CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A003500250001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 9, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 2, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

se 209f079C8k- DP7iQD'~7_`d
2 January 1958
Copy No. M
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
I I DECLASSIFIED
CLA S, CHANGED TO: T$ S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE) ... , 2._REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This document contains classified information affecting
the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws, US Code Title 18, Sections
793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an un-
authorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States
or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detri-
ment of the United States.
7 DIA review(s) completed.
TOP SECRET
se 2002/07/30: CIA-RDP7.
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CONTENTS
1. AFRO-ASIAN BOYCOTT OF DUTCH SHIPPING EXPECTED
IN SUPPORT OF INDONESIA
2. MILITARY REVOLT IN VENEZUELA
)cZ 6. LIBYAN OIL DISCOVERY CALLED PROMISING
' x'-k_7. EAST GERMAN PARTY SHAKE-UP DEMONSTRATES
ULBRICHT'S SUPREMACY
2 Jan 58 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. AFRO-ASIAN BOYCOTT OF DUTCH SHIPPING EXPECTED
IN SUPPORT OF INDONESIA
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Dur-
ing the Indonesian revolution against the
Dutch in 1948, a general boycott by mari-
time services in Southeast Asia and the
Middle East crippled Dutch commerce in
the area.
The Burmese government, at the request
of the Indonesian embassy in Rangoon, has already directed
the labor minister to prevent Burmese seamen from work-
ing on Dutch ships, Presi-
dent Sukarno may be expected to press for this form of sup-
port during his forthcoming tour of several neighboring Asian
countries and Egypt. Sukarno will ask
President Nasir to close the Suez Canal o etch ships.
In Indonesia, the government has been
forced to discharge the Dutch pilots and officers of the Indo-
nesian national shipping company because seamen's and dock
workers' unions refused to work for Dutch officers.
ing East Germans and Poles as repiace.1n-ents.
2 Jan 58 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
the company is hir-
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2. MILITARY REVOLT IN VENEZUELA
A reported 50 percent or more of the
Venezuelan air force launched a re-
volt with possible army support on 1
January which will seriously under-
mine the prestige and probably threaten
the stability of President Perez' author-
itarian regime. The government claims
the movement is being brought under con-
trol rapidly and has arrested several high-
ranking officers, reportedly including the
army commander and his chief of staff.
the revolt is headed by the air force chief of staff, and
rebels have complete command of all armed forces at the
principal air base of Maracay--about 50 air miles from
Caracas and a major troop concentration area. Rebel planes
have made passes over the capital without dropping bombs.
The backing of a part of the army, Vene-
zuela's key armed forces component, appears essential to
Perez' ouster. If the highly trained and well-organized
6,000-man national guard, which constitutes about 40 per-
cent of the army, should defect in support of the air force
and win active civilian backing, these elements with or with-
out a modicum of army assistance might be capable of over-
throwing Perez. Venezuela has one of the best air forces in
Latin America, with 2,000 personnel and 173 planes, 35 per-
cent of which are jets.
Perez must retain control of the armed
forces in order to perpetuate his tenure. Even if the present
revolt is brought under control and confined largely to the air
force, it will necessitate a major shake-up in military com-
mands and widespread reprisals which in turn would lead to
intensified military plotting. The disorganized and largely sup-
pressed political, labor, and general public opposition to the re-
gime probably has the indirect support of the relatively weak
Catholic hierarchy but could only become an effective force
against Perez under the leadership of the armed forces.
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6? LIBYAN OIL DISCOVERY CALLED PROMISING
The oil strike recently made by Stand-
ard Oil of New Jersey (ESSO) in the
Fezzan Province of Libya has not yet
production,
' been proven sufficient for commercial
The strike was made near the Libyan-
Algerian border in the vicinity of the French discovery in
Algeria near Edjele, approximately 500 miles south of Tri-
poli. Nearly all favorable areas of Libya are under conces-
sion for exploration, but the ESSO strike is the first good
oil show obtained.
A major oil discovery in Libya, west of
the Suez Canal, would improve the West's bargaining posi-
tion with major transit and producing countries in the Middle
East, but the present pace of petroleum development is such
that it would probably be several years before a Libyan field
could have a significant impact.
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1. EAST GERMAN PARTY SHAKE-UP DEMONSTRATES
ULBRICHT'S SUPREMACY
Extensive changes of personnel in the
secretariat of the East German Social-
ist Unity (Communist) party (SED),
indicate that First Secretary U ri.c is strengthen-
ing is control of this body by appointing to'it Only persons
who are in full agreement with the intensification of his hard-
line policies,
One secretary was recently removed be-
cause he failed to carry out a rigid policy in the education
field, and another committed suicide earlier this month af-
ter disagreement with Ulbricht on economic issues. Kurt
Hager, who is responpible for science and hi her education,
will also be removed, and Albert
Norden, the party's propaganda chief, wi be moved to a
"higher position."
the composition of
the new secretariat would be announced a the SED's 35th cen-
tral committee plenum, which will take place in January. The
appointment of secretaries loyal to Ulbricht would be another
sign that he has won the lengthy controversy with various high-
level party leaders who have favored a more realistic economic
policy in East Germany. Ulbricht's complete dominance in East
Germany is further indicated by the endorsement given him and
his policies by top Soviet leaders.
2 Jan 58 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page J
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