CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1961/03/08

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02026617
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19
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August 27, 2020
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March 8, 1961
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Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 I %me 4,s�lim& Nor 8 March 1961 Copy No. C k_cf CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN --TO-P-SECRET- 3.3(h)(2)i 3.5(c)f e//0 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 111JT�ZWK-L4-- -T-OP-SEORET- Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 � �rei TOP SECRET Nre 8 March 1961 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN CONTENTS 1. Situation in the Congo. (Rage t) 2. Laos: Vientiane troops in Phou Khoun road junction area withdraw in face of aggressive probing actions by Kong Le - Pathet Lao forces. (Rge t) 3. France-Algeria. (Page tt) 4. Morocco: New King may press for early relin- quishment of US military bases. (Page ti) 5. UALI: Nasir invited to Mexico in September. (Fage ttt) 6. Conclusions of Special USIB subcommittee on Berlin Situation. Page tit) TOP SECRET ve/7- re Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 04proved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 rip Banana Matadi 'Kona Luanda 31594 D INDONESIA 1,150 MOB UTU 7,200 ET 5.1F' Leopoldville Thysville MALAYA 150 Gemena 1`5 Scattered Force _ MOBUTU 2,700 MORUTU E01_ LATEUR Coquilhatville �Boende Scattered Forces VU 1 E, Approximate area controlled by: Kasayubu-Mobutu Gizenga Kalonji Elj Tshombe United Nations Forces -Selected road Selected railroad Selected airfield X Cut railroad STATUTE MILES Ike la uluabourg Bakw 400 Luputa MOROC,G() IRELAND 655 Buta Ake] ORiEN .0pala Lodja LIBERIA ETHIOPIA ETHIOPIA 1,800 GIZENGA 7,000 NIGERIA Kongolo Albertville NIGERIA SWEDEN 680 TSHOMB Elisa hyille �Usurnbura 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Map Page Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 ' Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 \\\ TOP SLCRET ftto CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 8 March 1961 DAILY BRIEF Congo: Gizenga's statement of 7 March to an American correspondent that he does not plan to attend the Tananarive conference appears confirmed With- out Giienga's participation, the only significant result of the conference probably will be a slight strengthening of the ties between Leopoldville and Elisabethville. jn Leopoldville, American and UN officials believe that there is little time re- maining before inflation gets completely out of control, with the consequent possibility of disorders in the hitherto quiescent civilian population. Ambassador Timberlake reports that For- eign Minister Bomboko and the UN commander, General McKeown, met on 5 March and agreed on a number of measures to reduce tensions between Congolese and UN troops, particularly in Ma- tadi. Hammarskjold admitted to Ambassador Stevenson on 6 March that Rajeshwar Dayal, his representative in the Congo, was unable to communicate with any Congolese leaders and in- dicated that Dayal would not return to the Congo after his trip to New York for "consultations" which is scheduled to take place In a few days) (Backup, Page 1) (Map) 1,1}i)u *Laos: (Information available as of 0400 EST) Vientiane's js,t forcegTEMe Phou Khoun road junction area withdrew in the face of aggressive probing actions initiated by Kong Le - Pathet Lao forces on 6 and 7 March. Indications are that the enemy forces had not planned a major attack, but were quick to capitalize on the government's hasty withdrawal and may have gained at least temporary control of the Phou IChoun road junction. General Phoumi is making urgent plans to regain the lost ground, but the Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 pproved for Release. 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Ma chi c, C....en gr. �is ( 21 CI K, Ken,, Lap� 4r.../. .h k ; ,. , � Mont Wiac it Aiiii,�\.....r- '--..,j 1 .0 ' f" ,,-1 ..:,11 � '"- a '--,r-r' I \ `�.1. '",/ . ,i'....- .....''...,�-�,-,' , f f v�-� I N A M tH.A ,, khan& iti. .." z., 1 / 1 ..........� ;.I \.../".....� s''''') . c r LUANG P.RABANG �A 1/4) MUOI ( � �LP:term/it 0 Dan Sa THAILAND �Nang Khal �Ildea Thani LAOS flgverninent forces (.overnment Antigovernment Autigovernment concentrations Kong Le/Pathet Lao forces Main_ route number Plead Trail A Chinese Nationalist Irregulars 25 50 75 190 Miles Is H. ' i� 0 25 50 75 100 Kilometers Base 26716.1 5-58 rees Kt-IAMM Muang Nakhon Phannil nag Sakon trakhen0- CAMBODIA Boundaries end names ore not necetsori7y Mere rerognieed by the U.S. Government. P'ing�lore ��Oun CHINA Cats Bang. / nang "Ms Sono aM'OM28, ILE CAC BA t ;0 0 Pjcitap pep WI RON " Man Ley� -TIT DE tt BOO DEMARCATION LINE aF35 Ha Quang T AVAN,Ef," SOUTH (VIETNAM KhamA1, 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Map Page Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 7 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 *lati �TOP SECRET reversal on this main front could have a serious impact on the over-all morale of the Laotian Army, and points up the inade- quacx of the army's leadership and lack of will to fight an a recent discussion of the Laotian crisis with Ambas- sador Trimble in Phnom Penh, Souvanna Phourna suggested a course of action which he felt would obviate the need for an in- ternational conference, provided both East and West agreed to guarantee Laos' neutrality. Souvanna said he would submit� his own resignation if the King replaced the Boun Oum government with a caretaker government composed of civil servants which would be responsible for preparing general elections. The elec- tions would be supervised by an international commission, and the countryside disarmed, except for police. Souvanna made it clear, however, that he believes the eventual establishment of a government of national union,. including the Pathet Lao, is es- sential for Laos. Meanwhile, General Phoumi reports that he will go to Phnom Penh on 9 March to confer with SouvannaD (Backup, Page 2) (Map) *France-Algeria:CProspects for negotiations between the French and the Algerian rebels now seem to depend on whether agreement on a cease-fire can be reached. Premier Debre's office has denied a 7 March press report citing sources close to the government to the effect that a truce had been agreed on. There have been recentindications, however, particularly in connection with the De Gaulle - Bourguiba talks, that such an agreement may be in the making. It would remove the last ma- jor obstacle to direct political negotiations on an Algerian set- tlement; (Backup, Page 4) co iL Morocco: G_Cing Hassan II has apparently convinced him- 62.,/,-2) self that the country has rallied around him and is showing no A-e-s-ti indication of compromising with the demands of the leftis""t DAILY BMEF ii TOP SECRET z, Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Viad TOP SECRET Nee 6:atonal Union of Popular Forces for an elected constituent assembly. There is indirect evidence that the new King is considering the abolition of all political parties, possibly as a maneuver to put pressure on the National Union, The King also is endeavoring to capitalize on the unilateral French de- cision made before his father's death to accelerate the closing of five out of six air training schools in Morocco. Hassan is likely to ask that the United States accelerate the relinquish- ment of its bases, which is now scheduled to be completed in 196E (Backup, Page 0) Latin America - UAR� resident Lopez Mateos "could receive President Nasir" on a state visit between 4 and 8 September. Nasir has also received invitations from Cuba and Venezuela and might use the trip to visit other Latin American countries, particu- larly Brazil. In January, President Quadros was said to be interested in meeting with Tito, Nasir, and Nehru. Yugoslavia has already accepted a Brazilian invitation for Tito to visit there later in the year. Nasir may hope that his trip to Latin America will nrecent an ormortimitv to viRit the United States CONCLUSIONS OF SPECIAL USIB SUBCOMMITTEE ON BERLIN SITUATION The USIB has approved the following conclusions reached by its Special Berlin Subcommittee which reviewed the situation for the period 7 February 1961 through 6 March 1961. 1. We are still in an interim period during which the USSR Is intent on reaching an assessment of the new US administration 8 Mar 61 ii DAILY BRIEF iii 'L124-) Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 4Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 *410, TOP SECRET Nipie //' and the possibilities of negotiating with the West on major is- sues. Therefore, the USSR is unlikely to increase tensions over Berlin at this time. However, should the Soviet leaders at any time during this period calculate that additional pres- sure would bring the West more quickly to high-level negotia- tions with the USSR, they may increase the threat of unilateral action in an� effort to expedite talks. 2. The Soviet memorandum of 17 February to Bonn, pub- lished by the USSR on 4 March, was intended to remind the West that the USSR still insists on an early solution of the Ber- lin situation through negotiations. The memorandum reinforced Khrushchev's earlier assertions that the USSR could not agree to postponing discussions beyond the West German elec- tions set for this September. 3. The East Germans have somewhat relaxed their imple- mentation of controls of the Berlin intersector boundary without altering their claims of sovereignty in this regard. 4. While maintaining trade with the West at the level of previous years, East Germany has initiated some of the long- range moves necessary to make its economy independent of Western imports and thereby depri of this leverage in future negotiations over Berlin. 8 Mar 61 DAILY BRIEF iv #.%.0 v. 4 --TOP�SE�RET r'(7 A Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Nor' Nue Situation in the Congo EHammarskjold stated that Makki Abbas of Sudan would immediately be installed as the UN's acting representative in the Congo and that Dayal would leave "this week." Continuing tension in Matadi apparently has postponed Dayal's departure. He continues to hold himself aloof from the Congolese; cently he failed to turn up at a meeting with Foreign Minister Bomboko, reportedly for fear that Bomboko "might make a political attack on him .'D LHammarskjold also plans to set up a Congo planning and advisory group within the UN secretariat, composed exclusively of Africans and Asians, Within a few weeks he hopes to send to the Congo as his permanent representative either Adnan Pachachi of Iraq or Robert Gardiner of Ghana, both of whom would be mem- bers of the proposed group:) According to the American Embassy in Leopoldville, the UN Command has failed to provide leadership in the economic field as a result of its preoccupation with political questions, coupled with Dayal's ignorance of economic factors and his tactic of with- holding budgetary support as a means of pressuring the Leopold- ville government. Moreover, foreign aid furnished so far has suffered from a lack of coordination as well as from inefficiency and venality on the part of Congolese officials. UN financial ex- perts in Leopoldville believe that the establishment of a flexible fund under UN control is the only way to salvage the economic situation, which apparently has not resulted in popular outbreaks so far only because most of the population is not dependent on the money economy. However, the population in Leopoldville, where most of the working force is unemployed, is vulnerable to infla- tion in basic commodities, and the UN economists believe out- breaks will occur when the price spiral takes hold. CONFIDENTIAL 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 1 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 NMSOr 'MI11 Situation in Laos Souv nna. has stressed the urgency for a political settlement in Laos. Souvanna told them that judging from the reception he had received from the people during his visit to northern Laos he felt the Communists could still be kept from dominating the situation, but that time was growing short. He claimed Pathet Lao leader Souphannouvong--his half-brother�had agreed with him that Laos should follow a policy of "Cam- bodian-type s0c1a11sm.15 rSouvanna said his visit to North Vietnam had gone well, and that he was pleased by the atmosphere he had found in Hanoi. He claimed that Premier Pham Van Dong and Defense Minister Vo Nguyen Giap had told him that North Vietnam and Communist China were content to see "true neutrality" re-established in Laos, and that the bloc's strong reaction against the United States had been caused by "sure information" of American plans to devel- op rocket-launching facilities in central Lao-iti While Souvanna continues to be sanguine of his ability to cbntrol the Communists, he seems to feel it necessary to try to retain freedom of action, on his return from a world tour, which he plans to start this week end, he might establish himself in Phong Saly. This province is largely controlled by Laotian forces under Colonel Khammouane--a local strongman and sup- porter of Souvanna Phouma--who apparently has succeeded so far in getting the Communitt-supported Pathet Lao forces to respect his "middle position.' CBefore his recent trip to North Vietnam and Laos, Sou- vanna made a similar proposal for a caretaker government. He m y have discussed aspects of this plan with his Commu- nist hosts and possibly found them receptive to the idea of a general election as long as some supervisOry schem SECRET 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 *me SECRET Gould be employed to ensure sizable Pathet Lao representa- tion in the government and in the National Assembly) the only feasible solution to the Laotian crisis lies in an international conference which would lead to the partition of the country "following the In- dochina pattern." Bloc governments, however, have never acknowledged partition as a possible basis for a Laotian settlement. The bloc position is and probably will continue to be that an international conference must be called before any commission can be sent to Lao) CCambodian officials, including Sihanouk, are inclicatinel rowing anxiety over developments in Laos, and have xpressed doubt as to whether Souvanna can still the situation from the Communists. Sihanouk now believes Souvanna has gone over to the Pathet Lao side; Son Sann, personal adviser to Sihanouk on foreign affairs, has expressed the same view 5-Soviet transports continue to be scheduled for airlift operations into Laos. Since the arrival on 22 February of a Soviet AN-12 at Hanoi, two others have flown to North Viet- nam. The one which arrived at Hanoi on 22 February re- portedly crashed and is apparently still there. One of the last two to arrive has returned to the USSR and the third is at Haiphong scheduled for Canton. SECRET 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 SECRET Prospects for French-Algerian Negotiations De Gaulle, ever since his pre-referendum speeches in December, has been blurring his previous insistence on a cease-fire as a precondition for negotiationsoale implied to Bourguiba during their 27 February talk that there would be no preconditions for talks, and Bourguiba conveyed this im- pression to Abbas. The rebel leaders, however, were report- edly confused whan a subsequent "authoritative" statement from Paris reversed this position. Tunisian Information Min- ister Masmoudi has alleged that members of Premier Debre's entourage also made statements�published abroad, but not in France--that a cease-fire must precede negotiations. Tuni- sian officials, and probably the PAG, are said to have regarded this as an attempt by "ultras" around Debre to jeopardize the commencement of negotiations. following discussions last week between rebel premier Ferhat Abbas, Bourguiba, and a high French official representing De Gaulle, the PAG agreed to a cease-fire and would soon appoint representatives to dis- cuss its implementation with the French. On 6 March Abdel- kader Chanderli, PAG "delegate" to the UN, told US officials in Washington that the PAG had proposed to the French that both sides simply agree at the beginning of negotiations to stop fighting, without entering into any formal agreemeni-.) ourguiba had told De Gaulle that commencement of direct French-PAG negotiations could not safely be delayed much longer and should start by 20 March. Chanderli, however, asserted, that Abbas and De Gaulle will not meet until lower level--but official and formal-- negotiations have made substantial progres Within Algeria, there are diverse elements on both sides still capable of precipitating incidents that could either prevent formal negotiations from beginning or jeopardize their success once begun. De Gaulle is reported to have said that he could scarcely imagine his reaction, if, while seated at a conference SECRET 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 New '4.1110 table with Abbas, an aide were to hand him a note saying that French children had just been killed in Algeria by rebel ter- rorists. The Algerian National Liberation Army is estimated at approximately 10,000 men within Algeria and is dispersed into small bands difficult to control. Rebel terrorists, who have acted semi-independently throughout the rebellion, may con- sider that the Tunis-based PAG does not represent their in- terests. There are also indications that the outlawed Algerian Communist party now may be in a position to foment terrorism designed to disrupt negotiations. Well-armed, die-hard Euro- pean settlers are not now considered capable of threatening De Gaulle's government without military support--which has seemed increasingly unlikely. They could, however, especially in view of the Moslem-European rift evident since the December riots, create spectacular incidents which would antagonize the and cause its leaders to question De Gaulle's good faith. -"SECRET 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 New' table with Abbas, an aide were to hand him a note saying that French children had just been killed in Algeria by rebel ter- rorists. The Algerian National Liberation Army is estimated at approximately 10,V00 men within Algeria and is dispersed into small bands diffidult to control. Rebel terrorists, who have acted semi-independently throughout the rebellion, may con- sider that the Tunis-based PAG does not represent their in- terests. There are also indications that the outlawed Algerian Communist party now may be in a position to foment terrorism designed to disrupt negotiations. Well-armed, die-hard Euro- pean settlers are not now considered capable of threatening De Gaulle's government without military support--which has seemed increasingly unlikely. They could, however, especially in view of the Moslem-.European rift evident since the December riots, create spectacular incidents which would antagonize the PAG and cause its leaders to question De Gaulle's good faith. -SECRET-- 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 %we �404 �SErettEcr� Moroccan Political Situation CKing Hassan II appears not to have made any progress toward the formation of a broadly based government of na- tional union and may have abandoned further moves in that direction for the present. However, he is continuing his ef- forts to ensure military control throughout the country. The intelligence chief of the Moroccan Army has informed the American military attache in Rabat that the territorial reor- ganization of the army, under way since 1959, has been ac- complished and the country divided into five military regions, each commanded by an officer with a regional staff. The King's younger brother, Prince Abdallah, may replace Hassan as chief of staff, and General Ben Hamou Kettani, who recently commanded the Moroccan troops in the Congo, may continue operational control of the army-3 [Meanwhile, political maneuvering among various groups and factions continues. A three .sided division of opinion has developed within the National Union of Popular Forces (UNFP). An extremist faction headed by Labor Union Secretary General Mahjoub Ben Seddik wants the UNFP to demand dissolution of the rival right-wing labor group and abrogation of the decree issued last October permitting the creation of other unions. A second faction led by former Premier Alxlallah Ibrahim and self- exiled Mehdi Ben Barka continues to insist on the early election of a national constituent assembly, while a third group, led by resistance leaders Abderrahman Youssefi and Mohamed el-Basri, favors reconciliation with the conservative Istiqlal party from which the UNFP split in 195971 CThe Istiqlal party, on the other hand, fearful that it may be outdistanced by the UNFP's more dynamic program and leaders, may be seeking an alliance with the tribal-based Popular Move- ment and the small but well-entrenched Constitutional Demo- cratic party, both of which along with Istiqlal are represented in the present government dstiqlal seized on Hassan's 5 March announcement of a "new victory" in securing accelerated French evacuation to reiterate] --SEC-REr- 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 6 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 NIS ItEr Cyarious demands, including the "liquidation of American bases" prior to the end of 1963 in order to achieve complete French evacuation-:1 {French Ambassador Seydoux indicated to US officials on 6 March that France may attempt to remain at Kenitra for "an- other year or so." are reported to consider me recent transfer of some puu rench military personnel from France's recently dissolved headquar- ters in Rabat to Kenitra as seeking sanctuary in the "American- controlled" base in an effort to keen the evacuation issue alive> 8 Mar 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 7 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 TA a aaar -441.11! THE PRESIDENT The Vice President Executive Offices of the White House The Special Assistant for National Security Affairs The Scientific Adviser to the President The Director of the Budget The Director, Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization The Director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chairman, Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities The Department of State The Secretary of State The Under Secretary of State The Director, International Cooperation Administration The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration The Counselor and Chairman of the Policy Planning Council The Director of Intelligence and Research The Treasury Department The Secretary of the Treasury 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 Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs) The Assistant to Secretary of Defense (Special Operations) The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Chief of Staff, United States Army Commandant, United States Marine Corps U.S. Rep., Military Committee and Standing Group, NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Commander in Chief, Pacific The Director, The Joint Staff The Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff The Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army The Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of Navy The Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force The Department of Justice The Attorney General The Federal Bureau of Investi'gation The Director The Atomic Energy Commission The Chairman The National Security Agency The Director The United States Information Agency The Director The National Indications Center The Di rector CONFIDENTIAL Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 CO2026617 7.""""-/z/ '