CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/08/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: JAN 1958 - NOV 1958
• Keywords: TAIWAN STRAITS
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00260604
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: August 6, 1958

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6 August 1958
Copy No, C- 57
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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6 AUGUST 1958
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC ,
Khrushchev's latest communications
reflect Moscow's desire for a forum
to denounce Western policies in Mid-
dle East before sense of crisis fades;
no indication that Khrushchev plans
to attend UN session.
Chinese Communists further increase
jet fighter strength in Taiwan Strait
area.
USSR has resumed arms shipments to
Syria.
II. ASIA-AFRICA
jordan - King Husayn orders more
army units into Amman to prop up
security.
Algerian rebels planning attack on
Europeans on or about 20 August
Pakistan - President Mirza and former
Prime Minister Suhrawardy have ham-
� mered out a political truce,
III. THE WEST
British officials fear effect on their
forces in Jordan if US troops withdraw
from Lebanon.
Plotting continues in Paraguay; Pres-
ident Stroessner has ordered arrests,
and he retains loyalty of the military.
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6 August 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
*Latest Khrushchev letters: Having failed to force the
United States and Britain to accept Soviet terms for five-
power summit talks, Khrushchev now hopes to use a special
session of the UN General Assembly to denounce American
and British actions in the Middle East before events bring
about a further easing in the crisis atmosphere which
Moscow seeks to maintain. Khrushchev apparently had
hoped to use a five -power heads -of -government meeting
to gain Western recognition of the USSR's claim to a ma-
jor voice in Middle Eastern affairs; this effort appears
to have been temporarily suspended. His letters contain
no indication that he plans to appear before the General
Assembly to present the USSR's case personally.
(Page 1)
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Communist China - Taiwan: Twenty-nine Chinese Corn-
munist jet fighters were photographed on 4 August on Lungthi
airfield, about 30 miles inland from Amoy, according to the
Chinese Nationalist Air Force. This move places Communist
fighters directly opposite Taiwan and in the immediate vicinity
of the major Nationalist-held offshore islands for the first
time. On 27 and 29 July, at least 36
MIG's moved into Swatow, another of the Chinese Commul.st
coastal airfields opposite Taiwan.
The build-up in the Communist air defense.posture is
probably designed to gain control of the air in Fukien Prov-
ince and over the offshore islands as well. In addition, the
Communists have improved their capability to interdict sup-
port for the Nationalist-held offshore islands. The greatest
danger at the moment is that the Nationalists may react vigor-
ously to any further Communist air moves, particularly into
the coastal airfields in Fukien Province. However, Chiang
Kai-shek told the US ambassador in Taipei he would honor his
commitments to consult with US authorities before ordering
any attacks on the mainland. He requested additional mili-
tary equipment and a US "show of force."
(Page 4) (Map)
USSR - UAR: Soviet arms including 25 tanks--possibly
T-54's--are again being shipped to Syria. Three shiploads
of military equipment were delivered to Latakia in July, the
first such shipments since last May. Another vessel was un-
loading arms as of 2 August and a fifth is en route to the port.
(Page 6)
II. ASIK-AFRICA
Jordan: The position of King Husayn's government con-
tinues to deteriorate. Should the present pro-Western gov-
ernment fall, action by Israel and the UAR to secure portions
of Jordanian territory seems almost inevitable. The King
has brought more army units into the capital to prop up local
security. (Page 7)
6 Aug 58
DAILY BRIEF ii
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Algeria: The Algerian rebels are reported to be plan-
ning an attack on the European population on or about 20
August. (Page 9)
1,
Pakistan: Intensive political maneuvering apparently
has culminated in an agreement between President Mirza
and his chief rival, former Prime Minister Suhrawardy.
This should improve political stability and make it more
likely that the national elections actually will be held as ex-
pected in February. The present government of Prime
Minister Noon is to continue until elections. Suhrawardy
would then become prime minister and support Mirzais re-
election. (Page 10)
III. THE WEST
Britain -Jordan: British officials show increasing
anxiety over, the position of British troops in Jordan, and
hope that the US will ccntinue to retain forces in Lebanon, or
else send some to Jordan. Establishment of 'aregular sup-
ply route through Aqaba lessens the impact of Israel's banning
of overflights.
(Page 11)
Paraguay: The government claims it has evidence of
several subversive plots, including an attempt on the life of
President Stroessner. The President has ordered many ar-
rests; and the military, which seems loyal to the regime,
can probably assure the inauguration of the dictator for a se-
cond term on 15 August. (Page 12)
6 Aug 58
DAILY BRIEF iii
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Taiwan Strait Situation
On 4 August, at least 29 Chinese Communist jet fighters
were sighted on Lungchi Airfield, about 30 miles from the
coast in the Amoy area. On 27 July, at least 36 jet fighters
of the Canton-based 18th Air Division flew to Swatow's Cheng-
hai Airfield, flight
activity in the Liencheng area on 2 August which suggests
that aircraft may also be operating from Liencheng Airfield,
about 125 miles northwest of Amoy. Other air activity has
included a flight of about a regiment of jet light bombers into
Shanghai from the north, but this may be a training exercise.
There have been no significant reflections of unusual
ground force activity in the Taiwan Strait area. The launch-
ing of a direct assault against the Quemoys, where Commu-
nist strength is about equal to the Nationalist forces, would
require additional troops, but these could be brought in rap-
idly over the Yingtan-Amoy rail line. Communist troops in
the Matsu area outnumber the Nationalists by two to one,
but no activity indicative of military preparations has been
detected in this area.
There have been no changes in naval strength in the Fukien
area.
While the activities of other forces do not reflect an in-
tention to initiate major, hostile moves against the Chinese
Nationalists, Peiping has the capability to do so at any time.
A recently renewed flurry of propaganda urging Taiwan's "lib-
eration" appears to have subsided since Khrushchev's recent
trip to Peiping, but the Chinese Communists have professed
concern that the Nationalists are planning military action
against the mainland.
In a conversation on 4 August with Ambassador Drumright
and Admiral Smoot, Chiang Kai-shek said he will continue to
honor his treaty commitments to the United States which re-
quire consultation with US authorities before ordering an attack
6 Aug 58
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on the occupied airfields. However, Chiang regards the
occupation of the airfields as a great threat, and he thinks
that Communist military action should not be ruled out.
Some elements among the Chinese Nationalists are re-
ported to be urging retaliation, and precipitous action is al-
ways possible. During the conversation Chiang asked for
additional aid, including provision of Sidewinder air-to-air
missiles for his air force and the permanent stationing of
US F-100D aircraft on Taiwan. Admiral Smoot, on the basis
of conversations with Chinese Nationalist military officials,
says they regard strategic control of the Taiwan Straits as
"lost" and the threat to the offshore islands "imminent."
On learning of the occupation of Lungchi airfield by the
Communists, Minister of Defense Yu Ta-wei requested
Admiral Smoot to transmit a message requesting the Presi-
dent of the United States to issue a public statement to the
effect that he would consider an "attack on Quemoy or Matsu
at this time to be a threat to Taiwan."
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