CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A002900230001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 5, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 1, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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1 January 1957
Copy No. 13
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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AUTH: R Q 2
DATE. 0 REVIEWER: jI
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
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3. SITUATION IN INDONESIA
(page 5).
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4. LEFTISTS DOMINATE NEW SYRIAN CABINET
(page 6).
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6. LAOTIAN CABINET APPROVES COALITION WITH PATHET
LAO (page 8).
1 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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:i., SITUATION IN INDONESIA
Comment on:
Col. Simbolon, rebel leader in northern
Sumatra, reportedly has retreated with
upwards of a battalion of troops and ar-
tillery to the southeast of Medan, where
the hilly terrain and sympathetic popu-
lation are in his favor. He is in position
to join forces with Lt. Col. Hussein, the
dissident leader in central Sumatra. Hus-
sein has just issued another defiant state-
ment ordering his troops to disobey any
orders from Djakarta.
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Meanwhile, continuing unrest in Indonesia
has caused President Sukarno to proclaim a "state of war and
siege" in southern Sumatra. The governor there has suspended
the forwarding of revenue to Djakarta and may be under increas-
ing public pressure to dissociate himself still further from the
central government.
In the Celebes, territorial commander Lt.
Col. Samual reportedly has issued a statement confirming that
territory's dissatisfaction with the central government. His
comment that there are other than military means to express
this dissatisfaction suggests that he is not yet prepared to fol-
low the course of Simbolon and Hussein.
1 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. LEFTISTS DOMINATE NEW SYRIAN CABINET
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Comment on: I
The composition of the new Syrian cabi-
net announced on 31 December represents
a victory for leftist, pro-Egyptian elements.
The conservative members of the previous
cabinet have been eliminated and only one
new rightist has been named. The conservative Populist Party,
which holds the largest single bloc of seats in parliament, is
not represented.
While Asali is the prime minister, the ma-
jor power in the 11-man cabinet appears to be the extreme pro-
Egyptian and leftist, Khalid a1-Azm, who has been appointed
minister of state and acting minister of defense. Four other
ministers are Azm followers. Two ministers from the left-wing
Arab Socialist Resurrection Party continue to hold the portfolios
of foreign affairs and national economy. One Azm supporter, a
minister of state, attended two World Peace Congresses.
The leftists may now call for a new election
in order to eliminate conservative elements and obtain a "more
representative" parliament. In foreign affairs, the trend toward
close relations with Egypt and closer association with the Soviet
bloc probably will be intensified, as will the present campaign
against the Baghdad pact and the pro-Western government in
Iraq.
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6. LAOTIAN CABINET APPROVES COALITION WITH
PATHET LAO
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The entry of Pathet Lao representatives
into the Laotian government appears to
be assured as a result of an agreement
signed by :Premier-Souvanna Phouma and
Pathet chief Souphannouvong on 28 Decem-
ber. This agreement, which is highly fav-
vorable to the Pathet Lao, has already
been accepted by the cabinet and probably
will be approved by the National Assembly sometime before
10 January. Souphannouvong is leaving for Sam Neua on
1 January to consult with his colleagues, and their approval
appears to be certain in view of the speedy announcement by
Peiping, under a Hanoi date line, that agreement had been
reached.
The agreement provides for a coalition
cabinet and the establishment of the Pathets as a legal party,
the restoration of the government's control over the disputed
provinces, and the integration of Pathet forces into the royal
army. The details of these vital matters, however, remain
to be worked out by mixed political and military commissions,
where the Pathets will be in the advantageous position of in-
fluencing negotiations from both sides of the table. Once in
the government, moreover, they can also be expected to use
their position to build political alliances and front organiza-
tions in preparation for the supplementary nationwide elec-
tions to be held in March to expand the legislature from 39 to
60 seats.
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