CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/08/06

Document Type: 
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
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 6, 1958
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULL[15777404].pdf467.93 KB
Body: 
Release: 2020/01/23 C002606047,7/1/27/17/////7/17/1// 'Os /41/ //.;/ jr/7 TOP SECRET 6 August 1958 Copy No, C- 57 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN /././ ////,/// 7.J 13 //////// /- / / , / 3.3(h)(2) TO: S C 20-6 I b .4()_REVFN'=.7-1 / / / pproved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 I tJt LA...RC. 1 , TOP SECRET pproved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 �rtirr�S 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. TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 � / � 4Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO0260604 � / I / -� TOP SECRET VA CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Is 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) .0 � /z�?04,7/7:077',,,.,7%7�//:77 //,;,,z7/.//// � 2/ ; '� zz7A � , pproved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 7; �"'1 , , % op 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 -TOP 5ECRE- , /, A A � pproved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO0260604- "A 1 cpSZTTO7ka=riarkiliii-COOigOizar TOP SECRgJL- 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 TOP SECRET e Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 , I %AI &.7ILI�ort.rd =I Area of major naval activity 000 Communist troop strength F+ Piston fighter Jet fighter + Piston light bomber + Jet light bomber 000 Nationalist troop strength Ground-attack 5 AUGUST 195S 30003 80806 Hankow -1 ilk HONG KONG Nanchang �Canton enche Swato SOUTH CHINA SEA Nanking Hangchow Chuhsien. Foochowe..., TOP SECRET � Wenchow.o o - 0 7I .7; a - 0 STATUTE I MILES �������Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 I J.C1-11f, 1 a 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 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4 mmimilimiliiimApproved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604 I Ur JCL-Kt, 1 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." TOP SECRET 6 Aug 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5 mimmilimimmilikpproved for Release: 2020/01/23 C00260604