CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/09/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03153714
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: September 11, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714e
z
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
f
11 September 1957
Copy No. 136
vrL
Ts lca
70-2
D REVIEWER:
///
-
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Intelligence.
TOP SECRET
17 A
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Stro *NS
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
%NV
...e.z.ar%.04
CONTENTS
1. USSR BRIEFS SYRIA ON AMERICAN AND TURKISH MIL-
ITARY MOVES (page 3).
2. NASIR--SAUD DIFFERENCES REPORTED
(page 4).
e9--it� 3. SUMATRAN COMMANDERS CONSIDERING EMERGENCY
GOVERNMENT (page 5).
4. AMBASSADOR REPORTS TUNISIA MAY ALTER PRO-WEST
ATTITUDE (page 6).
Ito
7-7,0
5. USSR TO INCREASE OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO EGYPTIAN NAVY (page 7).
6. AFGHANISTAN SEEKS AMERICAN AID IN EXPLORING FOR
URANIUM (page 8).
7. SARIT FOLLOWERS REPORTEDLY RESIGN FROM THAI GOV-
ERNMENT PARTY (page 10)o
11 Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C0315371
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
I-416.01 %Li A
1. USSR BRIEFS SYRIA ON AMERICAN AND TURKISH
MILITARY MOVES
Comment on:
The USSR has avoided any suggestion of
further diplomatic or military moves to support Syria. Soviet
propaganda is bitterly attacking the West, particularly the
United States, for exerting pressure on Syria.. On 10 September,
Izvestia charged "it is obvious that preparations are being made
by the United States to attack Syria!'
11 Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 3
11514-SEGRE4
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
14--/
*se Nuii0
2� NASIR-SAUD DIFFERENCES REPORTED
Comment
Egyptian subversive activities in Saudi
Arabia resulted in friction between the two
states last April. Since that time Nasir has publicly maintained
a conciliatory attitude in dealings with Saud. Accordingly, an
open break between the two is unlikely despite the report of new
difficulties.
Saud has expressed a belief that the re-
cent Syrian developments were more attributable to Egyptian
than to Soviet influence. His visit with Lebanese and other Near
Eastern officials may have been an effort to obtain first-hand
knowledge of the Syrian situation.
11 Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Vol--4
3. SUMATRAN COMMANDERS CONSIDERING
EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT
Four military commanders in Sumatra
plan to proclaim an emergency govern-
ment if they are dissatisfied with the out-
come of the national round-table confer-
in Djakarta,
The commanders had
originally considered taking the step after learning of Commu-
nist election victories in Java, but reportedly decided to post-
pone action until after the conference.
Comment Some Djakarta leaders have expressed
fear that the national conference will only
widen the split between the non-Javanese provinces and the cen-
tral government and prompt President Sukarno' to take some
drastic action. In his recent tour of East Indonesia, Sukarno
strongly denounced the regional leaders and insisted on the main-
tenance of a highly centralized government.
It is not clear whether the planned emer-
gency government would be totally independent or would continue
some nominal tie with Djakarta.
The officers mentioned in the report com-
mand all of Sumatra except the area around Medan. The pro-
jected plan to declare an emergency government might also be
connected with a reported plan by disaffected commanders to
seize the Medan area sometime in September.
11 Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
4. AMBASSADOR REPORTS TUNISIA MAY ALTER
U
PRO-WEST ATTITUDE
Reference:
American Ambassador Jones in Tunis
reports the rapid deterioration within
the past few days of Tunisia's pro-Western
orientation. The inability of the Tunisians
to prevent incursions under France's policy of "hot pursuit" is
likely to result in demands from all levels of the Neo-Destour
party and government that President Bourghiba take action to
secure arms. The group,which has always argued that Bourghi-
ba's policy is too pro-West, is using Western refusal to sell
arms to Tunisia as evidence that this policy does not pay.
The Tunisians are aware of the American
airlift of arms to the Middle East. They argue that Tunisia is
the best friend the United States has in the Arab world. Am-
bassador Jones anticipates that the Tunisian public may soon
believe the United States and France are collaborating to keep
Tunisia helpless and unarmed for the benefit of France.
11 Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
EGRET-
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
1
5, USSR TO INCREASE OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO EGYPTIAN NAVY
experts for the repair of submarines
and for training their crews would arrive
in Egypt the latter part of this month.
a Russian mission to discuss establish-
ment of two submarine bases would be in Egypt "the beginning of
December and the beginning of April," instead of this month as
originally scheduled.
Comment
Egypt now may intend to establish two sub-
marine bases, one on the Mediterranean
and another on the Red Sea.
Despite the training received by Egyptian
officers and men in Poland, Egypt apparently is incapable of
effectively operating and maintaining its three recently acquired
submarines. The need for assistance provides the USSR with an
opportunity for placing additional technical personnel with the
Egyptian military establishment.
II Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 7
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
*No'
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
TOP SECRET
*id
6. AFGHANISTAN SEEKS AMERICAN AID IN EXPLORING
FOR URANIUM
Reference:
Afghan Foreign Minister Naim on 3 Sep-
tember asked American Ambassador
Mills whether the United States could aid
Afghanistan in exploring for fissionable
materials either by air survey or by other means. He stated
that there were indications of such materials in the northern
AFGHANISTAN
11 SEPTEMBER 1957
IRAN
IRAN
Broad gauge railroad
Narrow gauge railroad
11 Sept 57
TASHKENT
N-1,1
PAKISTAN
�FERGHANA
����.JAMMU
PAKISTAN� AND
- - Araivon
� KASHMIR
(Status in dispute)
������
CHINA
70910 4
PAL
Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 8
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
-lJi,audit...../ IL JO 1.
New' NrS
part of the country, though he seemed uninformed on the
precise location. If such materials are found, he said, his
government would like the United States to assist in devel--
oping them.
In 1955, privately employed American
geologists discovered deposits of uranium in the Chakhansur
area along the Helmand River, near the Iranian border in the
southwestern tip of Afghanistan. These deposits may as yet
be unknown to the Afghan government. There is no known con-
nection between these deposits in southwestern Afghanistan
and others near Ferghana� in the Soviet Uzbek Republic north-
east of Afghanistan. However, the Hindu Kush mountain range
which rises near Ferghana and runs through Afghanistan may
contain additional deposits of uranium.
Ambassador Mills notes that Afghanistan
is apparently offering the United States the first opportunity to
assist in exploration and development. He comments that Kabul
will probabl turn to the USSR if the United States displays no
interest.
11 Sept 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
1.11-1
vier' ',Roo
7. SARIT FOLLOWERS REPORTEDLY RESIGN FROM
THAI GOVERNMENT PARTY
Comment on:
Forty-six appointed members of the
�Thai National Assembly led by Army
Commander in Chief Sarit have re-
signed en masse from the governing
Seri-Manangkhasila party, according to press reports. Re-
ports state that 18 other appointed deputies are planning to
take similar action.
Sarit, who recently resigned as defense
minister, may have ordered them to leave the government
party as a pressure tactic to hasten Police Director General
Phao's promised resignation as interior minister. Their mass
resignation might also signal the beginning of a long-rumored
effort by Sarit to overthrow Premier Phibun by parliamentary
means.
Even if they threw in their lot with the
opposition, the votes of the 46 officers would not tip the bal-
ance against the government. Should Sarit exert his maximum
influence, however, it is possible that enough additional Seri-
Manangkhasila members would bolt the party to result in the
government's downfall.
Before Sarit undertook any action to over-
throw the government in the assembly, he would probably make
preparations to prevent countermeasures by the Phao faction.
11 Sept 57
1
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714
/07/21;02 2,912a1.2i�3153
j),
tdoet//
,3; TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03153714