CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/04/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03155136
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: April 23, 1958

Approved for Release 2019/iiii03155,1me3,6
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23 April 1958
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Copy No. 140
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23 APRIL 1958
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Soviet ground forces being reor-
ganized to meet demands of both
nuclear and conventional warfare.
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Indonesia - Djakarta planning at-
tacks in North Celebes. I
Dissident air raids on
Morotai and Halmahera islands re-
ported.
Possibility of incidents in Jerusa-
lem on 24 April may be increased
by Jordan-Israel naval clash in
Aqaba.
Imam of Yemen curtails Crown Prince
Badr's activities, but no major shift
in external relations likely. 0
0 Japanese prime minister rejects
Idea of nuclear bases out of politi-
cal expediency; his defense policy
may be set back.
0 Cameroun - African government
under French tutelage alienating
populace with strong-arm tactics
against guerrillas.
III. THE WEST
Nicaraguan exile activity in Hon-
duras may lead to renewed con-
troversy over disputed border
area.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
23 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Soviet ground forces: Standard Soviet ground force
rifle, tank, and mechanized divisions have been reor-
ganized to an undetermined extent into motorized rifle,
tank, and heavy tank divisions. The new structure pro-
vides in general for a higher proportion of armor and
transport to infantry. Although the new organization does
not reflect a radical change in concept, such as that of the
American "pentomic" organization, it indicates a desire
for an armed force equally suitable for conventional or
nuclear warfare. (Page 1)
1I, ASIA-AFRICA
Indonesia: Resistance to government forces in Central
Sumatra was weak and disorganized as of 21 April,
Dissident leaders, however, are expected to make a stand
at Solok where their strength is reported as 1,800 men.
Dissident air strikes on 20 April against the airfields on
Morotai and Halmahera islands, and against nearby Ternate,
have been reported.
In North Celebes, Djakarta is planning an attack against
Gorontalo and its airfields, which are located 120 miles south-
west of Menado. (Page 2) (Map)
Israel-Jordan: Despite Israeli assurances that the armor
being assembled in the Jerusalem area for the parade on 24
April will not carry ammunition and that the marching troops'
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small arms will not be loaded, tension among the civilian
population of the Arab city remains high. The possibility
of incidents may have been increased by a clash between
minor Jordanian and Israeli naval craft in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Yemen: The Imam of Yemen apparently wishes to im-
prove his relations with Saudi Arabia and possibly with West-
ern countries. He appears to have restricted at least
temporarily the authority of Crown Prince Badr, leading
promoter of Yemeni ties with the Soviet bloc. However,
the Yemenis are evidently not considering any reduction in
the scale of Soviet bloc aid, and the opportunities presented
by unrest in Aden are likely to lead them into further and-
Western actions no matter what the Tmam's intentions are
at the moment. (Page 3)
Japan: Prime Minister Kishi, who has been trying
quietly to foster Tapanese acceptance of a modern defense
establishment, was forced on 21 April by a Socialist attack
in the Diet to make a public statement that he would reject
all attempts to establish nuclear bases in Japan. Kishi's
evolving defense policy calls for the eventual use of guided
missiles.
(Page 4)
Cameroun: The tribal population of the important
Sanaga Maritime Province in the southwestern part of this
French trust territory is being progressively alienated by
the French-backed African government's strong-arm mili-
tary tactics used to suppress guerrilla warfare carried on
by Communist-influenced nationalists. The Cameroun
Government, whibh is gravely concerned over its own fu-
ture, is pressing France to help undercut the dissidents'
popular appeal by promising early Cameroun independence.
(Page 5) (Map)
23 Apr 58
DAILY BRIEF ii
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I I I. THE WEST
Honduras - Nicaragua: Nicaraguan exiles may launch
guerrilla operations against the Somoza regime this week
from bases in neighboring Honduras. They hope thus to
spark a nationwide uprising, but their efforts will fail un-
less the movement receives support from important ele-
ments of the Nicaraguan armed forces. There is no indi-
cation that such support would be forthcoming. The Organi-
zation of American States, which intervened a year ago
when Nicaragua and Honduras were on the verge of hostili-
ties over their disputed border, will probably be called on
again if an exile "invasion" of Nicaragua occurs.
(Page 6)
23 Apr 58
DAILY BRIEF iii
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RET
. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Reorganization of Soviet Ground Forces
a phased reorganization of Soviet ground forces
observed in East Germany and Hungary, and suggests that
this program is being implemented to an undetermined ex-
tent throughout the Soviet ground forces. Rifle divisions,
mechanized divisions, mechanized armies, and corps or-
ganic to armies have been eliminated in the new structure.
The ratio of armor to infantry in motorized rifle and
tank divisions has been increased, and a new type of divi-
sion--a heavy tank division--has been introduced. Motorized
rifle regiments of motorized rifle divisions have been aug-
mented by a tank battalion, and the tank division has been
reduced in size.
In addition to normal support elements, the new heavy
tank division contains three heavy tank regiments organized
along the lines of the heavy.tank/assault gun regiment for-
merly organic to both tank and mechanized divisions. These
divisions normally will be organic to tank armies but can
operate independently as part of the Reserve of the High
Command.
Under the new organization, a combined-arms army
normally consists of four or five motorized rifle divisions
and one or two tank divisions. Tank armies normally con-
sist of three or four tank divisions and one or two heavy
tank divisions.
23 Apr 58 rGkITE6 A I\ ITPI I Iv fl
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ARAFURA SEA
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I I. ASIA- AFRICA
Situation in Indonesia
Resistance of revolutionary government forces to central
government troops in the Padang area has been described
as weak and disorganize .
Dissident leader Lt. Col. Hussein and his staff are preparing
to move to an emergency command post, probably in the
Solok area. Djakarta army headquarters expects the dissi-
dents to make a stand there with about 1,800 men.
Lt. Col. Sumual, revolutionary commander in North
Celebes, has suggested to dissident leaders in Sumatra that
if Bukittinggi should fall, the rebel capital should be moved
to Menado. He further suggested that if the revolutionary
premier, Sjafruddin� does not find it "opportune" to come
to Menado, Col. Warouw, former military attach�n Pei-
ping, could be designated vice premier and could act as
head of the government.
Dissident aircraft based in North Celebes, a B-26 and
an F-51, bombed and strafed the Morotai airfield on 20 April,
but results are not yet known. Another F-51 strafed Djailolo
airfield on Halmahera and nearby Ternate. These air strikes
probably are in preparation for a planned early dissident am-
phibious move on Morotai.
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444, i tUkt, I
Developments in Yemen
Discussions with Yemeni Foreign Minister al-Amri
during a recent visit in Yemen have strengthened the belief
of the American consul in Aden that the Imam has tem-
porarily restricted the authority of his son, Crown Prince
Badr, as a consequence of renewed suspicion of Egyptian
motives. The Imam is apparently angry at Badr for having
persuaded him to enter into a federation with the UAR:
Badr has promoted closer ties with Egypt and the Soviet
bloc in order to gain their assistance in his ambition to
succeed his father.
Recent attempts by the Imam to effect a reconciliation
with Saudi Arabia and to mediate between it and Egypt prob-
ably reflect his struggle to maintain in Yemen the precarious
balance among contending forces in the area, which he con-
siders the best guarantee of his own independence. The
Imam's conciliatory gestures toward Saudi Arabia probably
also reflect fear of recent Saudi efforts to gain the sup-
port of tribes in eastern and northern Yemen, as well as con-
cern over their contacts with certain local rulers in the Aden
Protectorate who have grown uneasy over Yemen's efforts
to supplant British rule.
Renewed Yemeni feelers for American aid are probably
also the result of the Imam's desire to have a number of
competing, and balancing, foreign interests operating in
his country. These approaches almost certainly do not in-
dicate any willingness to abandon anti-British activity or
to reduce military and economic collaboration with the So-
vicitrbloc.
TOP RET
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LitII NE 1.111.1.4
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Kishi Announces Opposition to Nuclear Bases
A new furor in Japan over nuclear weapons has forced
Prime Minister Kishi to assert, under Socialist attack in
the Diet, that he would reject all attempts to establish Amer-
ican nuclear bases in Japan. At the same time Kishi was
noncommittal on whether he would honor Diet resolutions
against nuclear armaments for Japan.
Kishi has been striving quietly to increase Japanese
acceptance of modern defense concepts and armaments.
His government has attempted to prepare the public for this
with recent announcements that tests of guided missiles for
Japanese forces would begin in 1959 and that Japan would
retaliate against foreign attack on US bases in Japanese ter-
ritory.
Moscow's announcement of suspension of nuclear tests
and American plans for tests in the Pacific this spring have
made Japanese public opinion extremely sensitive to nuclear
Issues at this time. During the past week, the Japanese
Diet unanimously passed resolutions calling for the cessa-
tion of nuclear tests and opposing Japan's possession of nu-
clear weapons.
23 Apr 58 CFKITI?Al IINITFI I InENCE BULLETIN Page 4
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THE CAMEROONS AND NIGERIA
FRENCFL WEST
GHANA ,lbstlAn
AFRICA
NIGERIA
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FRENCH.,
� Yaounde
FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA
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i
.1101,
Guerrilla Warfare Is a Growing Problem in Cameroun
Guerrilla warfare has been conducted for the past 16
months by the Communist-influenced nationalist Union of
the Cameroun People (UPC), which hopes eventually to
dominate an independent state made up of the British and
French trust territories. This warfare is becoming a
serious security andl political problem in the rural areas
of Sanaga Maritime Province in the southwestern jungle
region of this French trust territory. The population is
being alienated by the strong-arm tactics of the govern-
ment's military force.
Leaders of the moderate African government of
Cameroun, a coalition of parties representing several
regions with conflicting interests and traditions, hope
that a renewed offer of amnesty and an enlarged public
welfare program will improve public opinion and prevent
members of the government from carrying out their
threatened resignations. Meanwhile, Cameroun officials
are pressing France to help undercut the UPC's popular
appeal by issuing the promised statement about early in-
dependence. Paris has previously indicated a willingness
to grant the trust territory independence at some future
date with continuing economic and military ties with
France.
A representative of the UPC, who attended the Accra
conference of independent African states as an observer,
sought the material backing of the African nations, but the
conference only passed a resolution condemning the use of
military force against unarmed people in Cameroun as con-
Arary to the spirit of the UN. He stated that Communist
aid "would not be unwelcome," but at this time material
backin from the Communist bloc is unlikely.
23 Apr 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5
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IlL TEE WEST
Exiles Plan Attack on Nicaragua From Honduras
Nicaraguan exiles in Honduras, who have long been
plotting against Nicaraguan President Somoza, plan to
initiate guerrilla operations within Nicaragua on or about
23 April, The Nicaraguan
Government has been expecting an invasion since last
January. The exiles probably number only about a hun-
dred, but apparently are well armed. Their leaders ex-
pect a guerrilla campaign of a few weeks' duration to
spark popular uprisings and defections from the armed
forces. They are trying to arrange for two planes to
carry 60 to 80 of their men deep into Nicaragua, but
failing this they may attempt to infiltrate directly across
the border.
Hampered by bitter rivalries among themselves and
by some efforts recently by the Honduran Army to frustrate
their plans, the exiles also overestimate the extent of anti=
Somoza feeling in Nicaragua. The armed forces, under
the tight leadership of the President's brother, appear
loyal. The President, more liberal-minded than his father,
the late dictator, is not unpopular with the general public.
He recently spiked the opposition's main issue by calling
for a constitutional amendment that would prohibit a presi-
dent from succeeding himself or being succeeded by a mem-
ber of his family.
An invasion is not likely to gain support within Nicara-
gua, but exile activity along the border may renew the old
border dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras which near-
ly resulted in hostilities a year ago. The Organization of
American States, which intervened at that time, will prob-
ably be called on again if an exile "invasion" of Nicaragua
ocean's
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
23 April 1958
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Soviet ground forces: Standard oviet ground force
rifle, tank, and mechanized divisi s have been reor-
ganized to an undetermined exten into motorized rifle,
tank, and heavy tank divisions. Jhe new structure pro-
vides in general for a higher Woportion of armor and
transport to infantry. Althou the new organization does
not reflect a radical change concept, such as that of the
American "pentomic" orga zation, it indicates a desire
for an armed force eguallj suitable for conventional or
nuclear warfare. (Page 1)
II, ASIA-AFRICA
Cameroun: The tribal population of the important
Sanaga Maritime Province in the southwestern part of this
French trust territory is being progressively alienated by
the French-backed African government's strong-arm mili-
tary tactics used to suppress guerrilla warfare carried on
by Communist-influenced nationalists. The Cameroun
Government, whin is gravely concerned over its own fu-
ture, is pressing France to help undercut the dissidents'
o ular appeal bipromising early Cameroun independence.
(Page 5) (Map)
'
Israel-Jordan: Despite Israeli assurances that the armor
being assembled in the Jerusalem area for the parade on 24
April will not carry ammunition and that the marching troops'
small arms will not be loaded, tension among the civilian
population of the Arab city remains high. The possibility
of incidents may have been increased by a clash between
minor Jordanian and Israeli aval craft in the Gulf of Aqaba.
63E,
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