CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/10/20

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02998389
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
16
Document Creation Date: 
January 27, 2020
Document Release Date: 
January 30, 2020
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
October 20, 1958
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULL[15777372].pdf739.26 KB
Body: 
f Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 20 October 1958 Copy No. C 59 CENTRAL 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANGE IN CLASS I DECLASSiFIED CLASS'. CHANnED TO: T' NiEXT REV:EW DATE: UAT 3 REVIEWER: -TOP-SEC-RH- Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389f Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Alete TA ICI C C"1111MT� Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 20 OCTOBER 1958 L THE COMMUNIST BLOC Soviet 18 October nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya yields 10 megatons-- largest yet detected. Taiwan Strait - Chinese Communists apparently planting reports of secret negotiations with Nationalists. II. ASIA-AFRICA ,/ ( : A I Moroccan official may head a military is loin_s_a_t_a_UAR_before_visiting Moscow. 0 , - 1 Irro, 41.0 Morocco - Government reorganization may be imminent; French reconsider- ing withdrawal of remaining troops. Lebanon - Inflammatory broadcasts by UAR-controlled Radio Free Lebanon will strengthen Christian suspicions. UAR vice president possibly more arms on Nfoqcow visit. Libyan government officials and oil union harass Western companies. 0 III. THE WEST ()Rebels in Cuba and in exile intensify efforts to sabotage 3 November elec- tions. LATE ITEM ()Taiwan Strait - Peiping cancels cease-fire. TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 /Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 6029'9,97/7/3//// TOP SECRET loW CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 20 October 1958 DAILY BRIEF I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC Soviet nuclear tests: The Joint Atomic Energy Intel- ligence Committee made the following announcement at 1630 hours on 18 October: "The Atomic Energy Detection System haire- ported that an explosion occurred at 1951 hours Zebra on 18 October 1958 in the vicinity of Novaya Zemlya (74N, 55E). Th tart st Soviet test previously detected--on 6 October 1957-- had an estimated yield of 4.3 megatons. The committee made the following announcement at 1630 hours on 19 October 1958: "The Atomic Energy Detection System has re- ported that an explosion occurred at 0745 hours Zebra on 19 October 1958 in the vicinity of Novaya Zemlya (74N, 55E). *This is the 12th explosion in the current phase of Soviet nuclear testing. the device was dropped by a TU-16 aircraft over water off the eastern coast of North Island, Novaya Zemlya, at approximately 73�30',N, 59900 E. 11 /// / TOP 45gCRET Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 , t Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C0998389 %00 TOP SECRET Taiwan Strait situation: The Chinese Communists ap- pear to be planting reports that their representatives are negotiating secretly with Chinese Nationalist officials. Such unconfirmed reports and rumors of secret negotiations be- tween Peiping and Taipei have appeared previously, during similar periods of Communist emphasis on political forms of warfare against the Nationalists. (Page 1) (Map) IL ASIA4-AFRICA Morocco-UAR: The UA 's military attache in Rabat re- quested that a Moroccan military mission be invited to visit theUAR's armed forces in Cairo before the mission's leader, who apparently has hinted at an invitation, proceeds onward to Moscow. This visit would fol- low the forthcoming exchange of diplomatic representatives between Mnrnern and the USSR. the Moroccan Army needs arms and ammunition very badly and ling not 11PP" 21-11c1 f^ obtain them from Western sources. (Page 3) Morocco: The long-expected government reorganiza- tion in Morocco may be imminent since the extremist wing of the Istiqlal party is increasingly discontented over the King's authoritarian role and over the cabinet's lack of con- trol of the army and security forces. Although Prime Min- ister Balafrej is expected to retain nominal leadership of any new cabinet, the left-wing group's influence would in- crease. Paris has indicated concern at the developing po- litical instability in Morocco and is reconsidering the with- drawal of the remaining French troops--now reported to number about 15,000. (Page 4) Lebanon: Despite the political compromise which tem- porarily e7iTted the Lebanese rebellion, the UAR-controlled Radio Free Lebanon, which broadcasts from Syria, now is calling for "complete and decisive victory" by the pro-Nasir 20 Oct 58 DAILY BRIEF U. TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 V. Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 lero TOP SECRET faction. Its demands include dissolution of Parliament and "punishment" of pro-Chamoun leaders after "evacuation of the American forces." The broadcasts will strengthen Chris- tian suspicions that the TTAR nlans Moslem domination of Lebanon. UAR-USSR: UAR Vice President Marshal Amir's visit to Meow may be connected with further requests for Soviet military equipment. The UAR is already reported scheduled to receive substantial deliveries, but Cairo is seeking Soviet approval of additional requests for late-model military and civil aircraft. Amir's trip may also be designed to smooth out differences with the USSR over the supply of equipment and training to Iraq, which currently has a fonr-man armns- purchasing mission in Moscow. Libya: Western oil companies iii Liby, where the pros-C pects76Tadditional oil discoveries are good, are being in- creasingly harassed by the Libyan oil workers' union and by government officials. There is also growing criticism of the companies by the press and people. (Page 5) III. THE WEST Cuba: Intensified rebel operations in central and west- ern Cuba as well as in rebel-infested Oriente Province are apparently part of a build-up aimed at fulfilling rebel vows to sabotage the national elections scheduled for 3 November. Cuban rebel pilots in Mexico have at least one bomber and possibly other planes which they are readying for action. (Page 6) 20 Oct 58 DAILY BRIEF lii TOP SECRET Approved for � Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 two vr ant....AE, 1 111110, LATE ITEM *Peiping cancels cease-fire: Chinese Communist Minis- ter of National Defense Peng Iregiudi canceled the suspension of shelling of Chinmen in an order to the People's Liberation Army on the Fukien front at 1500 hours on 20 October (Peiping time). The Nationalist Defense Ministry reported that the Communists resumed shelling of Chinmen at 1600 hours. The cancellation order followed hard on the heels of a "36th seri- ous warning" which claimed that a US landing ship dock and three US destroyers escorted Nationalist ships in an intrusion into Communist territorial waters in the Amoy and Chinmen area on 19-20 October. The Communist *fense minister's order stated: "This is an open defiance of our conditions in suspending shelling. Can this be tolerated? Therefore, shell- ing must be resumed as punishment." The order referred twice to the subject of direct negotia- tions with the Nationalists. It listed the refusal of Taiwan authorities to accept peace negotiations as one of several jus- tifications for canceling the suspension of shelling. Later, the order stated: "It looks as though the opportunity for the Taiwan authorities to turn from straying and accept peaceful ne- gotiations may still be expected. We continue to hold out such a hope." In one of several references to the United States, the order said: "The United States will not be permitted to take a hand in the Chinese affair. This is a national cause." no indica- tion mat the Communists now intend to take any direct military action beyond the resumption of shelling. during the period of the cease-fires reflected a high level of training activity by East China naval units, particularly in the Shanghai area, as well as tactical training activity by jet fighters based on the coastal airfields In and near the strait area. ri 2-0 Oat 58 DAItY BRIEF iv TOP SECRET A,Approved for Release: 2020/61/23 6E998389/ Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 602998389 LIU ,..1E.A.AiG I %Pe %NO I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC Taiwan Strait Situation Communist repre- sentative and a Chinese Nationalist representative have reached an agreement by which the Chinese Communists would cease bombardment of the Chinmen and Matsu island groups in return for an evacuation of Nation- alist forces from the islands by 30 November. This al- leged agreement is not credible. A Chinese Communist official Peiping "can reach and has reached people in Taiwan," although "obviously one cannot name names." The official's statement is true in the sense that Nationalist officials, including Chiang Kai-shek's son, have previously received communications from apparent representatives of Peiping, but there is no evidence that they have responded. the Nationalists were contemplat- ing the early release to the Communists of three Communist torpedo-boat crewmen captured in late August. In effect this action would be in exchange for the unpublicized release by the Communists last month of three Nationalist airmen captured in 1957. It also presumably would be designed to encourage Peiping to release three other Nationalist airmen whom the Communists claim to have captured in recent weeks. It is doubtful that the Nationalist action would be either in consequence of or preliminary to negotiations with the Com- munists, although Peiping may well hope to entice the Nation- alists into negotiations by small stages. The English-language Taipei newspaper China News, which often is used as a sounding board by the Nationalist Government, reported on 18 October that in the forthcoming TOP SECRET 20 Oct 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 1 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 411111k TOP SECRET Communist troop %AAP strength �, Nationalist uvu strength 4 Piston fighter 4- Jet fighter 4. Piston light bomber + Jet light bomber 4- Ground-attack SELECTED AIRFIELDS INDICATED IN BOLD TYPE Hengyang 30078 80806/81020 troop kowr>. NANCHANG CHANGSHU. CHENGHAI CANTON � HU)ItANG Swath SOUTH CHINA SEA Nanking CHUHSIEN Wencho Foochow' NANTA LUNGTI HUIAN MACIVANSYMNY STRAI ... fl KAOCHI ' " IHS. I &El ono Ampy- - ' � - ' FAIWAN , 331;000/ \ -.1-EA' NFU BAY Aisti is. 23,000 iNGTAN IS A 'k1V �AFirighai HOU SH4N I. EAST CHINA SEA iSTATUTE MILES 300 Prorlvelds fora Release:pE2 App 020/01/23 CO2998389 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 1 WC ocA,n.c. Ise %JO talks between Chiang Kai-shek and Secretary Dulles, the Nationalists would press for a "firmer" American commit- ment to maintainina he status quo on Chinmen and Matsu. Chinese Communist reflect a continu- ing high level of training activity by both air and naval units In the East China area, and Nationalist observers continue to report increased personnel and vehicle activity on the main- land opposite Chinmen. On the morning ,of 19 October (Taiwan time), Communist aircraft were detected by radar in a possi- ble overflight of the Nationalist-held Wuchiu Islands. A sim- ilar overflight occurred on 16 October, according to an uncon- firmed press report obtained from the Nationalist Defens Ministry. J no change in tnuimun s genera policy of restricting fighter aircraft to defensive patrols within a coastal boundary. Peiping has issued its "35th serious warning" claiming, that two US destroyers intruded into Chinese Communist terri- torial waters in the Pingtan and Matsu areas on 19 October. TOP SECRET 20 Oct 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 i kir O.CA...AE, I 1010 IL ASIA-AFRICA UAR Acting to Increase Influence in Morocco The UAR's aggressive military attache in Rabat, pre- sumably to increase Egyptian influence in Morocco, sug- gested to the Cairo Defense Ministry that a Moroccan military mission be in- vited to Cairo to observe the armed forces. He reported that a Moroccan official, who is to visit the USSR soon after the forthcoming exchange of diplomatic representatives be- tween the USSR and Morocco, had hinted that such a mission, headed by him, would be desirable. the attache renewed his request and stated that both he and the UAR ambassador believed that, in view of the Tunisian-UAR friction, it would be helpful to reveal Egypt as a center for Arabism. He also stated that Morocco needed arms and ammunition very badly because it had not been supplied by France and other coun- tries. The Moroccan Government is not known to be vigorously searching for arms. Cairo's efforts to promote an arms deal are likely to be opposed by King Mohamed V and the present moderate Istiqlal Government, who are suspicious of Cairo's activities as the self-proclaimed pan-Arab leader. The UAR ambassador has consistently attempted to present himself as the conscience of the Arabs. Both he and the attache have carefully cultivated the Algerian rebels in Morocco, the left wing of the Istiqlal, labor leaders, and any other groups which might be sympathetic and useful to Cairo during the present political instability in Morocco. TOP SECRET 20 Oct 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Page 3 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 IJEolonEs %NV kW, Pressures Growing for Reshuffle of Moroccan Government Discontent with the present Moroccan Government, includ- ing the King's authoritarian position, has grown to such an extent among left-wing elements in the dominant Istiqlal party that the well-informed Tunisian ambassador believes the long- anticipated cabinet reshuffle is imminent. The ambassador expects moderate Prime Minister Balafrej to retain his office, but believes Istiqlal extremists like Ibrahim, Ben Barka, and Bouabid will increase their influence in the cabinet. One re:- port states that a decision to resign was actually reached by the government on 18 October and that the resignation will be announced on 20 October. Istiqlal extremists are particularly critical of the cabinet's lack of control over the army and security forces, which are under the King's jurisdiction. Their request for a change in this control was rejected by the King recently after the issue was highlighted by the anti -Istiqlal activities of a rival party in the Rif mountain area. Istiqlal leaders consider that the director of national security was slow in acting against this party's ter- rorism. They also accuse him of playing off one Istiqlal fac- tion against another. Paris is concerned over the growing political instability in Morocco and is reconsidering the withdrawal of the remaining French troops, recently reported to number 15,000. France fears that if public order is not assured, the sizable French colony and its interests will be endangered. French failure to continue troop withdrawals would, in the opinion of the Amer- ican ambassador, be interpreted by Rabat as intransigence and signal a "marked deterioration in Franco-Moroccan relations in the immediate future." SECRET 20 Oct 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Page 4 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 .3.C.L.A.C4 I %le *1110 Increasing Harassment of Western Oil Companies in Libya The Libyan Petroleum Workers' Union is stepping up its harassment of Western oil companies. Although the Libyan Government's Petroleum Commission maintains business-like relations with the companies, the union's campaign has made the lower echelons of the bureaucracy--customs, immigration, and tax officials�uncooperative and antagonistic. The com- panies are also under attack in the Libyan press. The new but growing Petroleum Workers' Union is cap- italizing on the growth of pro-Egyptian sentiment in Libya and the desire of its members to put Libyans in Jobs held by foreign employees of the companies. It was organized by Abdul al- Latif Kikhya, a rabid opportunist with a strong grievance against the Western companies, one of which fired him for trying to serve simultaneously as a union official and a company executive. Recent successful wildcat oil wells�part of an accelerated exploration program--have raised hopes that Libya might be- come a significant source of free-world oil, independent of the Nasir-controlled Suez Canal and pipelines through Syria. 20 Oct 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 OL.A011,1;4 %le N11100 IIL THE WEST Cubans Rebels Intensify Action to Sabotage 3 November Elections The rebel "26th of July" Movement, which has vowed to sabotage Cuba's 3 November general elections, already is capable of preventing meaningful elections in Oriente Prov- ince and of severely limiting electoral activity in other areas. In Oriente, where a third of the country's population lives, the rebels are in effective control of rural areas and inter- mittently surround and attack the fringes of the city of San- tiago, Cuba's second city. Their activities are intensifying in the central and extreme western provinces, and on or about 15 October a rebel patrol attacked a small army garrison only 20 miles from the Cubtm capital, thus for the first time ex- tending the fighting to Havana Province. The rebels publicly have threatened all candidates who do not withdraw by 30 October and already have killed several. The rebel radio announced on 17 October that prorebel work- ers would meet soon in rebel territory to plan strikes coordi- nated with rebel action to prevent the elections. Rebel efforts to promote a general strike failed last April. Cuban rebel pilots at Ixtepec in southern Mexico are readying at least one bomber and possibly other planes for action in the near future. They may, as was reported in July, plan to bomb the presidential palace in Havana, but the supplying of men and equipment to rebel forces seems more likely. President Batista remains determined to hold the elections, though the political atmosphere will require continued suspension of civil rights, and polling places may have to be established within army garrisons in many places. Denying the validity of the elections, the rebels intend to continue fighting, if necessary, even after Batista leaves the presidency a the end of his term next February. SECRET 20 Oct 58 CENTRAL INTELLinFm-F RI II I PTIM Page 6 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389 %1110 NI011# THE PRESIDENT The Vice President Executive Offices of the White House Special Assistant for National Security Affairs Scientific Adviser to the President Director of the Budget Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy Special Adviser to the President The Treasury Department The Secretary of the Treasury The Department of State The Secretary of State The Under Secretary of State The Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs The Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs The Deputy Under Secretary for Administration The Counselor Director, International Cooperation Administration The Director of Intelligence and Research The Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense The Deputy Secretary of Defense The Secretary of the Army The Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Air Force The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff Commandant, United States Marine Corps The Director, The Joint Staff Chief of Staff, United States Army Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Deputy Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of the Navy Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Commander in Chief, Pacific The Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director Atomic Energy Commission The Chairman National Security Agency The Director National Indications Center The Director United States Information Agency The Director CONFIDENTIAL Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 002998389 -TOP-SECRET-' //4A r/ `,4 rfj / z zzzzzzzz,-,,,-"kpproved for Release: 2020/01/23 CO2998389WWWW/del -Terp-seeRET-