WEEKLY SUMMARY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE

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CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6
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RIPPUB
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S
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17
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December 21, 2016
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June 9, 2008
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1
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Publication Date: 
September 6, 1963
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SUMMARY
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6 September 1963 WEEKLY SUMMARY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE State Dept. review completed. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SECRET 25X1 GROUP I Excluded from automatic downgrading and declassification Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 *.rj Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 SECRET (Information as of 1200 EDT, 5 September 1963) CUBA AND THE TEST BAN TREATY Cuba's failure to signify any intention to sign sug- gests both a desire to stay out of the Sino-Soviet dispute and a fear that US-Soviet detente might weak- en Moscow's support of Cuba against US pressures. CUBAN FLIGHTS TO BRAZIL Chartered Cubana Airlines flights between Cuba and Brazil have become a major means of transporting non-Cuban Latin Americans to and from Cuba. KHRUSHCHEV'S VISIT TO YUGOSLAVIA His 20 August - 3 September visit has probably carried Yugoslav-Soviet relations to a level not equaled since the 1955-56 rapprochement period. SINO-SOVIET QUARREL REACHES NEW PITCH Peiping's increasingly violent verbal attacks sug- gest it is trying to goad Moscow into taking the first step toward a formal break. SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM The country is outwardly calmer, as the Diem regime continues its efforts to demonstrate that civilian elements, as well as the army, are united behind it. It is gradually relaxing martial law restrictions. 6 Sept 63 SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 SECRET ASIA-AFRICA (continued) NEW POLITICAL MANEUVERING IN LAOS Premier Souvanna is trying to stabilize the coalition regime before he leaves next week on an extended trip to Europe and the US. ALGERIAN REGIME CONSOLIDATES DESPITE OPPOSITION 6 Premier Ben Bella, still widely popular and sup- ported by the army, is pushing through a new constitution and will soon become president. RECONVENING OF CONGO PARLIAMENT WILL REVIVE CONTROVERSY 7 A new tug of war between the Adoula government and parliament seems in prospect. Meanwhile, Tshombd says he will return to the country from Europe soon. FINNISH CABINET CRISIS The government fell when three labor representa- tives withdrew from the cabinet following a dis- agreement over economic policy. AREA NOTES Brazil and Bolivia 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTEL''T'Gff MEEKLY SUMMARY Page ii Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 1MW %we SECRET CUBA AND THE TEST BAN TREATY Cuba has failed thus far to signify any intention of signing the limited nuclear test ban treaty, apparently wishing to avoid commitment on a sore issue in the Sino-Soviet dispute. Cuban diplomatic of- ficers abroad have been instruct- ed to avoid offense to either the Soviets or the Chinese, and Fidel Castro has admitted that the problem posed by the Sino- Soviet dispute is under high- level review in his regime. There is apparently another reason for Havana's silence on the treaty. Official Cuban statements of the past several weeks have hinted at a growing realization that any trend to- ward improved US-Soviet rela- Chartered Cubana Airlines flights between Cuba and Brazil have become a major means of transporting non-Cuban Latin Americans to and from Cuba. The five such flights since late July have carried nearly 400 non-Cubans. The first of the recent series--on 25 July--brought 71 Latin American passengers to Havana for the 26 July celebra- tions. The other four flights --on 15, 22, 28, and 29 August --transported over 200 Latin Americans to Brazil from Havana. Some of the aircraft involved returned to Cuba with smaller numbers of passengers. Many of the 200 Latin American passen- tions would not automatically mean any alteration in US policy toward the Castro regime. Cas- tro therefore may see the test ban treaty as the first of a series of developments toward a US-Soviet detente that might ultimately weaken Soviet support of his regime against US pres- sures. The US Embassy in Moscow noted on 30 August that Castro's long-delayed reply to Khrushchev's message of congratulations on Cuba's 26 July holiday was couched in militant terms lack- ing in the Soviet message. Cas- tro stressed the importance of the world-wide "anti-imperialist" struggle, whereas Khrushchev had focused on Cuba's internal "progress.'! gers had been delegates to the 26 July ceremonies, but others had apparently been in Cuba for longer periods and some had probably received training there. Of the passengers of these four flights to Brazil, 75 were na- tives of Caribbean area coun- tries. Their circuitous travel through Brazil was evidently designed to help conceal the fact that they had been in Cuba. Additional Cuban aircraft-- as well as a Soviet passenger ship--are to leave Brazil for Cuba later in the month with delegates to the seventh congress of the International Union of Architects, which opens in Havana on 29 September. SECRET 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 1 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 SECRET The Communist World During his stay in Yugo- slavia from 20 August to 3 September, Khrushchev labored hard and probably successfully to convince Belgrade of his sin- cerity in pursuing closer rela- tions and of the mutual bene- fits to be derived. He covered five of Yugoslavia's six re- publics, and talked with vir- tually every leader of national stature. He had numerous pri- vate talks with Tito, and gave three major public addresses. The visit has probably carried Yugoslav-Soviet relations to a level not equaled since the 1955-56 rapprochement period. Khrushchev comported him- self as an earthy man-of-the- people and the world's foremost champion of peace. Moreover, he was not above attempting to rekindle memories of Russia as the protector of Europe's Slavs.. Everywhere he went, he found something Yugoslav to admire-- from the dome of an exhibition hall at Belgrade's fairground to factory workers' councils at Rakovica--and broadly hinted the USSR could learn much from Yugoslavia. Although Moscow did not report Khrushchev's praise of workers' councils--once cited by the bloc as prime evidence of Tito's heresy--the Yugoslavs have made much of the remark, apparently hoping to represent it as a narrowing of doctrinal differences. The Chinese and Albanians are already using Khrushchev's statement and other aspects of the visit for polemical purposes. Tito, with one eye on his relations with the West and the nonaligned states, carefully avoided saying anything during the visit which would imply he had compromised his country's independence. At the same time, he has obviously been pleased, and he generously praised Khru- shchev as a leader and the USSR as "the first country of social- ism." Tito implied on 30 August that he and Khrushchev had re- vived their 1956 agreement which,in declaring their Com- munist parties equals,had marked the zenith of their previous rapprochement. "Cooperation in certain economic fields has been agreed on and will be ex- panded," according to Tito. This will constitute "compensa- tion for what has been omitted in the past." Scientific and cultural relations are also to be improved. Both leaders reiterated that they were agreed on the more important international is- sues, such as peaceful coexist- ence and extending assistance to the developing countries. For the most part Khru- shchev's speeches suggested he did not press Tito for any com- mitments. He did, however, make a strong bid for increased Yugo- slav participation in the bloc's division-of-labor schemes--i.e., presumably Yugoslav membership in the bloc's international economic organization.(CEMA). Unidentified sources of the Western press claim Yugoslavia's long-standing request for only observer status in CEMA was ap- proved in principle shortly SECRET 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 2 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 SECRET Expulsion of two more Chinese--one an embassy func- tionary--from Czechoslovakia on 2 September for political ac- tivity is the latest development in the widening rift between Peiping and the Soviet-oriented bloc. The S.ino-Soviet quarrel has reached a new pitch of intensity in the exchange of verbal blows. The main thrust of Mao Tse-tung's statement on 29 August about the situation in South Vietnam was against the Soviet Union. Al- though the Chinese leader ap- parently felt that open personal attacks were beneath his dignity, it seems clear that Mao's sneers were directed at Khrushchev. On 1 September the Chinese fired back in reply to the So- viet attack of 21 August with ar official blast projecting an image of white-faced fury. Al- though Peiping charges the USSR with treachery in failing to sup- port Communist China on a broad range of national objectives, Chinese anger is still centered on the issue of nuclear weapons. The scathing language and cal- culated insults employed by the Chinese leave little more which can be said. Peiping's calculated vio- lence suggests the Chinese may be attempting to goad the Russians closer to a formal break in dip- lomatic relations. Moscow, how- ever, is unlikely to accommodate them by making the first move. Although the two powers can be expected to show their antago- nism more and more clearly, the trappings of protocol will be maintained for the immediate future. SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 I%Ow *4w SECRET The Diem government is re- storing a facade of political unity and an appearance of or- der in South Vietnam following the crackdown on the Buddhists two weeks ago. Saigon and other urban centers are outwardly calm, and conditions have re- turned to near normal. The regime continues to publicize statements of support from various government-manip- ulated groups. Progovernment rallies have also been staged in larger towns throughout the country, including Saigon, largely by civil servants and government-sponsored organiza- tions such as the Republican Youth and Women's Solidarity movements. At the same time, the gov- ernment is moving rapidly to re- lax martial law restrictions, reopen schools, and return some functions from military to ci- vilian control. It has announced the release of almost all Bud- dhists and students arrested since the state-of-emergency declaration and has permitted Buddhist pagodas to reopen un- der new leaders, who have voiced their confidence in and grati- tude for the government's con- ciliatory policy and for the satisfaction of their demands. 6 Sept 63 Although there is still no indication when martial law may be lifted, troops are less con- spicuous. The Saigon commander, General Dinh, has publicly de- nied any serious dissidence within the army. The government ap- pears in fact to be maintain- ing disciplined loyalty from most ranking officers and unit commanders, although one entire Civil Guard company reportedly has deserted as a result of the crisis. While there has been a drop in the total of government forces fully committed to counterinsur- gency operations and some dis- ruption has occurred in rural rehabilitation projects, mili- tary pressure on the Viet Cong is being maintained and most ci- vilian agencies charged with di- rection of provincial programs are functioning normally. The crisis still has had no discern- ible effect on the pattern of Viet Cong activity. A slight increase in attacks during the past two weeks appears to be a normal step-up which occurs pe- riodically. The absence of in- tensive Viet Cong military ex- ploitation of the crisis may re- fleet a wariness of actions which might strengthen the gov- ernment's hand. SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 4 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 S 1Sam Neua LUANBANG -rI SAM NEUA Muong Hiem +r i Plaine des Jarres Muong Phine ATTOPEIJ 'j NAMTHA an FMuong Yo Meng'-'f ^"""" Road ??^- Track or trail + Airfield Pho Kho% ~_ ' ?F I o, ng Saly Ran Song Hoc ? --~ ? Lat BauaF. (Khans Khay Phony Savan OE ARR Iat Hnuang Phnu Theneng Dien Bien Son Phu La s. _ Ban Ta Viang Moan Ubon Thanh Hoa SOUTH VIETNAM Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 SECRET Laotian Premier Souvanna Phouma is scheduled to leave Vientiane on 10 September on a trip.which will take him to Paris, Washington, and the United Nations. While the pri- mary purpose of the trip appears to be to obtain medical treat- ment in France, Souvanna has indicated that he wants to dis- cuss recent developments in Laos with Presidents De Gaulle and Kennedy. In New York, he will head the Laotian delegation at the opening of the General Assembly. Souvanna expects to return to Laos before the end of October. In an effort to restore a semblance of stability to his tripartite government, Sou- vanna is again trying to smooth the way for the Pathet Lao to resume an active role in the coalition. He has had several meetings with Phoumi Vongvichit, Patbet Lao minister of infor- mation, who arrived in Vien- tiane last week with the terms on which Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphannouvong would return to the capital. Following these meetings with Vongvichit, Souvanna told Ambassador Unger that he be- lieves the Pathet Lao are "com- ing around" and will be pre- pared to cooperate much more than in the past. Souvanna revealed that be had agreed to the formation of a tripartite police force in Vientiane, one of the conditions Souphannouvong had set for his return. Sou-' vanna hopes that General Phoumi, the rightist leader, will show "good faith" and support the creation of the new police force. Phoumi may agree to some token arrangement to satisfy Souphannouvong's conditions, but he is not likely to allow any such arrangement to under- mine his control over the capital. Meanwhile military activ- ity remains at a low level. Meo and neutralist forces have continued harassing actions along Route 7 near Ban Ban SECRET 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 5 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 ~Vd SECRET Premier Ben Bella's easy victory last month in securing the approval of the Algerian Constituent Assembly for his draft constitution seems likely to be repeated when the consti- tution is submitted to a popular referendum on 8 September. The electorate soon will be called upon to endorse Ben Bella--prob- ably without opposition--as the country's first president. Ben Bella's opponents, most of whom are erstwhile supporters, are campaigning hard for nega- tive votes in the referendum. They may succeed in some areas of traditional dissidence--such as the Orleansville area, the Kabylie, and the Constantine region--but even here Ben Bella's popularity is still strong. The draft constitution es- tablished a single political organization, the National Lib- eration Front (FLN), as the source of power. With Ben Bella as its head, the FLN executive will continue its attempts to forge a national organization encompassing all facets of Al- gerian life. Particular atten- tion is being given the army. Efforts during the past year to unify the body politic and develop a reliable cadre have not been notably success- ful, however. Recently the FLN's student organization won the first round in its efforts to establish itself as an in- dependent organization by electing a predominantly pro- Communist executive. This suc- cess has spurred the illegal Algerian Communist Party again to seek recognition as a sep- arate entity within the FLN. The draft constitution terms Algeria a socialist state, and de- tractors of Ben Bella claim he will eventually align openl,, with Moscow. However, the Algerian am- bassador to Washington--one of Ben Bella's closest supporters--has expressed confidence that after he has been elected and has reor- ganized his government, the premier will seek closer ties with the West. Ben Bella, a pragmatic rather than a doctrinaire socialist, meanwhile continues to consoli- date his position with the sup- port principally of Col. Boumed- ienne, defense minister and army commander. Boumedienne's forces may be called on to suppress some outbreaks of violence during the next few weeks s Ben Bella's op- ponents seek to arouse national feeling against him. This alli- ance may not last over a longer term, however. AL04RIA SECRET 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 SECRET w Premier Adoula, as required by law, has called the turbulent Congolese Parliament back into session at Leopoldville, and a new tug of war between the govern- ment and the parliamentarians seems in prospect. Hoping to restrict the activities of the deputies and senators, Adoula has designated the Parliament a constituent assembly to complete the long-discussed but still unborn Congo constitution. Par- liamentary leaders are already protesting Adoula's move; they insist that they will do busi- ness as usual. The parlia- mentarians have their eyes on the 1964 elections, and there is likely to be even more maneuvering around and against the govern- ment than usual. The danger of antigovern- ment demonstrations developing out of labor troubles in Leopold- ville has abated. Leaders of the government employees union dropped some of their more extreme demands, and the government, disturbed by the role labor played in the recent upheaval across the Congo River in Braz- zaville, agreed to negotiate a new civil service statute. Union leaders continue to warn that serious difficulties will occur if the government does not act to reform the currency, to curb inflation, and to narrow the gap between high living standards of ministers and those of the workers. Army patrols meanwhile are being maintained throughout the capital. Adoula has formally asked UN Secretary General Thant to retain 3,000 UN troops in the Congo until mid-1964. Thant says he will present Adoula's request in his forthcoming re- port to the Security Council, but he has told US officials that, without strong African support and improvement in the UN's critical financial situation, he was not optimistic. Lagging financial contributions, Thant said, might force the UN to close its civilian technical operations as well. . A joint force of UN and and Congolese troops on 28 August began a "mop-up" of ex-Katangan gendarmes who have been operating in eastern Ka- tanga. So far the ex-gendarmes have merely faded unpursued into the bush. In view of the gradual withdrawal, the joint force probably will not accomplish much. safety. in Barcelona that he plans to return to Elisabethville by mid- September. He said he plans to enter the national Congolese political arena and not limit himself to Katangan politics. Tshombd still has wide support in Katanga but it is unlikely he will risk a return without some solid assurances from Leo- poldville. regarding his personal SECRET 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 7 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 N..V N11111111111110 SECRET The cabinet crisis precipi- tated on 30 August by the resig- nation of the three trade union representatives from Prime Minister Karjalainen's Agrarian- led coalition foreshadows a period of political maneuvering in Finland. The economic issue which toppled the government was a disagreement over a proposed agricultural price increase. The government planned to raise food prices, while the labor representatives demanded subsidies in order to maintain current consumer prices. The three labor members, who repre- sented the leftist-dominated Confederation of Trade Unions (SAK), recently have tended to regard cabinet participation as a liability in the face of increasing criticism of wage policies by the Social Demo- cratic Party and its allied Finnish Trade Union Federation (SAJ). Withdrawal of its rep- resentatives from the cabinet leaves the SAK free to advocate its own views on wage policy more aggressively. Alternatives to the present cabinet, which remains in a caretaker capacity, are few. President Kekkonen's Agrarian, Party has long refused to ac- cept Social Democrats in any coalition, arguing that their inclusion would bring Soviet pressures on Finland. Strong objections by a majority of Parliament have prevented inclu- sion of Communists in a coalition since 1948. The Agrarians main- tain that a majority government is necessary to demonstrate wide support for their official policy of friendship toward the USSR. The four political parties in the Karjalainen coalition represent a parliamentary ma- jority, but the Agrarians in- sisted when the cabinet was formed in 1962 that the three trade union members also be included in the cabinet to pro- vide labor representation and a counterbalance to the Conservative right. (FOLLOWING FEBRUARY 1962 ELECTIONS) SOCIAL IIRERALS DEMOCRATIC 13 IIR ERAL OPPOSITION UNION (SNOGISTS) 2 200 SEATS It is likely therefore that Karjalainen will try to re- constitute the four-party coali- tion cabinet and again seek to include individuals from outside Parliament who would represent labor. Should the fragmented Finnish trade union movement fail to provide such representatives, however, the Agrarians would probably resort to re-forming a majority government of the present four parties to share the burden of unpopular economic decisions to be made. The re- maining alternatives would be a minority government or a non- political "government of ex- perts." SECRET 6 Sept 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 9 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 SECRET Western Hemisphere AREA NOTES Brazil: President Goulart has appointed a career diplo- mat as Brazilian foreign minis- Joao Araujo Castro, the new foreign minister, is re- garded as a competent professional well informed on current in- ternational problems, whose attitude toward the US has been cooperative. His most recent assignment was as secretary general for foreign affairs-- the number-two post in the Foreign Ministry. He succeeds extreme leftist Evandro Lins e Silva, whom Goulart recently ap- pointed to the Supreme Court. The US Embassy, however, believes that Foreign Minister Castro's appointment may be only temporary. Goulart may seek political advantage by re- placing Castro in the near future with someone from either his own Brazilian Labor Party or its ally, the Social Demo- cratic Party, both of which apparently feel entitled to the post. Bolivia: The tin miners' union- Livia has suspended its strikes, but its agreement to do so seems unlikely to pro- duce an early solution to Bo- livia's two-month-long labor controversy. them. The accord merely allows additional time for negotiations on the government's proposals for modernizing the operation of the nationalized tin mines, which reportedly lost over $16 million last year. The govern- ment desires to replace several .hundred featherbedding workers and institute other reform meas- ures. These proposals remain ,highly controversial, and further unrest is likely to accompany the SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY Page 10 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927A004200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6 QT`!n D TAT Approved For Release 2008/06/09: CIA-RDP79-00927AO04200010001-6