junior military officers and retired military personnel who either oppose the justice party, or question whether any democratic government can put through the social and political reforms which they feel Turkey needs. C. Demirel probably has enough opposition to keep him busy without the military. The educated urban elite and important segments of the press and the government bureaucracy are traditionally aligned with the main opposition group, the Republican People's Party of former Premier Inonu. to Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 D. Leftism, which was vigorously suppressed before the military revolution against 1,1enderes in 1960, has gained a new respectability in Turkey. The Republican People's Party has been giving greater stress to leftist themes, and the Turkish Labor Party, a Marxist group, has a solid representation in the National Assembly. 1. These leftist elements are doing their best to exploit American activities in Turkey, and incidents involving Americans, to create anti-American sentiment. 2. They then use the demonstrations of anti-Americanism they have instigated to bring pressure on the government to reduce or restrict the American presence in Turkey. 3. Most of the demonstrations of anti-Americanism in Turkey in recent months have either been promoted or exploited by elements connected with the Turkish Labor Party. III. The government has, in fact, been much less forth- coming in its cooperation with the United States, although this should be attributed much more to the Cyprus problem--and the desire to improve relations with the Soviet Union--than to the workings of the leftists. 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 A. One of our two most important problems at present is a reappraisal, at Ankara's request, of some 55 U.S.-Turkish bilateral agreements. B. The other is the continuing Turkish restriction of a number of U.S. Government activities within or originating in Turkey--for example, the use of Turkish territory by our Sixth Fleet for amphibious exercises. C. The Cyprus question, with its inherent strains on Turkish relations with both Greece and the United States, remains a dilemma for Ankara. Public interest in the dispute has waned. but the Turkish Government remains firmly committed to support and protect the Turkish Cypriot community--by military intervention if necessary. 2:. Intervention on Cyprus would be a major military operation for the Turks, almost certainly running the risk of war with Greece in view of the 10,000 regular Greek troops on the island. TRK-4 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 25X1 3. It would require the use of NATO-committed forces, and weapons subject to U.S. Military Assistance Program restrictions. The Turks may be considering the creation of additional military forces not committed to NATO, and not subject to restrictions on US-supplied armament. IV. Turkish moves toward a detente with the Soviet Union, except for economic relations, have been cautious and restrained. A. Soviet Premier Kosygin was given a cool and at times hostile reception by Turkish crowds on his recent visit to Ankara. B. The Turks have, however, cited concern for their relations with the Russians in such moves as turning down U.S. naval visits to 25X1 Turkish Black Sea ports, C. The Turks have accepted Soviet economic aid, and a small but increasing share of Turksih trade has been swinging to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. TRK-5 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? 25X1 1. There have also been unofficial economic contacts with the Chinese Communists, but there appears to be little likelihood of any substantial development there in the near future. V. The Turkish economy has shown increasing signs of health in the past year, due in part to a bumper agr::cultural crop. A. Turkey still faces serious economic problems, including the threat of inflation, due largely to rising production and investment based on slender capital reserves. B. There is a general consensus, however, that Turkey's economic program for the coming year is more reasonable than those of past years. Balance-of-Payments estimates are generally fair, and Turkish leaders have indicated their readiness to take all necessary measures to ensure economic stability. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 25X1 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 IRAN I. Iran maintains a close relationship with the United States, but the Shah has been actively purst,ing more independent policies. A. The Shah is convinced that the ambitions cf Egyptian President Nasir are a greater threat to the security of Iran than any objectives the Soviet Union may have. 1. fie feels that the United States underestimates the Egyptian threat. 2. fie was badly shaken, furthermore, when the United States cut off rilitary assistance to Pakistan during the conflict over Kashmir in 1965. 3. This has apparently made him wonder whether he can rely on our military assistance if he were to find himself at war with the Arabs over conflicting interests in the Persian Gulf area. 4. Against this eventuality, the Shah is trying to diversify the sources of his military equipment. B. The Shah may also have concluded that a more independent policy would give his regime a progressive, "non-aligned" image. IRN-l 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 1. "Non-alignment," after all, is very fashionable in the Asian-African world today, and the image would be useful at home too. The first steps toward a more independent policy have been well received in Iran, bolstering the Shah's personal popularity. 2. Coming down to brass tacks, the rapid social and economic progress in Iran has the country stable politically and doing well economically. This means that for the first time the Shah is in a position to reduce his dependence on the United States for support. II. The most significant aspect of the Shah's new approach internationally is a growing rapprochement with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. 25X1 IRN-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? B. The Soviet Union agreed in January, 1966, to build a steel mill in Iran. With related projects, this will probably-cost nearly a billion dollars. The Russians are going to provide a credit of $280 million. C. There have also been persistent reports that Iran is working on an oil deal with the Soviets. 1. The Shah is not satisfied with the performance of the Western consortium which markets most if Iran's oil. Late last fall he threatened to expropriate part of the concession area if the consortium didn't increase the oil output. 2. The Shah was talking in terms of an increase of about 17 percent, to give Iran more foreign exchange for defense costs and development programs. 3. The consortium finally agreed to try to increase its marketing by about 12 percent a year for the next two years. It also returned about a quarter of the concession area to Iran, and agreed to provide low-cost oil which Iran could sell to Eastern European countries. IRN-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 40 ? D. The Iranians say that Soviet seismologists have located potential oil reserves in the Caspian Sea. The Shah says he feels the Soviets would be the logical partners to develop Iranian off-shore oil in the Caspian. 1. lie says the Soviets have offered to buy Iranian oil, and he obviously hopes that Eastern Europe will become an important market too. E. Ile visited Bulgaria, Rumania, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia during the past year. 1. Iran has concluded a significant trade agreement with Rumania, and other satellite deals are in the works. IRN-4 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 EGYPT I. The prestige of Egyptian President Nasir in the Arab world is at its lowest point of recent years, and he has severe economic problems at home, but there is no indication that he will moderate any of his policies. A. Nasir would like to destroy Israel and establish Egyptian hegemony over the entire Middle East, but for the moment his principal concern is getting enough for the Egyptians to eat. B. The U?S.-Egyptian agreement for Public Law 480 wheat has not been renewed. 1. Egyptian foreign exchange holdings are very low, so that Cairo can seek only small quantities of wheat in the open world market. 2. The Soviet Union has promised to help, and can do so from its record crop, but there are conflicting reports on how much has been promised. Egyptian papers talk of 650,000 tons Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 3. Egypt has to import about two and a half million tons a year. In the past, PL 480 shipments have run as } .igh as 1.5 million, but in the last full crop Year they fell short of one million tons. C. Nasir is bitter. In a speech just before Christmas, he charged that the United States had cleverly made Egypt dependent on PL 430 wheat and thus induced Cairo to put the resultant savings into development. 1. Then, Nasir charged, we began to impose conditions on the agreement, calling for restrictions on Egyptian missile and nuclear research and other defense expenditures. 2. When Nasir rejected these strings, he says, the United States began what he calls a "war of starvation." 3. I would anticipate a rash of tirades of this nature from various non-aligned countries as they learn that there is no longer enough cheap surplus wheat to satisfy everybody's desires. II. To cope with Egyptian economic problems, Nasir is curtailing the development program, even cutting ;back on Aswan Dam expenditures. UAR-2 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? A. Shcrtages in a number of goods are increasing. There is growing discontent in the middle class. B. The army, the mainstay of the regime, is still being pampered , and gets what it wants. III. In all fairness, the Egyptian Army could point out that it. is entitled to some priorities with about 40,000 men still bogged down in the Yemen civil war. A. As a result, Egypt is actually in poor shape to back up its calls for a more challenging Arab posture toward Israel. B. Nasir's immediate target, however, is not Israel, but conservative King Hussein in Jordan. C. Cairo is carrying on a fierce propaganda campaign against both Hussein and King Faysal of Saudi Arabia, the two moderates who are bucking Nasir's plans for a united radical Arab world. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? January 1967 SYRIA I. In Syria, members of the radical Baathist clique which seized power in February 1966 continue to be split into factions. A. Last September the regime crushed a coup at- tempt by one of its members, Major Salim Hatum, who subsequently fled to Jordan. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 II. Meanwhile, the regime as presently constituted continues to take a radical posture. A. The Soviet Union has extended Syria $135 mil- lion in Soviet credits for the construction of Syria's long-planned dam on the Euphrates River, B. A mutual defense pact was signed with Egypt last November, and both countries are con- cEerting their strident campaign against Jordan since the Israeli raid into Jordan in November. III, The Syrians last December nationalized the pipe- line of the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) in re- taliation for the company`s refusal to double the transit fee and pay $100 million in retro- active increases. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 ~ ~ ? A. Syrian demands on the company have been totally unrealistic, and the shutdown is likely to have adverse economic consequences not only for Syria, but for other Arab coun- tries as well. B. The Syrian move may have been designed in part to put pressure on the more moderate Iraqi Government. Both Cairo and Damascus have been putting pressure on Baghdad to nationalize the Iraq Petroleum Company. C. IPC royalty payments account for 70 percent of Iraq's annual $270-million oil income and 40 percent of the Iraqi national budget. IV. IPC, a partnership of Mobil Oil, Standard Oil of New Jersey, British Petroleum, Compagnie Francaise des Peetroles, and the Gulbenkian interests, feels that it cannot pay appreciably more to Iraq and Syria without being priced out of the market. A. I:?C offered an extensive expansion of the oil fields in southern Iraq if the Syrians keep the pipeline from the northern fields to the Mediterranean shut down. B. Lebanon's oil needs, normally covered by IPC's Iraqi-Syrian pipeline, are now being SYR-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? 25X1 filled through the pipeline from Saudi Arabia. 1. The Lebanese, however, stand to lose about $4 million a year in transit fees if the IPC pipeline remains shut down. 25X1 SYR-4 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? January 1967 I. In Yemen, an agreement signed by Egypt's Nasir and Saudi Arabia's Faysal in August 1965 stopped the four-year-old- war, at least temporarily, but there has been virtually no progress beyond the cease-fire toward a solution. A. The Saudis stopped their arms aid to the Yemeni royalists and have not renewed it. B. The Egyptians, who in the past have backed the Yemeni republicans with up to 60,000 troops, have reduced their forces to about 40,000 men. C. Efforts by Kuwait to mediate a conclusion of the war and establishment of a joint Yemeni government have come to nothing. II. Meanwhile, Yemen became a virtual Egyptian colony in August, 1966, when Nasir sent Yemen's President Sallal back from Cairo to resume control of the government. ? 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? 25X1 A. All Yemeni republican leaders not subservient to Egypt have been jailed, dismissed from the government, or forced to flee to safety in the hills or in Saudi Arabia. B. Royalist and :republican Yemenis have not yet 25X1 been able to unite, however, against the common foe--Sallal and the Egyptians. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? 25X1 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 WHITE SOUTHERN AFRICA 40 0 I. The British showdown with Rhodesia in recent months has to some degree shifted the spotlight away from the areas which over the longer run will maintain or lose the so-called "white redoubt" in Southern Africa-- the Republic of South Africa, and Portuguese Angola and Mozam- bique. A. In South Africa, the new regime which took over when Ilendrik Verwoerd was assassinated is as dedicated as he was to the. continuation of undiluted white rule and Apartheid. B. Portugal is managing to contain increased insurgency in Angola and Mozambique. C. The new African nations are hoping that the sanctions which the United Nations voted against Rhodesia can be extended to hit South Africa and Portuguese Africa as well, if Rhodesia gets help from her neighbors in surmounting the sanctions. D. At the moment, however, the existing regimes appear to be securely in control of their "white redoubt." Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 Portuguese Africa II. Portugal should easily retain control in Angola and Mozambique for the foreseeable future, notwithstanding the recent increase in rebel activity. A. In Mozambique on the East coast, improved Portuguese equipment and military tactics have enabled the government to confine the insurgency, based in Tanzania, to remote bush areas along the northern border. 1. Even that area is at best a no-man's-land. The capabilities of the insurgents have improved, but they do not have the strength to establish administrative control in any areas. 2. They are too weak to challenge the Portuguese in any areas Lisbon wishes to defend. III. The resurgence of rebel activity in Angola is of far greater concern to the Portuguese at present. A. Angolan nationalists, raiding from bases in the Congo,-made a strong attack in December on an important railway center on the border. Angolan press reports claim that 1,000 insurgents took part, and 500 were killed. 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? ? B. The Portuguese, who expect the Congo government to enforce some restraint on the Angolan exiles, promptly announced that the rebels had damaged the railroad, which is the main outlet for the Congolese mining industry. C. The Angolans in the Congo are split and disorganized. Thus far, their uncoordinated raids and sabotage show no signs of developing into a serious military threat to political control, even in areas where Portuguese forces are as yet small and scattered. D. Portugal is in the fortunate position of controlling the trade routes of most of the countries which can offer bases for the insurgents--the Congo, Zambia, and Malawi. 1. Lisbon takes a cooperative attitude toward these countries as long as it encourages restraint in support for anti-Portuguese nationalists. 2. Whenever the cooperative policy fails to produce results, Lisbon can squeeze down on the trade routes by graduated degrees until the desired response is obtained. 33. As soon as the Portuguese announced AF- Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? 25X1 that rail traffic from the Congo through Angola had been disrupted, the Congo Foreign Minister expressed his regrets over the raid and said that the government in Kinshasa would take every possibly action to prevent further incidents. 4. Even insurgent chief Holden Roberto, who lives in Kinshasa and doesn't want to be thrown out by the Congolese, said that the attack was against his orders, and that his insurgents are supposed to confine their efforts to minor harassment. South Africa IV. Johannes Vorster, the new Prime Minister of South Africa, is continuing the foreign and domestic policies of Verwoerd, whose assassination last September had no political overtones. A. The two top foreign policy issues for South Africa today are Rhodesia, and the old League of Nations mandate of South-West Africa. 1. South Africa would prefer to avoid a direct confrontation with Britain and the United States over the United Nations sanctions. Pretoria hopes that the British and Rhodesians can reach some kind of 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 a ? settlement before the point where there might be effective pressure to extend the sanctions to South Africa. 2. South Africa, however, almost certainly will continue to support the Rhodesians, giving them outlets to circumvent the sanctions in addition to continuing the direct trade between the two countries. 3. South Africa itself is a potential target for UN sanctions, and the Vorster govern- ment would like to help Rhodesia demon- strate the ineffectiveness of such meas- ures, particularly against so-called "white southern Africa." B. South Africa continues to assert its right to govern South-West Africa without UN super- vision. 1., The International-'Court of Justice ruled last summer that Liberia and Ethiopia lacked a proper "legal standing" as plaintiffs for their suit to have the League mandate transferred to the United Nations. 2. Pretoria claims that this decision confirms South Africa's legal position in the area. AF-5 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? ? 3. To reinforce the decision, the South:Afri cans may soon launch an international public relations campaign to emphasize its accomplishments in South-West Africa, such as the schools, hospitals, housing and roads which serve the African popu- lation. C. It is highly unlikely that UN sanctions will be taken against South Africa over these or other issues. The major powers which would have to enforce them almost certainly would 25X6 refuse to do so. 2? UN sanctions against South Africa also would have serious consequences for sev- eral black African states. 3? Nonetheless, South Africa is continuing contingency plans which would allow it to survive total sanctions for several years, even in the unlikely event that such sanctions would get universal com- pliance. AF-6 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 D. The Vorster regime is continuing the in- creased sophistication Verwoerd began in South African relations with other African Countires. 1. Pretoria, for instance, has shown some willingness to accept as equals the leaders of the newly independent coun- tried of Lesotho and Botswana--formerly British Basutoland and Bechuanaland. 2. It is helping the conservative govern- ment of nearby Malawi with some develop- ment projects 3. As far as we can determine, South Africa has been wary about associating itself with the schemes of various adventurists to return Tshombe to power in the Congo. V. Within South Africa, the ruling Nationalist Party is continuing to expand its apartheid policy of racia:_ separation A. The economic demands of a booming economy arid a scarcity of white labor has produced some opposition from businessmen in the rul- ing Afrikaner group to a doctrinaire appli- cation of apartheid in job restrictions. AF-7 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? B. Some labor unions and white militants, in turn, have objected to any modification of apartheid, such as "lowering" job racial qualifications to permit non-whites in cer- tain employment. C. The ruling party faces no political threat from these small groups, however, .ok_ from the almost politically extinct white liberal parties. D. The South African Communist party has been crushed. E. The disorganized non-white population offers no threat to the government's effective security laws and forces. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 0 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 RADICAL AFRICA I. The influence of the more radical nations of West Africa---Brazzaville Congo, Mali, and Guinea--declined in 1966, and one of the prime movers dropped from the ranks when Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown in Ghana. A. The heady political exuberance of independence has given way to the sobering discovery that there isn't very much pie in the sky. B. In other words, the new governments have found out that independence is not just a matter of taking over a bonanza from the colonialist powers. 1. They are all having trouble keeping their economies on an even keel. 2. There is_ an increasing dependence on foreign aid. 3. In particular, those who looked to the Communist world for economic aid have found that it is limited in scope, slow to pay off, and has to be repaid. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? (Congo-Brazzaville) II. In the former French Congo ---Congo(Brazzaville), as it is called---President Alphonse Massamba-Debat is having trouble keeping control of a radical regime which is at odds with its military forces. A. The government is dominated by left extremists who have made little headway in either improving the economy or. resolving ideological, tribal, and personal disputes. B. The regime follows a Marxist line in interna- tional policy, and relies heavily on foreign Communist support. 1. After an army mutiny last June, however, the government expelled not only the French but the Soviet and Chinese military advisors of the army, --- presumably to keep the army from getting any more efficient. 2. The mutiny was put down by-the Presidential Guard, which has a strong cadre of Cubans. 3. Cubans are also training the government's important paramilitary forces. There are already somewhere between 300 and 700 Cuban advisors and technicians in the country, with more expected. III. French interests still control most of the Brazza.ville-Congo economy, 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 0 A. The French aid program is still the largest and most significant in the country. (In 1965, it amounted to $11 million.) 1. Brazzaville has remained in the French franc zone, and extremist pressures have not yet forced the nationalization of industry. 2. The growth of Communist influence has eroded the French position, however, and harassment of French diplomatic personnel led to the recall of the Ambassador (quote)"for consultations." 3. (The United States has had no diplomatic representation in Congo-Brazzaville since August 1965, when we withdrew our personnel after similar harassment.) B. The Chinese Communists share in training the paramilitary forces. Peking extended a'$25 million aid agreement in 1964. C. Soviet aid amounts to only $8 million, and Soviet influence has been declining since the Soviet military advisers were sent home last July. (Mali) IV. Mali, which has been relying on Communist hand-outs to keep its economy afloat, has started informal negotiations to get back into the French franc zone. 25X1 AF_ Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? A. The Communist countries may yet outbid the French for influence in Mali, but President Mobido Keita reportedly is willing to accept considerable French control over the monetary pclicy of Mali to get back on good terms with De Gaulle. 1. Mali still takes a public stand with the Communists on international issues, but has toned down its propaganda attacks on the west. 2. United States relations with Mali are friendly, and we have a modest aid program there. 3. If Mali reaches financial agreement with France, this will probably also mean better relations with the moderate pro-French nations of Africa such as Ivory Coast and Senegal. Keita has made overtures in this direction, and his relations with the radicals, particularly Guinea, have cooled correspondingly. B. Mali's main problem has been a series of recurrent foreign exchange crises which threaten to cut off essential supplies and transport lines. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? C. The Chinese Communists helped Mali out with a $3 million loan in hard currency last June, and may have promised more this year. 1. Chinese credits of $38 million have been pretty well used up, but a Chinese dele- gation has been in Mali discussing new aid projects. D. There are still outstanding Soviet credits of about $25 million, and a Soviet delegation has been in Mali discussing possible projects. 1. The Soviets apparently agreed to provide $2 to $3 million in commercial credits last year, and also provided Mali with jet aircraft, tanks, armored personnel carriers, and arms and ammunition. (Guinea) V. In Guinea, President Sekou Toure and his regime are zigzagging back and forth as though they,were riding a pendulum. A. For instance, the regime sounds like Peking in its calls for a revival of the country's "revolutionary militancy," but at the same time Toure has soured on his now thoroughly unwelcome guest, former President Nkrumah of Ghana. Toure proclaimed Nkrumah "co-President" of Guinea when he was first overthrown; now Nkrumah is no longer allowed to make broadcasts. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 25X1 B. Similarly, Guinea apparently will depend in:reasingly on Chinese help in a drive for greater economic self-sufficiency, but at the same time Toure is trying to patch up his quarrels with the United States. 1. You will recall that last October, when the new Ghana regime took a Guinean dele- gation headed for an international meeting off a Pan-American Airways flight in Accra, Guinea blamed the United States. 2. The Peace Corps was ordered out of the country, five embassy officials were expelled, Pan-Am's landing rights were cancelled, and U.S.I.S. activities were suspended. 3. We recalled our Ambassador, withdrew some AID personnel, and cancelled some AID projects. 4. On December 14, President Toure apologized for the incident, explaining that he had been mis-led by some of his advisors and by foreign powers. Now a new modus vivendi is being worked out gradually. 5. Guinea apparently is not asking for U.S. food shipments, but does want certain technical aid projects continued, and would welcome U.S. investment to develop bauxite deposits. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 C. Guinea has used up most of a 1960 Chinese credit of $25 million, but last November Peking agreed to a number of new aid projects. D. The Soviets have shown no eagerness to match new Chinese offers, but Moscow relations with Guinea remain fairly stable. E. The outlook is for Toure to remain in power, but the leadership he used to exercise among the radical African states has been eroded by his economic and political problems at home. A. He has a one-party system, but there are competing factions within the single party. 1. The high-handed behavior of party paramilitary groups irritates the regular security forces. AF-15 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 VI. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ((',hana) Kwame N::crumah, as I said, no longer constitutes much of a threat. Ile appears occasionally at public :Eunctions in Guinea, but he has only about 100 followers with him, and President Toure has pointedly stated in public that they can go home to Ghana any time they want to. I want to take this opportunity of a classified briefing to make sure that you are aware of what a fortunate development the overthrow of Nkrumah proved to be for countering the Communist threat all over Africa. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? A. The coup in Ghana closed down a guerrilla training camp where Chinese Communist instructors had been training insurgents from a number of African countries. B. The coup also exposed--and put out of business--an espionage headquarters which the Soviets had established and equipped for Nkrumah ona scale which could only have been intended for operations all over a good share of the African continent. C. The guerrilla training center was located in an abandoned goldmine about 140 miles up-country from the capital. More than a dozen Chinese instructors and specialists worked there for about a year and a half, in the course of which they trained several hundred so-called "freedom fighters" for insurgency in African countries. 1. As you might expect, the largest indi- vidual contingents came from Portuguese Africa, and there were also contingents from Rhodesia and the Republic of South Africa. 2. But there were also elements from newly independent African countries---from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, Niger, and the. former Belc'ian Conan AF-17 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 3. That is a good indication of the long-range plans Nkrumah had for exercising his leadership in Africa. 0 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 (Tanzania) VIII. The principal remaining center of Communist activity now is in East Africa, at Dar es Salaam, the capital of former Tanganyika. A. President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania is no Communist, nor is he a willing or conscious Communist stooge. 1. Tanganyika became Tanzania, in fact, when Nyerere merged his country with Zanzibar in an attempt to undo the Communist take-over of that island country. B. Nyerere is obsessed, however, with the liberation of the remaining countries of white Southern Africa. 1. lie has not only afforded. Tanzanian sanctuary, and operating bases, for militant insurgent movements. 2. Nyerere has turned bitter and mistrustful against nations which he considers reluctant AF-19 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 to exert every possible pressure against such nations as South Africa, Portugal, and Rhodesia. 3. He broke relations with London over the Rhodesian issue, which cost him a $21 million loan already negotiated with Creat Britain. 4. He is giving in to mounting pressure to exclude Western teachers from village schools, particularly those near the sensitive Mozambique border. Last November, for instance, Dar es Salaam turned down 150 Peace Corps volunteers who were already in the pipeline. C. As Nyerere chokes off his relations with the West, he becomes increasingly dependent on Communist assistance. Last June Tanzania had to seek more economic assistance from China, and signed its first development credit with Moscow. D. Tanzania is training and arming nationalists from all over southern Africa, with priority for Mozambique first, Rhodesia second. 1. Chinese instructors have been helping at some of the camps for Mozambique nationalists, E. Tanzania is understandably nervous about the possibility of Portuguese retaliation, and is expanding its own defense fnrres. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 Even before Nyerere turned to the Communists for help in his campaign against white southern Africa, Dar es Salaam was a center for Communist recruitment and subversion in East Africa. G. Nyerere came to power as one of the promising, British-trained African moderates, but his desire to re-make Africa around him is making him a captive of Communists and other extremists. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? (Algeria) IX. In North Africa Algeria is obtaining significant ' 25X1 military strength from the Soviet Union. B. Algerian Premier Houari Boumedienne, however, says his purpose is limited to creating a deterrent force in the face of Moroccan and 25X1 Tun::sian territorial claims. AF-22 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 1. The army is probably also too preoccupied with civil administrative chores and with domestic political considerations to have serious aggressive intentions at present. 2. Boumedienne is running into severe economic problems, and looks to the army as the mainstay of his regime. In part, the arms build-up is his payoff to keep the Algerian armed forces contented and loyal. D. Algerian relations with the United States remain strained by Boumedienne's strident propaganda support for North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. AF-23 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? BRIEFING PACKAGE ,January 1";6,7 I. Nigeria is a separate problem in Africa. Deep tribal and regional antagonism has ripped up an artificial national unity that rested precariously on more than 250 separate and often quarreling tribes. A. Two military coups in the past year swept away the main political leaders and institutions of the federation which the British had created. These coups were basically a reflection of the division between the more numerous Moslems of the North, and the more advanced tribes--- some of them Christian --- of_ the coastal regions. B. At present there is a stalemate; the four principal regions have found it virtually impossible to conduct negotiations, let alone reach agreement. 1. The federal military government, since the second coup last summer, has been headed by a northerner, Lieut.Colonel Cowon. Gowon wants a strong central government, and more small states instead of the four regions. AF-24 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? 2. The oil-rich Eastern region is dominated by the Christian Ibo tribe. Ibos, under the federal regime, had.many of the better civil service jobs in the North because of their better education. During the second coup, undisciplined northern soldiers began slaughtering Ibos in the North. Now the Ibos insist on a loose federation in which the four regions would become virtually sovereign states. C. Gowon and his associates are becoming increasingly impatient with the leaders of the Eastern region, and may try to restore unity by force. The result would almost certainly be an immediate Eastern declaration of secession, and civil war. 1. Otherwise, the immediate prospect is for a continuing drift by the Eastern region toward de facto independence. II. The United States has no military commitments in Nigeria, but we must perforce be interested in developments in the most populous country in Africa, with some 50 million inhabitants. A. The largest AID, Peace Corps, and U.S.I.S. programs in Africa are all located in Nigeria. AF-25 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 1. All told, there are about 7,000 American nationals in the country, including about 350 official personnel and more than 800 Peace Corps volunteers. 2. In addition to the Embassy in Lagos and consulates in three regional capitals, A space-tracking station at Kano is phasing out. 3. The U.S. AID program is based on a commitment made several years ago to contribute $225 million to Nigeria's Six-Year Development Plan. 4, American commercial interests and annual trade with Nigeria each amount to about $100 million. Most of the direct U.S. investment is in the rapidly expanding oil industry, with five American companies competing for a share. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Iq Next 4 Page(s) In Document Denied Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? January 1967 SPAIN I. Generalissimo Francisco Franco has finally dealt with the problem of his succession. A. The Spanish people in a: referendum on December 14 gave overwhelming approval to the constitutional law which he devised. B. It provides some cautious changes which do not immediately affect Franco's authoritarian rule, but will permit some liberalization after he goes. 1. It reaffirms that Spain is a monarchy, and outlines the procedure for choosing Franco's royal successor as chief of state. It also permits designation of a non- royal regent who could continue the present authoritarian regime. 2. One major innovation is a provision that the chief of state can appoint a premier. This makes it possible to separate Franco's dual positions as chief of state and premier. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? 0 C. Among the few measures of political liberalization are: direct election of about one fifth of the (tortes; voting privilege for married women; religious liberty for non-Catholics as a legal right; and termi- nation of Falange control over labor syndicates. 1.. Political parties are still outlawed. II. Franco is likely to continue in office until he dies or is incapacitated. A. In spite of rumors of health problems, Franco is in good health for a man 74 years old. B. Be may not even take advantage of the new law permitting him to name a premier. C. There is no threat to his tenure from the three power groups in Spain. 1. The security forces remain loyal. 2. In the other two pillars of his support-- the business interests and the Catholic Church--whatever discontent there is looks for changes after Franco goes, not for his removal or restriction. D. O;?position groups are illegal and disorganized. 1. Most opposition leaders are also more con- cerned with changes after Franco goes than with trying to oust him now. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? ? III. The army will control the succession. A. No successor to Franco is expected to exercise for long the authoritarian powers Franco wields. IV. US-Spanish relations face some minor problems in the next two years. A. Madrid is pressing the US to support its bid for closer economic and defense relationships with Western Europe. 1. It wants to be included in readjustments of western defense arrangements which result from French withdrawal from NATO. 2. It also wants US support in its current effort to regain Gibraltar. B. Madrid continues to forbid overflight rights for aircraft with nuclear weapons, as a re- sult of the January 1965 crash at Palomares. C. Spain may be inclined to bargain for addi- tional benefits when the US-Spanish defense agreement comes up for review and possible renegotiation in 1968. V. Spain's economy continues to prosper. A. GNP shows a 9.2 percent annual average growth since 1960. SP-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? B. Per capita national income rose sharply in :1.965 to $595, the first year above the $500 :_evel which is generally considered the divid- ing line between an underdeveloped and a de- \reloped economy. C. Inflationary pressures which were cause for concern in 1965 showed signs of tapering off in 1966. SP-4 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? ? BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 0 I. In Cuba, Fidel Castro remains in firm control. A. His power position is based on tight se- curity controls, and on the loyalty of key military officers and security officials. B. There were some reports early in 1966 that Castro was ill or slipping, because he was not making his usual public appearances. Since June, however, he has been as active as ever. 1. The British Ambassador in Cuba tells us that Castro is in robust health, and appears to be "as strong as an ox." The Ambassador sees no reason to expect any health problems for Fidel in the near future, in spite of his hours and his habits. II. We have reported from time to time on one of his favorite pastimes--all-night bull sessions with university students. In December, Castro had another long session. with the students, but this time it was apparently business, not pleasure. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? 0 A. It was time for elections at Havana Uni- versity, and the students reportedly nominated some candidates who were not ac- ceptable to the government. 1. The controlled Federation of University Students complained that the candidates suffered from what was called "untested political reliabilities," and there were strong protests from high regime off i- cials . 2. The maverick students didn't withdraw their slate, however, until Castro himself paid a visit to the campus. B. This was the first significant dissent at the University since Castro came to power in 1.959. As it turned out, it was a tempest in a teapot, but it seems to have caused Castro deep disappointment, 1. In a speech soon after the incident, he criticized what he called "factors that conspire against the Cuban educational system." 2. Later he delivered a stinging rebuke to students who--he said--"are divorced from CU-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 p reality, and now feel that they don't have to work since they are doing society a favor by studying." III. The economic situation is still Castro's biggest problem. A. Troubles arising from mismanagement, inef- ficiency, and low labor productivity have 'been aggravated by a series of natural dis- asters--mainly hurricanes. :L. Some of the recent Caribbean hurricanes have been taking not just one, but two or three cuts at Cuba; I am surprised that Castro hasn't accused the CIA of steering the hurricanes. The basic problem, however, was that the early plans of the Castro regime, under the influence of the missing Che Guevara, put too much influence on industrial ex- pansion. 3. These plans have been sharply revised in the past three years to restore the emphasis to agriculture, with the great- est stress on sugar production. CU-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 4. A number of personnel shakeups and re- organizations have improved management in several important sectors of the economy. B. The 1966 sugar harvest, at four and a half million tons, was one and a half million tons below the planned goal, principally be- cause of the drought. 1. Increased mechanization, greater use of fertilizer, more acreage planted to sugar cane, and favorable weather should give Cuba one of the best sugar harvests in its history in 1967--probably between 6 and 7 million tons. C. Nevertheless, per capita income will remain below the pre-Castro levels. L. Basic foods are still rationed, and food distribution is poor. ~'.. The lack of spare parts has affected a wide range of activities, from the repair of household appliances and automobiles, to sugar mill equipment and industrial machinery. IV. Castro's increasingly bellicose foreign policy actions and statements probably reflect frustration CU-4 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 over the continuing critical economic and ad- ministrative problems. A. Despite rumors to the contrary, there is no evidence that Cuba's relations with the Soviet Union have suffered serious damage. The USSR has shown its willingness to help Cuba overcome the effects of last year's :poor sugar harvest, and has continued its large-scale economic support of the Castro :regime. B. Since early 1.966 when.,the Chinese: cut. back on planned rice deliveries, Fidel has been exchanging public insults with Chinese :leaders. The deterioration in. relations is not expected to reach the point of complete rupture, however. C. Recent statements by Castro and other high regime officials make it clear that Cuba would like to become more actively involved in the Vietnam war. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 V. Fidel Castro and other Cuban leaders have re- emphasized the extreme revolutionary hard line in :Latin America since the January Tri-Continent Con:Eerence. The Cuban military establishment is one of the largest and best equipped in Latin. America. Morale is good--especially among the officers. The troops are loyal to the regime. The armed forces are fully capable of maintaining internal order and defending the island from anything short of a large-scale external assault supported by the United States. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 A. For air defense, Cuba has 24 surface-to- air missile installations with 162 launchers, 290 transporters, and an estimated 600 SA-2 Guideline missiles. These are backed up by almost 1,500 antiaircraft artillery pieces, some of which are radar-controlled. These 'weapons are highly mobile and can also be used for infantry support. B. There are still four coastal defense cruise missile sites, with eight launchers which Dan fire on ships about 40 nautical miles at sea. :1. The cruise missile system, however, is presently undergoing extensive change. All four sites have recently been aban- doned, and we have not detected replace- ment sites. They may be switching the coastal de- fense missile assignment to ship-borne missile systems. 3. Cuba has recently added four to six boats to the original force of 12 Komar-class patrol boats which fire a cruise missile. 4. There is also a ground forces version of the cruise missile used by the coastal CU-7 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? defense system, and the Cubans have 41 mobile launchers for this weapon, with 25X1 about 100 missiles. CU-8 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC I. In the Dominican Republic, the regime of Presi- dent Joaquin Balaguer has made a generally en- couraging start,-but that is all. A firm basis for Dominican political stability has not yet been developed. A. Balaguer has a number of factors working for him. 1. He received a clear election mandate in June 1966. 2. The President has been relatively effec- tive in handling major problems. 3. Many Dominicans realize that there is no satisfactory alternative to the present government. There will be chaos if Balaguer falls. 4. Firm US backing for Balaguer has probably discouraged potential plotters. B. The fact remains that the country has no his- tory or tradition of constitutional and demo- cratic rule. This is something that is going DR-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 0 25X1 td have to be built from scratch--and not only by those who run the government, but by the people who are governed. 1. The government's popular image is not good--many Dominicans fear it is as- suming neo-Trujillo overtones. 2. But the image of the public is not very good either. Those who want a change are still inclined to seek it by intrigue, by plotting, or by force, not by legisla- tion or by voting. 3. Balaguer runs the risk of seeing his elec- tion mandate seriously eroded over the coming months. II. Balaguer has put special emphasis on his relations with -:he military. A. Before the Inter-American Peace Force was pulled out last September, Balaguer made changes in the military organization and leadership aimed at strengthening his control of the armed services. B. The President now appears to have widespread acceptance among the military. At present there are only relatively minor irritants in the civil-military relationship. DR-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 0 I. The military elements are determined to protect their position, however, and Balaguer must take these interests into account when he advocates reforms, or when he is dealing with the left. C. The traditional right-wing civilian allies of the military have been quiet recently. III. Relations between Balaguer and the non-Communist left are not satisfactory. They have been char- acterized by mutual suspicion and tension. A. The left-of-center Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), the leading opposition group, seems somewhat uncertain of its future course. 1. The departure of Juan Bosch in late Novem- ber on an extended European trip has con- tributed to this uncertainty. In his absence, there is a danger that radical elements in the PRD leadership will be able to dominate the party, and throw it into all-out opposition to the government. 1. Such action could lead to PRD cooperation with the Communists, a move that would greatly enhance the influence of the country's badly divided Communist groups. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001 _0 1 0 0 C. The government may be tempted to employ re- pressive measures against the PRD, a move certain to increase political tensions. IV. Numerous economic and social problems pose a serious danger to long-term stability. A. There is a continuing threat of labor dis- turbances, and severe unemployment. B. The country has an international payments gap which could become critical. C. r .'he economy in 1967 is expected to show im- provements over 1966, but the US Embassy feels it will remain below pre-revolt levels. D. Many of Balaguer's economic policies appear headed in the right direction, but his cen- tralized control of most economic decisions has slowed down implementation of an emer- gency investment program financed by the united States. E. Substantial sums of-foreign assistance will continue to be needed if the country is to attempt to solve its problems. DR-4 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 I. In Haiti, President Duvalier remains in firm control of the country. A. "Papa Doc" hit hard and fast in November when he had reason to suspect a military plot against his regime. 1. On November 10 and 11 he fired a number of high-ranking officers, waited a few days to make sure this did not trigger a revolt, and then ordered the officers to present themselves in Port-au-Prince for courtmartial. 2. Duvalier thus benefited three ways from this suspected plot: --fie got rid of a number of officers he didn't trust; --Fie replaced them with handpicked, loyal supporters; and --by firing men at the top, he created openings for a wave of promotions to reward his adherents in both the army and the security B. This is typical of Duvalier's shrewd operations. So is the legislative election to be held January 22. His handpicked slate is supposedly taking Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 any substantial opposition bloc. its chances with the electorate, but no one expects that the new legislature will have A group of Cuban and Haitian exiles based in Miami planned an invasion in November, but their publicity and their finances proved to he better than their execution. 1. The prime mover was Rolando Masferrer, a former Batista thug. 2. The plan was poorly organized; it lacked widespread support among Haitian exiles; and it hinged on the unlikely condition of at least tacit agreement of the U. S. Government. 3. The plan collapsed in mid-November without even a feint toward Haiti. There are still rumors of a new target date for invasion, but these rumors probably stem from Masferrer's efforts to avoid having to account for the 350-thousand-dollar war chest raised for the November attermpt. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 II. While Duvalier's political grip remains firm, the Haitian economy keeps on going downhill. A. Per Capita gross national product is about $70--the lowest in Latin America. B. In the past, solvency depended to a large degree on U. S. loans and grants. There haven't been any since 1963. C. 1964, 1965, and 1966 were all had "ears, and the outlook for 1967 is not favorable. Hurricane Inez in September caused severe damage in an area that produces about 40 percent of Haiti's coffee, Haiti's chief product. D. A recent agreement with the Dominican Republic promises that Duvalier's own finances will stay in better shape. A Migrant Labor Agreement calls for 20,000 to 24,000 Haitian cane-cutters to work in the Dominican sugar harvest. 1. Duvalier will make his own arrangements with the Haitian workers. 2, The Dominican payment for their services-- estimated as high as $400,000--will he paid into Duvalier's so-called "non-fiscal funds," which he uses to maintain his power structure. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 III. There is practically no active opposition worthy of the name left in Haiti. The few politically- minded people who are against Duvalier are cowed by his oppressive policies and unorganized. A. Ile watches the army like a hawk, and keeps a good share of their weapons and ammunition locked up in the Presidential Palace. 1. His own.private goon squads, the Ton Ton Macoutes or "boogeymen," amount to a private army which keeps tabs on the military among other duties. B. There are no longer any significant opposition political parties out in the open. There is an underground Social Christian movement called the Personalistes, which may have one or two hundred adherents, mainly in Port-au-Prince, but it appears to have little organization. C. There are two rival Communist parties, which may have as many as 500 members combined, but they are lacking in discipline, poorly indoctrinated, and inclined to compete rather than cooperate. What's more, at least half of this membership is in exile in Europe or Mexico. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 GUATEMALA I. Guatemala is confronted with guerrilla warfare in the countryside and terrorism in the capital city, with the guerrillas expecting help soon from Fidel Castro. A. The government has scored some successes since it began large-scale field operations against the guerrillas in earl, October, but police have not been able to stem the urban terrorism. 25X1 At least eight policemen have been killed since mid-November. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? S 25X1 III. Guatemalan President Mendez was criticized when he - first took office because-he appeared to be addressing his warnings only to the extremists on the right who GUAT-2 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 had opposed his election and inauguration. A. Now he has begun to concentrate his fire an the leftwing extremists.. I.- An order of December 2, placing the country under state of siege for 30 days, specifically referred to Communist- oriented guerrillas as the main targets. An earlier order which expired on that date had not been specific. 2.. The president announced that the government is going to crack down on student elements involved in subversive activities. ?. The state of siege decree also warns that information media which publish news furnished by the guerrillas will be punished. GUAT-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 BRIEFING PACKAGE January 1967 PANAMA I. Relations with Panama are approaching a new and crucial stage. A. Maneuvering for the 1968 presidential elec- tions already has started, and the canal treaty negotiations with the US are the ma- jor issue. B. The heat of an election campaign will put pressure on the Robles government to obtain a treaty settlement as early as possible. C. :[f I am going to talk about Panama elections, minute to explain some of the terms our Panama experts love to use. 1. Most of the time, politics in Panama is controlled by a number of well-entrenched families. These families lead a handful of political parties which, with a few scattered interruptions, have either shared or taken turns at running the country. 2. The families and the parties operate more or less on the principle that democracy Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 is all right as long as the elite are allowed to run things. 3. To avoid having to repeat this identi- fication every time that the ruling elements are men.tion.ed, we generally refer to the "oligarchical parties." The term is not a happy one, but it saves a lot of words. D. President Marco Aurelio Robles leads a coalition of the oligarchical parties. The perennial challenger is Arnulfo Arias, who heads the mass-based Panamenista Party. 7.. Arias became President by coup in. 1941, and by election. in 1951, but the oligarchy threw him out before he could finish either term. He may very well have won the 1964 voting, but he lost when the government counted the ballots. 2. He is a very effective demagogue who needs only a good issue, and that is why the negotiations for the new canal treaty are so important. E. If no agreement can. be reached, or if the agreement is unsatisfactory to Panama, Arias PAN-2 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 will make a strong run in 1968 on. the plat- form that the oligarchy cannot defend Panamanian interests against the United States. II. Robles is firmly convinced that his government at present has the strength to obtain ratifica- tion if the draft treaty meets the long-standing aspirations of Panama. B. One of the sticking points is United States insistence on having the directorship and a majority of the seats on. the joint canal authority which is to administer the present canal. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 1. An example of this was the incident in early December when a Panamanian. aircraft made an. emergency landing at the US-con- trolled Rio Hato training area. 2. Our requests that the pilot identify him- self led to charges that US military authorities were violating Panamanian sovereignty. 3. The allegations were blown out of all pro- portion by Panama?s sensationalist news media, most of which are owned or con- trolled by the oligarchy. D. :Extremist-led student groups have already staged some "sovereignty" demonstrations, and more can be expected with the approach of the anniversary of the anti-American riots of January 9th to 12th ::n 1964. PAN-4 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 1. Government security forces probably will be able to control demon.stration.s, but there is always the danger that an in- ciden.t could touch off new rioting. 2. Pan.ama's small, fragmented Communist move- ments are making plans for agitation. over the anniversary period, and there is more tension this year than last because of the Rio Hato affair. PAN-5 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 BRIEFING PACKAGE ? January 1967 VENEZUELA I. Venezuela is calm again following a government crackdown on terrorism in December, A. A :_esurgence of urban terrorism culminated in an attempt on December 13 to assassinate the army chief of staffs The reaction of the military leaders was so strong that President Leoni had little other choice but to suspend constitutional guarantees, Bo On December 14, police and military forces occupied the Central University in Caracas, long a hotbed- of Communist and terrorist activities, Co Reaction to the government's moves among the public and the political parties has been generally favorable. The Communists so far have been lying lows. but they may try some countermove when the students re- turn fromvacationin January. D. If the urban terrorist organization is able to survive the government's current campaign, Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 it may once more put a strain on relation- ships between the military and the civilian government. E. Now that the government has once yielded to military pressure for a strong hand against the terrorists, it may find the military dif- ficult to deal with in the future. II0 The Communist Party of Venezuela is divided into a hard-line group, a soft-line group, and the orthodox group:. The soft-line is opposed to all armed action. The orthodox PCV wants to de-empha- size guerrilla and terrorist activities and con- centrate on political work among the masses along traditional, nonviolent lines. A faction of the Marxist Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR) is apparently cooperating with the hard-line Communists. A. Rural insurgency, carried out by the hard-liners, remains a problem, but it is not an immediate threat to the stability of the government, Bo In July about 20 hard-line guerrillas landed on the coast of Venezuela after training in Cuba, Since then they have carried out a series of VEN-2 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 40 raids and ambushes, working with perhaps 50 to 75 guerrillas already on the scene, III. Maneuvering for the 1963 general elections is beginning to exert a strong influence on po- litical activity. A. There are four major political parties and several minor ones, mainly left of center in their political orientation and volubly devoted to social reform. The Communist Party is barred from political activities. B. Leaders of the political parties have been meeting to discuss the formation of coali- tions or to make deals for the coming elec- tions. IV, Oil continues to dominate the Venezuelan economy, despite some diversification through increased agricultural output, expansion of light industry, and development of the Guyana iron industry, A. The government's petroleum policy has been aimed largely at increasing tax revenues and making clear Venezuelan control over the operations in Venezuela of the foreign oil companies. VEN-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 0 ? B. Weak spots in the economy include a mild slump in the construction industry and continuing high unemployment, C. The Venezuelan economy has grown at an average annual rate of six percent since 1962, and prospects for the continuation of this rate of growth are good, VEN-4 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 :-X1 ? . ? January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE ECUADOR I. Ecuador at the moment is involved in the delicate process of trying to shift from military back to constitutional government. A. A constituent assembly last November chose Otto Arosemena as provisional president, 1< He may serve for as much as a year before a constitutional successor emerges. ? B. The primary functions of the assembly, which is also acting as a legislature, are to pro- duce a new constitution to replace that of 1946, and to lay the groundwork for general elections, 1. The assembly has decided on direct popu- lar election of the next president, but has set no date, 2. The assembly has done little else. Ses-isions have been so disorderly that the delegates are not expected to complete their work before April 1967, I 25X1 ECU-1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 Co The new interim president is a hard-driving, :?ersonable professional poli- tician. Arosemena is a member of a long- established Guayaquil banking family, and is backed by conservative elements, He is therefore looked upon by the center-left op- position as a respresentative of the vested interests :L, Otto Arosemena is a cousin of Carlos Arosemena, the former president whose irresponsibility and leftist tendencies led the military to oust him in July 1963. Unlike Carlos, the new provisional president is friendly to the United States. 2 The center-left opposition is beginning to accept the idea that it may have to live with Arosemena for a while, but will un- doubtedly try to depose him if the op- portunity presents itself. D. Arosemena has reached a modus vivendi with the military by promising that no major changes will be made in the command structure, and that his government will not support any measures adopted by the assembly that are re- pugnant to the armed forces. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 1, Most military leaders are reluctant to take on governing responsibility again. A military coup would probably provoke considerable popular unrest, 20 Should the assembly bog down for several months in political bickering, however, the military might feel compelled to in- tervene to prevent the collapse of public order. Ii. While the political situation remains uncertain, the most immediate problem facing the government is the worsening financial and economic situa- tion, A. Encouraging progress has been made in slowing the loss of foreign exchange reserves. I. There seems to be little likelihood, how- ever, of dealing with the long-range fi- nancial and economic problems in the near future, given the caretaker nature of the government and the size of the prob- lems. ECU-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? ? January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE BOLIVIA I. The Bolivian political scene has been relatively quiet since the inauguration last August of Pres- ident Rene Barrientos Ortuno. This condition will probably continue for the short run, punc- tuated at times by periods of uneasiness. A. Barrientos is a popular presidents He won 62 percent of the vote in the July elections. His ruling political coalition, the Bolivian Revolutionary Front or FRB, also enjoys an overwhelming majority in both houses of Congress. In spite of the statistics, how- ever, the Barrientos government is not strong. 1. The FRB--a patchwork combination of four minor political parties and two interest groups--lacks unity, central control, and a common political doctrine. 2,, It is already falling-apart and Barrientos has been looking for some alternative or substitute. He will probably be able to BOL-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? reorganize his political base eventually, but in the meantime Bolivian politics and government is going to be pretty much a personal one-man show, B. Barrientos? real base of power is the armed forces. Without their support, his govern- ment can not survive 1? His relations with the military have been good so far. As long as Barrientos clearly favors the interest of the armed forces, his overthrow is improbable, C. The chief rival for power is the armed forces commander, General Alfredo Ovando Candiao 1? Ovando is an ambitious, but cautious man. He will probably not seek a direct con- frontation with Barrientos in the immedi- ate future, for fear of splitting the armed forces' loyalties. 2. Instead, Ovando will try to keep pressure on Barrientos in hopes that he will stumble. Ovando would then be in a position to take over, D. The political opposition to Barrientos is too badly fragmented and internally disoriented to BOL-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 i ? ;pose a serious threat at this time, II. Bolivia. has enjoyed a measure of economic stability under the military junta and the Barrientos govern- ment, but many problems remain. A. These include a large budget deficit, a rising cost of living, and heavy foreign debt. The Bolivian Government is counting heavily on the US to help alleviate these burdens, B. The major source of economic difficulties for the government continues to be the mining in- dustry, which accounts for nearly all of Bolivia's export earnings, 1. In 1966, COMIBOL, the nation's mining in- dustry, was put on a paying basis for the first time since 19520 2. The government expects some labor trouble in the tin mines at the beginning of the year over the issue of wages. BOL-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE BRAZIL I. Brazilian President Castello Branco will turn over his office on March 15 to former War Minis- ter Arthur da Costa e Silva, a retired army marshal. A. Costa e Silva has not yet announced any specific policies. He is expected to con- tinue most of the present lines. He may try some relaxation of the stringent eco- nomic austerity measures. B. His primary base of support, as with Castello Branco, will be the armed forces. II. The Castello Branco government has made an im- pressive effort to alleviate the chaotic con- ditions inherited from its predecessors, but many critical problems remain, A. The current annual rate of inflation is substantially less than the 1964 rate of 87 percent, but it remains near the 1965 level of 45 percent. BRAZ-1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 B. Real wages have declined steadily, contribu- t:-ng to the substantial dissatisfaction among u::ban labor, C. Restrictive credit policies have drawn pro- tests from business leaders. D. Agricultural output in 1966 was probably down from the bumper 1965 harvest, III. The government has effectively reduced the threat of subversion, but there are still potential threats to stability. A. The only legal opposition party, the Brazil- ian Democratic Movement, has been unable to exploit the widespread popular dissatisfac- tion with the government; in the November congressional elections the pro-government party successfully defended its large majori- ties in Congress. B. A political alliance between ex-President Kubitschek and conservative leader Carlos Lacerda has been formed in hopes of captur- ing popular support. It may, however, fail to qualify as a political party under the requirements of the new constitution now being considered in Congress. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? C. Some hard-line military elements continue to press for stronger action against corrupt or subversive elements, D. Ex-_reme leftist exiles--such as Miguel Arraes and Leonel Brizola--continue to plot, al-:hough ineffectively. E. The Communist Party, in considerable dis- array after the revolution, is still fac- tionalized but beginning to reorganize and to reassert its influence, particularly in labor and among students and intellectuals, Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 ? ? January 1967 BRIEFING PACKAGE ARGENTINA I. In Argentina, the authoritarian regime of Presi- dent Juan Carlos Ongania remains in firm control despite public grumbling over its initial efforts at economic and labor reform. A.. Ongania retains the support of the armed forces, which brought him to power after de- posing the Illia government in June 1966. 1. The generals have apparently yielded-- at least for now--to Ongania's insistence that they concern themselves only with military affairs and leave policy-making to the cabinet. . '?o Ongania appointed Julio Alsogaray, an ambitious and outspoken officer, as com- mander in chief of the army. This may give the generals a forceful spokesman if they continue to disagree with government policies, and the deliberate pace of reforms. ARG-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? . B. The Argentine economy suffers from budgetary deficits, a large external debt, and chronic inflation. The government's initial reform moves alienated business and labor interests, 1. Some business interests welcomed the coup last summer, but were quickly dis- enchanted when it became clear that there would not be a crackdown on organized labor, that foreign exchange restrictions would continue, and that tax laws would be enforced, 2. Organized labor had accepted the new gov- ernment grudgingly. A compulsory arbitra- tion law and new work rules for port and railroad workers have now given labor leaders the issues they needed to rally support for antigovernment strikes, 3? The government has not yet completed the budget plan originally promised before the end of 1966. Disagreements within Ongania's economic team have prevented the development of an effective stabili- zation program. ARG-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 ? II. The Ongania regime has indicated that it plans to stay in power until its reforms are completed. Even then it will not permit a return to the for- mer political system, A, Several key figures in the government, in- c:Luding the Interior Minister, have often voiced their approval of a political system drawn from Mussolini?s and Franco?s con- cepts of the "corporate state." B. Ongania, however, has stated that he would prefer to see the development of a two-party system of liberals and conservatives which would absorb both the Peronists and the Radi- cals, III. At present, there is no subversive threat to the government from either the Peronists or the Com- munists, and there seems little likelihood that the two groups could ever join forces, A. The Peronists, who once had a reputation for subversion and terrorism, have been split. The moderates in the movement seem to be gaining control, I. The moderates, led by labor leader Au- gusto Vandor, dominate the General Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 5X1 ? ? Confederation of Labor, and have lately supported negotiations with the regime to end labor disputes, 2? Vandor has also talked of eventually leading a labor party which would be Peronist-based, B. The Communist Party, although the second largest in Latin America, is weak and in- effective, and closely watched by the gov- ernment, ARG-4 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 ? 0 January 1967 URUGUAY I. Uruguay has dropped its Swiss-style plural ex- ecut:.ve system, and Oscar Gestido will take office in March as the first one-man president in 16 years. A. In November 1966, largely because of dis- satisfaction with deteriorating economic conditions,-the voters decided to do away with their cumbersome 9-man executive and end eight years of Blanco Party dominance. B. Gestido, a Colorado Party member, has not divised any comprehensive plan to deal with the country's ills, but he has promised a government of "national unity," and is attempting to form a competent economic team. C. His job will be difficult because his elec- toral alliance will control less than half of the Colorado congressional majority. 1. Unless all of the Colorado factions support Gestido's programs, the Commu- nists may have an important swing vote. URU-1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 0 ? ? They increased their congressional rep- resentation from 3 to five or six seats in the 99-seat Chamber of Deputies and 1 or 2 in the 30-seat Senate. II. The new constitution, which was approved by the voters in the November elections, will im- prove the government's ability to deal with problems. A. It increases presidential powers and provides for much-needed organizational improvements throughout the executive branch. III. Uruguay has serious economic problems. A. The rate of inflation in 1967 could match the 1965 rate of nearly 90 percent unless the new government takes energetic action. B. Industry and agriculture are stagnant, and both imports and exports are down. C. Unemployment, estimated' between 12 and 20 percent, is rising. D. The budget deficit and foreign debt are also increasing. E. Workers are being hit hardest by the economic pinch. The serious strikes which plagued Uruguay in late 1966 are likely to be repeated in 1967. Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 25X1 0 IV. The Communist Party, with 18,000 to 20,000 mem? bers7 has a demonstrated ability to exploit po- litical and economic issues. A. The Party's electoral front, FIDEL, doubled its 1962 vote to six percent. in recent elec- tions, although it was unable to make sig- nificant gains outside of Montevideo, B. The Communists dominate a newly formed labor confederation which represents most of or- ganized labor. C. The party will continue to exploit labor's grievances, both legitimate and artificial, although no major labor agitation by the Communists is likely until after the new gov- ernment takes office. URU-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0 Approved For Release 2009/02/25: CIA-RDP79T00827A000600030001-0