CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/10/17

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03190615
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: October 17, 1957

" Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615r
.L i-7 040:04,10/
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
17 October 1957
p4 3.5(c)
5(c)
3.3(h)(2
3
wff ffz rA
Copy No 138
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
[[A: AS[[CLA.
CHANGED TO: TS 4.Cifo
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AWE-I: HR 70-;,do,
DATE. go'rKEVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
lb
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
An%lk
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C031190615
*410 '4110/
CONTENTS
caZ, 1. GROMYKO STRONGY SUPPORTS SYRIAN COMPLAINT
IN UN (page 3)n
2. ZHUKOV REPORTEDLY HEADS SOVIET SECRET POLICE
(page 4).
642_ 3. 71317ION OF CONTINUED SOVIET PRESSURE ON SUDAN
(page 5).
71.0 4. YUGOSLAVS SUSPICIOUS OF SOVIET BLOC REPRESENTATIVES
(page 6).
21_0 5. NEW TENSION IN TURKISH-SYRIAN SITUATION
(page 7).
ito 6. KING SAUD IRKED BY EGYPTIAN TROOP MOVE TO SYRIA
(page 8)0
X-0 7. SITUATION IN LIBYA
8. THAI POLITICAL SITUATION
9. THE SITUATION IN ARGENTINA
17 Oct 57
(page 9).
(page 10).
(page 11).
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
- -
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Agri
1. GROMYKO STRONGLY SUPPORTS SYRIAN
COMPLAINT IN UN
Comment on:
Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko in a
personal letter to the president of the
UN General Assembly on 16 October
stated that the USSR is "prepared to take
part with its forces" in suppressing any
Turkish intervention against Syria, and called for immediate
investigation of the "intolerably dangerous" situation along the
Turkish-Syrian border. The letter coincided with and was in-
tended to give strong support to Syria's submission of Turkish
"military threats" for formal UN action. The Syrian request
was reportedly the result of considerable prodding from Gromyko
and other Soviet officials in New York and Damascus.
The Soviet demarche on this occasion is
similar to its warnings to Eden, Mollet, and Ben-Gurion last
November in support of Egypt, which were also within a UN
context. The USSR is using the UN as a forum to blame the
United States for any hostilities or claim credit if there are
none.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
-CONFIDENT-ha
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
*Pi
2., ZHUKOV REPORTEDLY HEADS SOVIET SECRET POLICE
Comment on:
Marshal Georgiy Zhukov "took over con-
trol" of the Soviet Committee of State
Security (KGB) sometime during August.
There is no supporting evidence.
The KGB, a government committee which
was established in 1954 to take over the secret police functions
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), has been administered
by I. A. Serov. The report could reflect the assignment of re-
sponsibility for general security affairs within the party presid-
ium to Zhukov. There is a possibility that Zhukov gained super-
vision over the KGB as his price for supporting Khrushchev dur-
ing the purge of the antiparty group last June.
With direct control of both the armed forces
and the secret police, Zhukov would be in a powerful position
to frustrate any ambitions Khrushchev might have for personal
dictatorship. Khrushcheves actions during the last two months,
however, have suggested an enhancement rather than a reduc-
tion in his authority.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
SFCR FT
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 003190615
NNW
3. INDICATION OF CONTINUED SOVIET PRESSURE
ON THE SUDAN
Comment on:
The USSR is dissatisfied with the
Sudan's failure to accept its economic
offers of last August and has suggested
Soviet-Sudanese ministerial discussions,
according to an article in the Sudanese press by a pro-Com-
munist Sudanese editor who is on an official visit to Moscow.
The USSR is said to be ready to confer on projects costs and
technicians for power, textile, communications, and irriga-
tion projects. Soviet Ambassador Teplov has postponed his
return to Khartoum in order to participate in informal talks
with pro-Egyptian Sudanese Minister of Interior Rahman, who
is now en route to Moscow.
There has been continuing pressure by
the opposition on the Khalil government to bring the Sudanese
economy into closer contact with the USSR or risk charges
that it is courting economic disaster. Moscow and Cairo con-
sider next February's Sudanese national elections an important
opportunity for strengthening pro-Egyptian elements in the gov-
ernment.
Moscow concluded its first purchase of
Sudanese cotton in June and leaked to the Sudanese press the
text of its August offer, probably to the discomfiture of the
Khalil government. The Sudan has a large surplus of cotton
this year which it has been unable to market in the West.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 003190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
NINO
4. YUGOSLAVS SUSPICIOUS OF SOVIET
BLOC REPRESENTATIVES
Comment on:
The Slovene security police headquarters
ordered all commanders to
place unaer strict and "completely discreet"
surveillance "persons of foreign Eastern
representations" accredited to Yugoslavia who enter their areas.
in particular "Klimiceva"--possi-
bly the Soviet military attache.
These orders indicate that the Yugoslays
continue to regard with suspicion the activities of Soviet bloc
representatives despite the new accord between Moscow and
Belgrade. A major Soviet charge leveled against the Yugoslays
in 1948 was Yugoslav surveillance of Soviet officials, an activity
which Moscow denounced as incompatible with relations between
socialist states.
Soviet Defense Minister Zhukov and his en-
tourage were inspecting Yugoslav army maneuvers in Slovenia
at the time these orders were dispatched.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
5. NEW TENSION IN TURKISH-SYRIAN SITUATION
, Turkish forces on the:Syrian
frontier now number 502000 rather than the 379000 reported
earlier.
On the Syrian side, no military build-up
at the frontier has been noted, However, Damascus' formal
requests for UN discussion of the Turkish threat, and the
proclamation of the state of emergency in the Syrian army on
16 October, suggest that Syria is becoming increasingly con-
cerned over possible Turkish action. According to press re-
ports from Damascus and Cairo, Damascus in declaring a
state of emergency has also begun extensive distribution of
arms to popular resistance groups, which are largely leftist
dominated.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
11.4-4
*01
6. KING SAUD IRKED BY EGYPTIAN TROOP MOVE
TO SYRIA
Comment on:
Chamoun who,
the news of the move to Saud
Saud appeared disturbed
calling the move "unnecessarily
provocative." Saudis major concern appeared to be the fail-
ure of the Syrians and Egyptians to consult him, especially
in view of the Egyptian-Syrian-Saudi pact and Arab joint com-
mand arrangements.
ng
Saud is "angered" over the movement
of Egyptian troops to Syria apparently
originated with Lebanese President
conveyed
A press report originating in Damascus,
that Saudi troops will be sent to Syria as a gesture to balance
the Egyptian movement has been denied. The dispatch of a
token force would not be out of line, however, with Saud's ef-
forts to win the Syrians to moderation by offering to sunnort
them against outside aggression.
the King
is more convinced than ever that he is the only person in the
Arab world who can materially lessen the bad feeling between
the West and the Egyptian-Syrian bloc.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
SECI2rT
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
*ftlif
7. SITUATION IN LIBYA
Comment on:
Libya's formal acceptance on 14 October
of an Egyptian gift of arms and armored
cars is a further indication of a weaken-
ing of Western influence in Libya, This
action underlines Egypt's return to official
favor in Libya, which less than a year ago dismissed the
Egyptian military attach�or engaging in subversive activi-
ties.
King Idriss probably continues suspicious
of the motives of Egypt and the USSR. The public and private
statements of Prime Minister Kubaar and members of his gov-
ernment, however, give the impression of a turn toward neutral-
ism. Repeated press attacks against the West have received only
occasional censure. The promised replacement of Egyptian
schoolteachers in Libya by less anti-Western teachers has not
taken place.
The Libyans have not followed up their pre-
viously reported intention to request renegotiation of American
base rights. They may be saving such a move for forthcoming
talks on the relative roles of Britain and the United States in pro-
viding military assistance. When the subject is brought up, the
Libyans almost certainly will refer again to pressure on them to
accept Soviet aid offers. Libya now appears to be cooperating
with the French in easing local tension on the Algerian border,
and a French official stated on 14 October that the situation there
was not serious. There is no indication, however, that Libya
will stop_ cooperating with Egypt in furnishin arms and refuge
to the Algerian rebels.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
'41101
8. THAI POLITICAL SITUATION
Comment on:
Although Thai elections are less than two
months away, prospective candidates
for the 160 seats at stake in the National
Assembly are cautious in presenting their
position. Much of Thailand is still under
martial law and many candidates are re-
luctant to begin their campaigns until they
are more certain of the latitude that will be
permitted them by the Sarit military group.
While political alignments following the
16 September coup are still somewhat blurred, it seems likely
that the conservative Democratic party, the pro-Sarit Unionist
party. and the left-wing Socialist United Front will be the prin-
cipal protagonists in the coming elections. There is some in-
dication, however, that Marshal Sarit, the armed forces com-
mander and actual ruler of Thailand, does not entirely trust
the Unionist party, which he organized last June, and may se-
cretly subsidize other candidates as an alternative grouping
should the Unionists prove inadequate for his purposes.
There are growing indications that the pro-
visional government may soon move against the leftist press.
The decision to do so was reportedly taken on the insistence of
Premier Pote and with Sarites approval. Interior Minister Pra-
pat informed the press on 8 October he believed that a "certain
number of newspapers in Thailand receive Communist subsidies."
This strongly suggests that the planned government crackdown is
imminent.
Sarit is currently on a 15-day vacation at
a seaside resort. Although his close associates insist that he
is being consulted on all major decisions, there is a growing body
of evidence indicating that he may be gravely ill.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615
%poi iienf
9. THE SITUATION IN ARGENTINA
Comment on:
The Aramburu regime has alerted pro-
incial governors to possible disorders
*nstigated by Peronista elements on 17
ctober--the twelfth anniversary of Peron%
rice power--an is holding emergency meetings with labor
leaders in an attempt to avert a general strike called for 22
October.
A number of progovernment union leaders
who helped break the Peronista-backed general strike of 27
September reportedly have joined forces with the Peronistas
in demanding an end to the government's wage freeze. They
apparently fear that continued economic hardship will lead to
their losing control of the union membership. This situation
presents as great a threat to the stability of the Aramburu re-
gime as the reported discontent of conservative military ele-
ments who are demanding a crackdown on labor agitation.
a group of retired army generals is laying plans for a counter-
coup should the conservatives seize on the current unrest to
oust Aramburu and postpone the general elections scheduled
for next February.
17 Oct 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 11
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03190615