CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/04/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03003519
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: April 7, 1958

Approved
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
#71;
1--J)
7 April 1958
Copy No, 140
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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7 APRIL 1958
L THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR likely to accept Western
proposal of 31 March for presummit
preparatory talks in Moscow at end
of April.
Ehrushchev letter of 4 April to
President intended to initiate public
exchange on nuclear test suspension.
IL ASIA-AFRICA
Cairo orders UAR forces in Lake
Hula area to maintain maximum
readiness.
Indonesia - Sumatran dissidents con-
tinue to lose ground to government
troops.
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III. THE WEST
Cuba - Batista's hold on government
depends on continued support of armed
forces.
Panama - Political opposition attacks
US rights in Canal Zone to embarrass
President de la Guardia.
France - De Gaulle critical of Soviet
ambassador's efforts to cultivate him.
Netherlands - New squabbles mark
steady decline of Dutch Communist
party.
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71,0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
7 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR--summit tactics: The USSR will probably
accept the Western proposal of 31 March to hold pre-
summit reparator talks in Moscow at the end of April
the main subject of a summit conference should
be disarmament and ending preparations for atomic war.
The Soviet leaders appear confident that the public effect
of their unilateral suspension of nuclear tests will weaken
the Western powers' bargaining position and increase pres-
sure on them to accept Soviet terms for both preliminary
negotiations and for a summit conference.
Ithrushchev's letters: Premier Khrushchev's letters
of 4 April to President Eisenhower and Prime Minister
Macmillan were intended to increase the impact of the
USSR's unilateral suspension of nuclear tests and to ini-
tiate a public exchange between the three heads of govern-
ment on this issue. Aside from officially informing the
United States that the effective date of the Soviet suspen-
sion is 31 March, the letter to the President simply sum-
marized Foreign Minister Gromyko's speech and the Su-
preme Soviet resolution of 31 March on the USSR's decision
to suspend tests.
TOP ET
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II. ASIA-AFRICA
Israel-UAR: Syrian and Israeli forces remain in de-
fensive postures in the Hula area, apparently pending re-
sults of the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization's
survey of the Israeli drainage project bordering the demil-
itarized zone. Cairo has ordered UAR forces at the front
to avoid provocation but has instructed ground and air units
to remain in a state of maximum readiness. While neither
side appears ready to provoke the other, Israeli determina-
tion to proceed with the drainage project, despite Syrian
ob'ections, makes an eventual incident likely.
(Page 1)
Indonesia: Dissident forces in Sumatra, despite stronger
defensive efforts, apparently are continuing to lose ground to
government troops advancing westward toward Padang and
Bukittinggi. The recent resumption of government air activ-
ity poses a further threat to the dissident position. The cen-
tral government is planning to send additional troops to Celebes,
where the dissidents lost two towns recently, but action is be-
ing delayed for lack of shipping.
(Page 2) (Map)
III. THE WEST
Cuba: Batista's hold on power will be secure as long
as the armed forces continue to support him. There are
dissident elements in the military, however, and growing
demoralization among the troops. Sustained rebel harass-
ment and growing popular demands for a peaceful solution
could convince armed forces leaders that the easiest solu-
tion would be the removal of the President.
Panama Canal: Attacks on United States rights in the
Canal Zone are again being used by opponents of President
de la Guardia to weaken and discredit the moderate and pro-
American President. The latest thrust is a petition to the
7 Apr 58
DAILY BRIEF
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>to
Panamanian Government for oil and mineral exploration
rights in the US-controlled Canal Zone. Denial of the
petition would open De la Guardia to charges that he had
betrayed his country's basic "rights."
(Page 3)
France: French dissident Communist leader Auguste
Lecoeur accepted an invitation to meet De Gaulle on 3 April
because of an alleged desire to impress upon the general
the dangers of dealing with the present Soviet leadership,
De Gaulle characterized Soviet Ambassador Vinogradov's
recent visits to him as an effort to "soften him up" and said
he told Vinogradov that he feels the USSR is behind France's
difficulties in Algeria.
Netherlands: A long-smoldering struggle for power in
the Communist party has now come to a head with the ex-
pulsion of four prominent members�including the chairman--
and the demotion of a fifth. The new crisis follows the party's
steady postwar decline in strength and prestige, and a fur-
ther loss of votes in the nationwide provincial elections last
month. (Page 4)
7 Apr 58
Top
DAILY BRIEF
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
IL ASIA-AFRICA
Israel - United Arab Republic
Israeli drainage operations in the Lake Hula area have
not been resumed, and Syrian and Israeli forces remain in
defensive postures, apparently awaiting the results of the
United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization's survey of
the drainage project bordering the demilitarized zone.
Israeli activities may also be held up because of the Pass-
over holidays and the necessity of repairs to the dredge
damaged in the incidents of last week.
Cairo has ordered its army commander in the Syrian
region, Brig. Gen. Faysal� to issue strict orders against
firing on Israeli troops in the disputed area. Faysal was
informed that, although UAR policy is to avoid provocation,
its forces are to be in a state of maximum readiness, and
troops in Egypt are ready to intervene in case of a serious
incident. It was also stated that preparations include read-
iness for "air action against Israel." This air policy state-
ment appears to be a warning order, rather than an opera-
tional command.
While neither side appears ready to provoke the other,
Israel's expressed determination to proceed with the drain-
age plan, regardless of the circumstances, and Syria's op-
position to these operations make an eventual incident
likely. The apparent willingness of the UAR to respond
to what it believes to be provocation heightens the serious-
ness of the situation.
7 Apr 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 1
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BORNEO '
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Indonesian Situation
The milita commander in the Tapanuli area of
North Sumatra was again ordered by the army
chief of staff to take firm action against dissident troops
in his territory. Although the local commander has posed
as a neutral, his continued cooperation with the dissidents
in giving them sanctuary and apparently allowing them to
recruit additional personnel has been a serious impedi-
ment to Djakarta's clearing operations in the north.
The dissident command in Central Sumatra has ac-
knowledged further setbacks in its attempts to stem the
central government's westward advance toward Padang
and Bukittinggi, at the same time claiming a counterat-
tack against government-held Pakanbaru. Padang radio
states that the Padang-Palembang road is in imminent
danger of being cut by central government troops moving
southward from Taluk, although Djakarta claimed several
days ago to have accomplished this. Central Sumatra has
been receiving gasoline from the southern command via this
route. The recent resumption of government air activity
after several, days' lull and the reported establishment of
Pakanbaru as the air force's staging area for Sumatran op-
erations pose further threats to the dissidents' position.
A further possible indication of government planning
for operations against the west coast of Central Sumatra is
security conditions on Siberut
Island. A survey team reported to the chief of naval opera-
tions that the local government and people of Siberut "ex-
press their loyalty to the central government," and recom-
mended that several armed men be stationed there to main-
tain security�
continued
preparations for increased operations in North Celebes, but
als9, a shortage of shipping for the early transport of addi-
yftal troops to that area.
TO
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III. THE WEST
New Move Against Panama's President
The opposition has made a new thrust designed to
embarrass pro-United States President de la Guardia
on the controversial issue of sovereignty over the Panama
Canal Zone. Ramon Gamboa, a member of the opposition
Liberal party, has petitioned the Panamanian Government
for oil and mineral exploration rights in the Canal Zone.
He backs up the petition with the familiar nationalistic
claims that Panama never relinquished sovereignty in the
zone and that US rights there are limited to those necessary
for the operation, maintenance, defense, and sanitation of
the canal. He also notes that existing treaties make no pro-
vision for subsoil exploitation. If De la Guardia rejects the
petition, his opponents will accuse him of betraying his coun-
try's rights and aspirations.
De la Guardia's opponents are led by powerful and
wealthy families of the oligarchy who are fighting to main-
tain and expand their control over the sources of political
and economic power. They have found that exploitation of
the nationalistic issue of Panama's "rights" to some control
of and greater benefits from canal operations not only hits
De la Guardia at a vulnerable point, but also gives them com-
mon cause with other population groups. The thousands of
slum dwellers in Panama's two largest cities already tend
to blame their poverty and Panama's critical economic prob-
lems on US control of the canal.
The 1903 treaty with Panama granted the US in per-
petuity "all the rights, power, and authority" in the Canal
Zone which the US would have "if it were the sovereign"
there. There are no proven petroleum deposits either in
the zone or in Panama.
7 Apr 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
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16.74.4 1
Netherland Communist Party Crisis
The Netherlands Communist party is in danger of
disintegrating as a result of a bitter struggle for lead-
ership. The conflict came to a head on 5 April with the
expulsion of four prominent party members--including
the chairman--and the demotion of a fifth. Four of the
five are members of the seven-man Communist delega-
tion in the lower house of parliament.
Secretary General Paul De Groot has accused his
opponents in the party of attempting to seize control
with a "rightist bourgeois" policy, but. the real issue
is over trade union policy. De Groot has been pressing
for dissolution of the party's trade union affiliate (EVC)
and for Communist infiltration into other unions, but he
has been facing strong resistance from the EVC leaders,
who would thus lose their jobs and who have long resented
his dictation.
De Groot seems to have overcome this increasingly
formidable opposition for the time being at least, but the
struggle will cost the Communists still further loss of
prestige. The party is estimated to have fallen to a post-
war low of some 18,000 members and, in the provincial
elections last month, polled only slightly more than 4 per-
cent of the vote.
7 Apr 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
7 April 1958
DAILY 'BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR--summit tactics: e USSR will probably
accept the Western proposal of-'31 March to hold pre-
summit brebaratorvialks in koscow at the end of Anril
tne main subject
be disarmament and endi
The Soviet leaders appe
of their unilateral susp
the Western powers' b
sure on them to accep
negotiations and for a
a summit conference should
g preparations for atomic war.
r confident that the public effect
sion of nuclear tests will weaken
gaining position and increase pres-
Soviet terms for both preliminary
summit conference.
Khrushchev's letters: Premier Khrushchev's letters
of 4 April to President Eisenhower and Prime Minister
Macmillan were intended to increase the impact of the
USSR's unilateral suspension of nuclear tests and to ini-
tiate a public exchange between the three heads of govern-
ment on this issue. Aside from officially informing the
United States that the effective date of the Soviet suspen-
sion is 31 March, the letter to the President simply sum-
marized Foreign Minister Gromyko's speech and the Su-
preme Soviet resolution of 31 March on the USSR's decision
to suspend tests.
Cuba: Batista's hold on power will be secure as long
as the armed forces continue to support him. There are
dissident elements in the military, however, and growing
demoralization among the troops. Sustained rebel harass-
ment and growing popular demands for a peaceful solution
could convince armed forces leaders that the easiest solu-
tion would be the removal of the President.
TOP --RET
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