CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/04/29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03155137
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: April 29, 1958

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29 April 1958
Copy No. 140
LIGENCE
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29 APRIL 1958
L THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR - Precise character of 27
April Tyura Tam range activity
still undetermined.
Egypt negotiating rourchase of Soviet
jet airliners. , . 0
Recent troop withdrawals from Eastern
Europe leave Soviet military strength
in that area unimpaired.
I I. ASIA-AFRICA
Indonesia - North Celebes dissidents
land on Morotai Island; dissident air
activity continues.
Despite rumors to the contrary, Nehru
is probably not considering retirement
at this time.
TinP PDD1T
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Lebanese Government bargaining for
more American aid, partly in an effort
to improve relations with Nasir.
Top South Vietnamese officials and
American civilians targeted in Commu-
nist assassination plans.
IIL THE WEST
Two major parties in West Indies Fed-
eration wooing Communist leader in
British Guiana; his entry into federation
would give him the balance-of-power
position.
,
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
29 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Tyura Tam Activity of 27 April: As of 2200 EDT
28 April, insufficient information precluded a determina-
tion of whether the Tyura Tam range activity of 27 April
was a launching of some type of space vehicle or was a
uni ue rangewide practice countdown.
(Page 1)
USSR - UAR: Moscow has agreed to provide the UAR
with four TU-104 jet airliners in 195iy. A formal agreement
of purchase, however, has not been concluded. The USSR
is asking about $3,000,000 for each airliner, but the Egyp-
tian negotiator in Moscow has recommended an offer of only
$2,000,000. The deal may be concluded during Nasir's
to Moscow beginning 29 April.
(Page 2)
Eastern Europe - Soviet military strength: Recent with-
drawals from East Germany and Hungary have left Soviet
military strength in the Eastern European area unimpaired;
48 air regiments and at least 28 ground line divisions remain.
The bulk of this strength is in East Germany, where the
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capability of the ground forces was recently improved by
an extensive reorganization and by a new system of ac-
cepting only trained personnel. The 24th Air Army in
East Germany is probably the best of the Soviet tactical
air armies. In Hungary, the USSR maintains twice its
prerebellion strength; in Poland and Rumania, Soviet
strength has not been reduced. (Page 3)
II. ASIA -AFRICA
*Indonesia: North Celebes dissident troops landed
on Morotai Island on 28 April and are advancing against
light resistance, Dissi-
dent aircraft, singly and in pairs, have carried out sev-
eral successful attacks in the last few days on shipping
and ground installations in the Borneo, Celebes, and
Moluccas areas. President Sukarno, apparently con-
templating an early end of the military campaign, is
said to be planning another interregional conference.
In this and other ways, he will exert every effort to
maintain his power position and to promote his political
theories, with the strong backing of the Indonesian Com-
munist party. Some army circles have recently shown
signs of uneasiness about government policies, and one
ranking officer recently has suggested that elections be post-
poned for several years--presumably to limit further
Communist gains--and that Indonesia should look to the
army for leadership. (Maio)
India: Prime Minister Nehru's decision to take a
prolonged vacation this summer probably is not a prel-
ude to his retirement, despite rumors to that effect.
During his absence, the 68-year-old prime minister
will keep in touch with major problems. Other Indian
29 Apr 58
DAILY BRIEF ii
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leaders hope his absence will increase the confidence of
members of the cabinet in their ability to run their depart-
ments without Nehru's constant guidance.
*Lebanon: The government is bargaining to obtain ad-
ditional American economic aid this fiscal year. Foreign
Minister Malik has "predicted" that if Lebanon does not
immediately receive "substantial" aid--about $15,000,000 in
his view--''Point Four can pack up and go home." Rejec-
tion of the US aid might lead to a general repudiation of the
"Eisenhower Doctrine." During the next two weeks, the
government will consider its reply to a parliamentary com-
mittee resolution that Lebanon should obtain an amount of
aid large enough to "justify" its continued acceptance. This
resolution apparently was proposed largely as part of an ef-
fort to improve Lebanon's relations with Nasir and the UAR.
South Vietnam: President Diem, his brother, and
several cabinet members have been marked as targets for
assassination by the Communist underground in Saigon.
Further statements by a Communist defector, who earlier
reported that American general officers were to be assas-
sinated, have revealed that these broader plans are aimed
at US civilians as well as South Vietnamese government of-
ficials.
III. THE WEST
West Indies: Each of the two principal political par-
ties in the new West Indies Federation is trying to bolster
its position by courting Cheddi Jagan, Communist minister
of trade and industry in British Guiana. If British Guiana,
which is politically dominated by Jagan, decides to join
the federation, Jagan would hold the balance of power in
the federal leaislative assembly inaugurated on 22 April.
(Page 5)
29 Apr 58
DAILY BRIEF iii
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Current Analysis of Tyura Tam Range Operation
Of 27 April
Based on information and analysis available on 27 April,
the Guided Missile Intelligence Committee (GMIC) concluded
that the eight-hour countdown at the Soviet Union's Tyura
Tam ballistic missile test range, terminating at approx-
imately 0300 EDT, 27 April, could have been one of sev-
eral types of operations, but most likely was the launching
of a type of space vehicle. The possibility of a practice
launching, however, could not be eliminated.
The search for transmission of signals related to any
type of space vehicle is continuing. There is still no infor-
mation sufficient to change GMIC's previous conclusion con-
cerning a possible launching, although the possibility of a
practice countdown has been increased somewhat. If this
activity turns out to be a unique rangewide practice, it is
likely that it was in preparation for an early launching of a
space vehicle in celebration of May Day.
It is expected that the continued analysis and search for
signal data, as well as the passage of time,will permit a
more definitive statement within several days.
*The JCS member of GMIC considers that rangewide prac-
tice is the more likely possibility.
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Egypt Negotiating for Soviet Jet Airliners
Moscow has agreed to provide the UAR with four
TU-104 jet airliners in 1959. A formal agreement of
purchase, however, has not been concluded. The USSR
is asking about $3,000,000 for each airliner, but the
Egyptian negotiator in Moscow has recommended an offer
of only $2,000,000. The deal may be concluded during
Nasir's visit to Moscow beginning 29 April.
The LJAR crews for the planes are to be trained in
the Soviet Union during 1958 if the purchase agreement
is concluded. Misrair--the Egyptian civil airline--al-
ready has arranged to send technicians to the Soviet Union
to examine the jet airliners.
The TU-104, a highly publicized two-engine jet which
was the first of the late-model Soviet transports, may have
already been phased out of production, although a modified
version, the TU-104A, is probably still being produced.
The TU-104 has been criticized in the USSR because it is
costly to operate, noisy, and requires very long runways.
The USSR has announced completion of test flights of
two new turboprop transport aircraft, the IL-18/Moskva and
the AN40/Ukraina. These two aircraft will probably be
put into service on routes now equipped with Soviet TU-104
an, TU-104A jet transports.
29 Apr 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
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Soviet Troop Strength in Eastern Europe
The USSR has taken pains to demonstrate good faith
in regard to the troop withdrawals from East Germany
and Hungary which it announced earlier this year. Suffi-
cient trains have left the Group of Soviet Forces in Ger-
many (GSFG) to transport the 41,000 men designated for
withdrawal. The type and number of units involved also
agree with those specified to be withdrawn. However, to
maintain combat efficiency, some shifts of experienced per-
sonnel and modern equipment were made to units scheduled
to remain in East Germany and Hungary, where reorganiza-
tions took place during 1957.
In East Germany some 345,000 Soviet troops are organ-
ized into 20 line divisions and 22 air regiments with a total
of 955 aircraft. In Hungary at least 60,000 troops--about
twice the prerebellion strength�are organized into four or
more line divisions and nine air regiments having 305 air-
craft. In Poland and Rumania, where the USSR has an-
nounced no plans for the withdrawal of troops, no change
in strength has been noted. Stationed in each country are
35,000 ground troops organized into two line divisions with
support elements. In Poland there are also 14 Soviet air
regiments with 446 aircraft; in Rumania there are five air
regiments with 190 aircraft.
In January, the USSR announced that those troops with-
drawnifrom East Germany and Hungary would be demobilized.
However, some units withdrawn under previous programs
e 'dently have been relocated within the USSR.
C411'
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IL ASIA-AFRICA
Indonesia
Dissident troops of Lt. Col. Sumual's command in
North Celebes made a successful landing on Morotai
Island on 28 April, Supported
by two F-51's, which effectively silenced the light resist-
ance initially made by central government troops, dissi-
dent forces were last reported advancing on a nearby air-
field.
Dissident planes, singly and in pairs, have also car-
ried out a series of successful strikes over the past few
days against governmenttargets on Borneo and East Indo-
nesian islands. On 27 April, a B-26 aircraft severely
damaged a radio station on Ambon Island, set afire three
large fuel storage tanks, and strafed the airfield there. A
B-26 aircraft bombed and strafed the Balikpapan area of
Borneo on 28 April, scoring hits on the airfield and fuel
tanks nearby and blowing up a gunboat. Also hit was a
"large freighter-tanker," presumably the British tanker
press sources have reported sunk. On the same day, a
B-26 attacked the Palu Bay area in Celebes, apparently
sinking two freighters and strafing four others. Ternate
Island and the port of Djailolo, on Halmahera Island, have
also been recent targets.
President Sukarno, apparently confident that the mil-
itary campaign against the dissidents will soon be concluded,
is reported planning another interregional conference. Su-
karno can be expected to make every effort to ensure his
own personal power and the acceptance of his system of
"guided democracy." Some army leaders, however, appar-
ently are maneuvering to improve the army's position, and
a public statement by Brigadier General Djatikusumo, a
deputy chief of staff, has strongly suggested that Indonesia
look to the army for leadership. Djatikusumo reportedly
further stated that "the Communists are getting too strong
and we must stop them," and proposed that national elections--
scheduled for 1959�be postponed for five years.
SE
29 Apr 58 CENTRAL IN LLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4
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II L THE WEST
West Indies Federation Politicians Court British Guiana
Communist Leader
Each of the two principal political parties in the new
West Indies Federation is trying to bolster its position by
courting Cheddi Jagan, Communist minister of trade and
industry in British Guiana. If British Guiana, which is
politically dominated by Jagan, decides to join the federa-
tion, Jagan would hold the balance of power in the federal
legislative assembly inaugurated on 22 April.
Leaders of the opposition Democratic Labor party be-
lieve that, if they obtain Jagan's support, the entry of Brit-
ish Guiana, which would have 8 to 10 seats in the legisla-
ture., would help overcome the narrow margin of the governing
Federal Labor party. In Trinidad, Jagan, an East Indian,
could easily swing the many East Indian voters whichever way
he chooses.
Jagan has been noncommittal so far and appears willing
to bargain further. He may be sufficiently tempted by the
opportunities for exercising wider influence to modify his
previous conditions for bringing British, Guiana into the fed-
eration. The Democratic Labor party gained the impression
that Jagan hopes in any case to get the West Indies legislature
to urge the British to advance British Guiana rapidly toward
complete self-government. Functioning as chief minister, he
has so far cooperated with the British governor, but mean-
while has added more Communists to the leadership of his
party and stepped up its propaganda activity.
SESRE.--T"
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
29 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Tyura Tam Activity of 27 April: As of 2200 EDT
28 April, insufficient information precluded a determina-
tion of whether the Tyura Tam range activity of 27 April
was a launching of some type of space vehicle or was a
uni ue r gewide practice countdown.
(Page 1)
USSR - UAR: Moscow has agreed to provide the UAR
with four TU-104 jet airliners in 1956. A formal agreement
of purchase, however, has not been concluded. The USSR
is asking about $3,000,000 for each airliner, but the Egyp-
tian negotiator in Moscow has recommended an offer of only
$2,000,000. The deal may be concluded during Nasir's visit
to Moscow beginning 29 April.
India: Prime Minister Nehru's decision to take a
prolonged vacation this summer probably is not a prel-
ude to his retirement, despite rumors to that effect.
During his absence, the 68-year-old prime minister
will keep in touch with major problems. Other Indian
leaders hope his absence will increase the confidence of
members of the cabinet in their ability to run their depart-
ments without Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 C03155137