CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/05/02

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03160447
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: May 2, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160447,
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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2 May 1957
Copy No. 134
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CONTENTS
. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
(page 3).
- 2. SYRIAN OFFICERS TO ATTEND SOVIET MILITARY SCHOOLS
(page 5).
1\10
3. CHINESE COMMUNISTS STATE ATTITUDE ON RELEASE
OF AMERICAN PRISONERS (page 6).
d 45 VIOLENCE FLARES OVER CHINESE NATURALIZATION
ISSUE IN SOUTH VIETNAM (page 7).
O1. X
GROUP OF PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SUBMIT
RESIGNATIONS (page 8).
2 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin
TOP CRE-T
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1. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
The government of Jordan, continuing
the purge of leftist-dominated political
organizations, on 1 May dissolved la-
bor unions and other employees � organ-
izations. Military trials of persons
charged with plotting against the secu-
rity of the state are scheduled to begin
on about 4 May, after the three-day
holiday following Ramadan. These
trials of leftists and ultranationalist
figures could be the occasion for anti-
rrrvarairn W ri+,11 rivi+l-vrtan Ira
Hussain is maintaining close contact
with his cousin King Faisal of Iraq and
with King Saud. Both rulers have given
Hussain indirect military support, and
have recently extended some financial
assistance. King Saud is scheduled to
visit Baghdad on 11 May, and, accord-
ing to the Iraqi press, he may be sub-
sequently joined by Hussain. Iraqi
forces at H-3 pumping station, about
40 miles from the Jordanian border,
have now been increased to possibly as
many as 6,000 men�comprising the
approximate equivalent of two infantry
brigades with armor and artillery sup-
port. The force may be further in-
creased next week to about 8,000.
Nasr is reported fearful that develop-
ments in Jordan will be followed by a "similar move" in
Syria. He has reportedly warned Syrian foreign minister
Bitar to consolidate the position of anti-Western army offi-
cers sympathetic to the Arab Socialist Resurrection Party,
and stressed the need to gain control of army forces in the
2 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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01-.411.i-a
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Damascus area.
The king appears in public only when at-
tended by a heavy guard.
7'he loyalty of some of the men around
Hussain is uncertain.
Abdul Monem Rifai,
Jordan's ambassador to the United States and,brother of the
foreign minister and strong man of the cabinet, had "ex-
pressed readiness to co-operate in directing Jordan's policy
in accordance with Egypt's wishes:' Jordan's chronic finan-
cial plight is underlined by its stated inability to pay Britain
about $1,800,000 due on 1 May as the balance of the first
installment on British military supplies being left in Jordan.
2 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin
�HERE-7'
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2. SYRIAN OFFICERS TO ATTEND SOVIET
MILITARY SCHOOLS
The USSR is accepting at least 30
Syrian officers with ranks from cap-
thin to colonel to attend military schools
in the Soviet Union,
After
co-mpleting a ix= month course, the best students will be
selected by the Soviet Staff College Directorate to attend the
Frunze Military Academy for a four-year course.
Comment There is recent evidence that high-
ranking Egyptian officers also have
been scheduled to attend staff courses in. the USSR.
Satellite officers have regularly attended
special courses at the Frunze academy, roughly comparable
to the US Command and General Staff College. Officers from
countries outside the bloc have not been known to attend Soviet
military schools in the past.
In mid-February, Syria requested that
the USSR send a mission to study the organization and train-
ing of the Syrian army.
2 May 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
T-613-3"EreRET
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3. CHINESE COMMUNISTS STATE ATTITUDE ON RELEASE
OF AMERICAN P
During a meeting heldfor visiting Chi-
nese newspapermen at the Chinese
Communist embassy in East Berlin on
24 April, the first secretary indicated
that his government wanted to free all
the American prisoners but feared that if they were released
Peiping would lose its only "mutual point of interest" with
the US.
The leader of the Chinese newspaper
delegation declared that the possibility of an early release
would be "greatly enhanced" if the United States would per-
mit cultural missions and journalists to visit Communist
China. He said Peiping would continue the Geneva talks un-
til a settlement was reached or "certain aims" were achieved.
The Chinese journalist, who represents the authoritative
People's Daily, said his government believed that termination
of the Geneva talks would produce an adverse world reaction
against Communist China, which has thus far benefited by
the opportunity presented at Geneva to demonstrate "patience"
and to impress world opinion.
Comment The Chinese apparently regard the reten-
tion of the prisoners as a guarantee that
the Geneva talks will continue while Peiping maintains its ef-
forts to strike a profitable bargain. A Chinese Communist
Foreign Ministry official told last Janu-
ary: "Suppose we release your people today. What guaran-
tees are there that you won't immediately break off the talks
Frankly, we do not want to lose that contact."
2 May 57
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4. VIOLENCE FLARES OVER CHINESE NATURALIZATION
ISSUE IN SOUTH VIETNAM
The bitterness and frustration that
have been building up among Over-
seas Chinese in South Vietnam over
the Diem government's decree impos-
ing citizenship on locally born Chinese erupted into violence
on 30 April. About 200 Chinese, mostly students, attacked
the Chinese Nationalist legation in Saigon and angrily de-
manded protection from mandatory naturalization. Windows
were smashed and furniture demolished before Vietnamese
police dispersed the group. The demonstrators promised,
however, that there would be more trouble in the future.
A leader of the local Chinese community
who appeared at the legation later the same day at the head
of an orderly student group expressed the conviction that only
Communist China was powerful enough to protect the interests
of the Overseas Chinese in Vietnam. Another spokesman de-
nounced the US for supporting South Vietnam's anti-Chinese
policies.
Comment Any new outbreak of violence in South
Vietnam is likely to take the form of
race riots between the Vietnamese and the Chinese commu-
nity, which makes up almost a tenth of the population. Tai-
pei's impotency in dealing with the South Vietnamese govern-
ment in the interest of local Chinese under these circumstances
will adversely affect its influence among Overseas Chinese
communities in Southeast Asia.
2 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
CONFIDENTIAL
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1.3.Gta
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5. GROUP OF PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
SUBMIT RESIGNATIONS
Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Manglapus has informed the American
charge in Manila that he and other gov-
ernment officials identified with the new
"Spirit of Magsaysay Movement" (SMM)
have submitted resignations to Pres-
ylent Garcia; if any one resignation is
accepted, the entire group will leave
the government.
the resignations were planned so that the move-
ment could be organized as a party to support former cus-
toms commissioner Manuel Manahan for the presidency in
November. Members of the SMM assert that Manahan's
candidacy is attracting financial support, and that it may
win the backing of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy and
of Jose Yulo, probable presidential nominee of the oppo-
sition Liberal Party.
Comment President Garcia has retained in office
the younger officials close to the late
president Magsaysay as "proof" of his determination to
carry on the policies of his popular predecessor. Mass
resignation of this group could undermine Garcia's effort
to seek re-election by depriving him of all appearance of
being Magsaysay's heir, and force him to rely on the Na-
cionalista Party's old guard.
2 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
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