CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/03/14

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02066866
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RIPPUB
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U
Document Page Count: 
25
Document Creation Date: 
January 27, 2020
Document Release Date: 
January 30, 2020
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Publication Date: 
March 14, 1958
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'OW 'Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 35(C),/.5(C fa 3.3(h)(2) le '7 14 March 1958 Copy No. an CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. i iANGE. 4 CL.P.SS. 111, ICA IS I:el , 0 -TOP-SECRET- `IZZ/Z/Z/ZZ/41/WriApproved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO20668W /Z Approved for�ReTea;e7-2Z1-6/T8720 CO2066866 ,gor' �T.A4)�C-PA-1*IPT� Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 4 Nil 4 4004�4 1.4.4 14 MARCH 1958 I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC USSR now calling for foreign ministers' meeting prior to summit conference; still desires procedural issues only be discussed. Seven small Soviet cargo ships south- bound in East China Sea may be for Indonesia; first ship could arrive bli 15 March. Soviet-Yugoslav relations likely to become more strained. Reports of unidentified submarine contacts in West Atlantic continue at higher than normal level. II. ASIA-AFRICA Indonesia - Amphibious attack on Cen- tral Sumatra west coast may be launched 17 March. Egyptian and Syrian attacks on Saud, linking him with the US, continue at high pitch. \ 0 Egypt may shortly base naval ships in Yemeni waters. 0 Tunisia - President Bourguiba angered over new French note. 0 Egypt intensifies covert activities in Sudan to overcome setback from Suda- nese parliamentary elections. 0 Nationalist Ctiina breaks off trade nego- tiations with Japan in protest against Tokyo-Peiping trade agreement; threatens to recall ambassador. New Indian finance minister, Morarji Desai, is one of ablest Indian adminis- trators. III. THE WEST Britain now plans to reduce its troops in West Germany to 45,000. @ Foreign policy Crisis brewing in West Germany. 0 Colombia - Congressional election on 16 March may be marked by violence. _ TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866' s \ VI LLICLI '#+4,41 4104 N \I \I 14 MARCH 1958 019,/ 4--tS CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DAILY BRIEF I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC Summit�Soviet view: Moscow is now publicly calling for a foreign ministe-Fir-meeting in preference to "secret" diplomatic preparations for a heads-of-government con- ference, apparently in the hope of clinching Western agree- ment to summit talks without prior substantive preparation. On 10 March, Ithrushchev argued that diplomatic prepara- tions�which were previously supported by the USSR--might "torpedo" a summit meeting, whereas public opinion could "assess" a foreign ministers' session. He repeated the So- viet view that the foreign ministers should confine them- selves to procedural issues. (Page 1) Soviet ships for Indonesia: Seven small Soviet general cargo merchant ships are southbound in the East China Sea. The secrecy surrounding the movements of these ships sug- gests that the USSR is quickly fulfilling its agreement to provide Indonesia with vessels for interisland shipping. The first of these ships could arrive in Indonesia as early as 15 March. (Page 2) Yugoslavia - USSR: Yugoslav-Soviet relations are likely to take a marked turn for the worse. In preparation for their April party congress the Yugoslays have published a new party program, aggressively reaffirming their inde- pendent road to socialism and implicitly criticizing Moscow. Such a "revisionist" program will undoubtedly be a target of the new international Communist journal which has just been established in Prague. (Page 3) 120-1)-SEGRET N �k>4 \\\\ .NApproved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 cve- z.1* Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 C-02066866 Att Unidentified submarine contacts: Reports of Un- identified submarine contacts in the western Atlantic continue at a higher than normal level. (Page 4) IL ASIA-AFRICA Indonesia: an amphibious attack is planned on the Padang area of the west coast of Central Sumatra for 17 March and will be concentrated near the town of Pariaman, 30 miles north of Padang. (Page 5) (Map) Watch Committee conclusion�Indonesia: There is no evidence o ino- ovie in en ion to ecome militarily in- volved in the Indonesian situation. The Djakarta govern- X-4) ment is proceeding with military measures to subdue the dissidents, but an early resolution of the issue is unlikely. The general situation continues to favor the Communist position on Java and exploitation by the Sib-Soviet bloc. Saud vs. Nasir: Egyptian and Syrian attacks on King Saud, linking him with the United States, continue at a high pitch. Saudi Crown Prince Faysal is alleged to have asked )1,0 Nasir to spare the Saudi royal family in the course of Nasir's denunciation of King Saud. Saud's UN ambassador, Ahmed Shuquaire, who may secretly aligned himself with Nasir in the Saudi-UAR dispute, recommended strongly to Saud on 11 March that Shuquaire be appointed the King's emissary to effect a reconciliation with Nasir. If Saud accepts the offer, Nasir may have an excellent source of intelligence on Saud's intentions. (Page 6) Egypt - Yemen: Yemen's affiliation with the United Arab Reliiiblic may be followed shortly by dispatch of Egyptian naval ships to be based in Yemeni waters. Yemen 14 Mar 58 DAILY BRIEF ii 64. TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 z,,alcrvAA� � � Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 4 '1 4fir haor LI N./ � 4..1 I Noro volif \\` kuo is constructing a "military area" on the coast at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. artillery pieces have been brought into the coastal area, where emplacements were observed last summer. In mid-February a Soviet survey team is reported to have visited the area for the purpose of laying out a military installation. (Page 7) (Map) Tunisia - France: President Bourguiba has publicly and privately displayed angry frustration at a recent Paris note implying continued Tunisian subservience to France in matters of defense and foreign affairs. This attitude is re- flected in his implicit rejection on 11 March of Premier Gail- lard's counterproposal presented by the good offices mission and in his reiteration that France must publicly accept the principle of Tunisian sovereignty over Bizerte. Gaillard is equally adamant that France cannot relinquish its claim to Bizerte, (Page 8) Sudan - Egypt: Egypt is maneuvering to minimize the setback to ifs interests which it suffered in the recent Suda- nese parliamentary elections. Nasir has instructed his agents in the Sudan to provide money for the pro Egyptian National Unionist party (NUP)� to obtain adherents from among the "independent" candidates elected, and to try to bring together the NUP and the People's Democratic party, which has been pro-Western Prime Minister Khalil's principal coalition partner. (Page 9) Watch Committee conclusion--Middle East: A deliberate initation of hostilities in the Middle East is considered un- likely in the near future. Serious incidents could arise, how- ever, from continuing border tensions, inter-Arab political frictions, or the possible formation of a Palestinian state in Gaza. Taiwan - Japan: The Chinese Nationalists abruptly broke off trade negotiations with Japan on 13 March because of a 14 Mar 58 DAILY BRIEF iii TOP SECRET \\ pproved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2(5668E6,\\ \ \ \ Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 - TOP SECRET recently signed Japanese - Communist Chinese trade agree- ment. They have lodged a strong protest with the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and Chiang Kai-shek has sent Prime Min- ister Kishi a personal letter of protest. Taipei plans to re- call its ambassador to Tokyo if these steps are not effective. (Page 10) New Indian finance minister: Morarji Desai, newly ap- pointed Indian finance minister, is generally regarded in India and elsewhere as one of the most likely candidates for the prime ministership when Nehru dies or retires. He has had virtually no financial experience but is one of the ablest admin- istrators in the country. V. K. Krishna Menon, who aspired to the Finance Ministry, presumably could not overcome strong objections from other cabinet ministers. (Page 11) III. THE WEST Britain: London now plans to reduce its troops in Germany to 45,000, and Foreign Secretary Lloyd has warned that a com- plete British withdrawal could occur if Germany refuses to con- tribute to the cost of maintaining British forces. Britain now has 63,500 troops in Germany and is conditionally committed to keeping 55,000 there in the coming year. The planned reduction to 45,000 would heighten Continental suspicions of British inten- tions toward defense of the Continent West Germany: A major foreign policy crisis may result from the German unification proposals of Bundestag President Gerstenmaier, who has enlisted support of Germany's leading publisher for a plan to neutralize and unite Germany. Gersten- maier's position reflects mounting Protestant opposition to the relatively inflexible stand on negotiations adopted by the Ade- nauer-led Catholic wing of the Christian Democratic Union. A reconciliation of views between Gerstenmaier and Adenauer re- mains doubtful. 14 Mar 58 DAILY BRIEF _iv f11/1 QPrDrT Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Colombia: The 16 March congressional elections; the first since last May's overthrow of the Rojas dictatorship, (tyt may be marked by considerable violence, despite the mili- tary junta's precautionary measures. (Page 14) 14 Mar 58 DAILY BRIEF "t\ Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC USSR Actively Calling for Foreign Ministers' Session Soviet party chief Khrushchev told Polish jour- nalists on 10 March that a foreign ministers' meeting is a "better" way to prepare for summit talks than "secret" negotiations through diplomatic channels. He said Mos- cow is looking to "public opinion" to force the West into a heads-of-government conference, and argued that the progress of a foreign ministers' meeting can be "fol- lowed by the public." Khrushchev reiterated, however, that the foreign ministers should confine themselves to the preparation of an agenda and other procedural mat- ters for a heads-of-government conference. Premier Bulganin's letters to President Eisenhower in January and February had flatly opposed a meeting of foreign ministers on the grounds that it might raise "addi- tional obstacles" to summit talks. After the West ap- peared willing in early February to prepare for a summit meeting either through diplomatic channels or in a for- eign ministers' session, Moscow in its aide-memoire of 28:Fobruary said it would accept the principle of such a meeting in response to Western "wishes." In his inter- view on 10 March Khrushchev rationalized the Soviet about-face by maintaining that, if a foreign ministers' meeting fails, the Soviet Government will have been proven "right" in pointing out the "miserable chances" of this method of preparation for a heads-of.goverament meeting. Moscow almost certainly will exploit the Khrushchev interview as a concession to Western views and as a demon- stration of the Soviet Union's flexibility and interest in bring- ing about a suiiimit conference. CUNFIDENTLIL 14 Mar 58 Approved for Release: 2019/08I20 �O2066866 Page 1 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 I WA kJ %NW Nrof Soviet Merchant Ships Possibly En Route to Indonesia The routes taken by seven small Soviet merchant ships moving independently from the Soviet Far East through the East China Sea suggest that these vessels are en route to Indonesia. It is estimated that the first 'of these vessels will arrive in Indonesian waters by 15 March, The USSR agreed on 11 March to provide ten small merchant vessels under its $100,000,000 loan to Indo- nesia. In its offer to supply vessels for interisland shipping to replace Dutch ships withdrawn from Indo- nesia, the USSR informed Djakarta that it would be will- ing to supply suitable vessels from its Far Eastern merchant fleet on ten days' notice. TOP SECREF 14 Mar 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Air Yugoslav-Soviet Relations The uneasy state of Yugoslav-Soviet relations will be further strained as a result of Belgrade's publication of its party program--an aggressive statement of its views on the "development of socialism" which is to be the basis for discussions at the Yugoslav party congress in April. While neither Moscow nor Belgrade would favor the reopening of polemics, mutual sensitivities over differences on "socialist development" are such that an open theoretical debate could quickly degenerate into an exchange which would again dis- rupt Yugoslav-Soviet relations. The new international Communist theoretical journal established in Prague on 11 March will undoubtedly be used by Moscow to counter forms of "revisionism," such as enunciated in the Yugoslav program, to tighten international Communist ties and to coordinate activities of the various parties more closely. Belgrade and Warsaw have stead- fastly opposed the re-establishment of any such publication. Those "fraternal" parties such as the Polish, Yugoslav, and the Italian�which did not attend the meeting, will be free to adhere or participate in any manner they consider appropriate in the publication or its work. The new journal apparently is not to be the organ of a revived Cominform. It will probably carry less authority than the old Cominform journal, a weekly newspaper sup- porting a central organization which embraced all the satel- lite Communist parties. r -CONFL9E-N-TEAL--- 14 Mar 58 Approved for Release: 2019/08/2O CO2066866 Page 3 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 ...I.GLIALL I %me Niro' Unidentified Submarine Contacts in the West Atlantic American and Canadian antisubmarine forces have reported a large number of unidentified submarine con- tacts in the western Atlantic well outside US territorial waters from Nova Scotia to Cape,Canaveral since 5 March. Two of 'these contacts have been evaluated as probable sub- marines and 12 have been evaluated as possible submarines. It is likely that many of these contacts were made on the same targets at different times and places. The greatly increased surveillance effort of the past several weeks also could be expected to produce a high number of reports. At present eight contacts off Nova Scotia, Nantucket, Cape May, and Cape Canaveral, are under investigation. 14 Mar 58 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Page 4 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 4...e1-14 VIOW VOW a-kanbaru Bukitti Pariaman Pad N A N C E A -Pipeline I Railroad Road 0 Miles 200 4A1r,4 ..U. Art , ,SUMATRA SiDONESI AUSTRALIA \ NGAPORE Tadjung Pinang RIAU ISUANDS Sun Tr,' --SECRET 80310 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 JA_A...41.1-, ',muse Nig1110i II. ASIA-AFRICA Situation in Indonesia An amphibious attack on the Padang area of Central Sumatra is set for 17 March. The attack will be launched immediately north of Pariaman, a town approximately 30 miles north of Padang. Although Djakarta army leaders hope for a quick defeat of the Sumatrans and are counting on defections among the dissidents, they believe they will need three months to gain complete control over major centers and towns in the area. army leaders expect at least some of dissident leader Hussein's supporters to retire to the jungle and to begin a long peri- od of guerrilla warfare. President Sukarno, meanwhile, has charged that the Central Sumatran rebellion was being "manipulated by foreign powers" in an effort to "drag Indonesia, or part of it, into one of the world blocs." 14 Mar 58 r=kITD A I IkITCI I inckir= RI II I T111/41 page 5 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 �46 Saud-Nasir Dispute The Egyptian and Syrian press have continued their heavy assault on King Saud's plotting against Nasir and the UAR, accompanied by an increased teadency to por- tray Saud as having acted with American support. The basis for further sharp attacks has been prepared With the announcement that the investigation of Saud's conspir- acy in Syria has been completed and that indictments have been drawn up for a forthcoming trial. Nasir's use of the conspiracy as a basis for attack- ing the institution of monarchies may have aroused mis- givings among even pro-Egyptian members of the Saudi royal family. While passing through Lebanon last week on his way to Egypt and Europe, the Saudi interior min- ister allegedly stated that his father, Crown Prince Faysal, had appealed to Nasir not to attack the Saudi royal family in the course of his denunciation of the Saudi plot. Faysal's presumed concern was to prevent the undermining of the Saudi dynasty, in which he would succeed his brother. Meanwhile, Saud's minister of state for UN affairs, Ahmad Shuqayri, who has headed the Saudi delegation to the Geneva conference on laws of the sea, appears to have reconsidered his previously expressed desire, to resign. Shuqayri, a Palestinian who is now a Syrian citizen, earlier advised Nasir of his desire to resign out of disapproval of Saud's role in conspiracy against Nasir. Nasir advised Shuqayri to act as he saw fit, and Shuqayri has now asked Saud for permission to come to Riyadh, offering to serve as an intermediary between ti�e King and UAR authorities. Shuqayri might also serve, however, as a pro-E2vntian observer in the Saudi court. TO? 3CREI 14 Mar 58 r=kITD A I IkITCI InPkIr= RI III PTIM Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866Page 6 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 'rot 164 . \ SAUDI ARABIA \ \ ...--- \ --- ---- 11 � SHIBAM 4-)114, \ ...-- i 'Pt \ � � . EASTERN ADEN , PROTECTORATE , , ) , , , , YEMEN YEMENI GUN I : / trbi EMPLACEMENTS I � M CHA C 'WESTERN ADEN PROTECTORATE .,--' / FRENCH SOMALI LAND CUL % ADEN COLONY (UK) F 0 F �MUKALLA 14 MARCH 0 1958 100 Miles 80224 5 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 002066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 %..0.1 gai.-A-..uti.". Egypt May Send Naval Vessels to Yemen The Imam of Yemen has apparently used his coun- try's affiliation with the United Arab Republic (UAR) to have Egyptian naval vessels stationed in Yemeni waters. On 6 February the Imam requested his son, Crown Prince Badr, to consult with Nasir about obtaining two patrol craft to patrol the Red Sea "between Aden and SW." On 8 March, after a talk with Nasir, the crown prince in- formed his father that Nasir had promised "to expedite the sending of the ships." The Egyptian vessels would also support Nasir in his dispute with King Saud and warn the Saudis against attempting to interfere in Yemen. Yemen is with Soviet and Egyptian help developing a "military area" on the coast at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, athwart the vital tanker route tn Western Europe. artillery pieces, probatiy Soviet 122-mm, guns, have been brought to this area, where emplacements were first observed under preparation last summer. In mid- February, moreover, a Soviet survey team visited the area for the purpose of laying out a military installation, including an airstrip, barracks, and fortifications. TOP SECRET 14 Mar 58 CENTRAL INTFI I inFtsm-F RI III FTIKI page 7 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 002066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 3tA-ttt, Itifo Tunisian President Again Bids for �Anglo-American Backing President Bourguiba has privately and publicly displayed angry frustration at a recent note from Paris implying that Tunisia remains subject to French control in matters of de- fense and foreign affairs. This attitude is reflected in his re- jection on 11 March of Premier Gaillard's counterproposal to the good offices mission that France might evacuate some of its troops but could not relinquish its claim to the base at Bizerte. In his 11 March conversation with the good offices mission, Bourguiba was distraught and at times incoherent. While Bourguiba will accept an early partial evacuation, he also demands that France publicly acknowledge the principle of Tunisian sovereignty over Bizerte. Bourguiba intimated that essentially he desires Anglo- American backing in his controversy with France. He made this point more forcefully in a radio speech on 13 March in which he demanded that the United States and Britain "make up their minds... and say which side is right." He also can- celed celebrations to commemorate the second anniversary of Tunisian independence on 20 March, and indicated a willing- ness to order military action against the French troops. SECRET 14 Mar 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 8 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 SECRET Nasir Attempts to Counteract Setback in the Sudan President Nasir has moved to counteract the setback to Egyptian political influence in the Sudan represented by the recent election success of Prime Minister Khalil's pro-Western Umma party. He has ordered the payment of funds to the Umma's major rival, the pro-Egyptian National Unionist party (NUP), for use in buying the allegiance of "independents" elected to the new parliament. He has also ordered the start of an effort to "amalgamate" the NUP with the People's Democratic party (PDP), the Umma's chief support in the coalition now planning to form a new govern- ment. The uncertain loyalties of a considerable number of newly elected representatives, as well as the unofficial nature of the announced returns, make present estimates of relative party strengths only tentative. It appears, however, that Khalil will need the support of about 20 members outside his own party in order to oontrol a bare majority in the 173- member house and ensure his continuance as prime minister. He is counting on the support of most of the estimated 25 PDP and 18 Southern Liberal party (SLT) members and will prob- ably be backed by some of the apptoximately 25 "independents." Nothing less than a mass defection from the coalition could give control to the NUP core of 44-45 members. It is unlikely that Nasir's efforts to win or buy opposition to the coalition will prevent Khalil's retention of the premier- ship and control of a house majority, but a significant accre- tion of pro-Egyptian strength could hinder his freedom of ac- tion. SECRET 14 Mar 58 rckITD Al IMUTPI I inrmrp RI II I FTIKI page 9 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 IL: IL/11117 1 1.11U4� Noe 1111, Nationalist China Protests Japan-Communist China Trade Agreement Nationalist China's decision to break off trade nego- tiations with Japan is intended to induce the Japanese Gov- ernment to withhold approval of the trade agreement pri- vately signed with Communist China on 5 March. If this move fails, the Nationalists intend to withdraw their am- bassador from Tokyo. The Kishi government probably will attempt to assure the Nationalists that closer trade relations with mainland China do not constitute recogni- tion of the Peiping regime. The sharp Nationalist reaction probably stems from fears that neutralism, which ultimately will contribute to international isolation of the Nationalist Government, is developing in Japan, Foreign Minister Yeh revealed his anxiety about Japan's China policy last summer to American officials and mentioned his alarm at the growing commercial relations between Japan and Communist China. Yeh has instructed the Chinese Nationalist Embassy in Tokyo to pro- test any permission for the Chinese Communist trade mis- sion to fly the Communist flag. Japan is the major recipient of Taiwan's sugar and rice, the main source of Nationalist China's foreign exchange. Two- way trade last year totaled $141,000,000. Even if the custom- ary barter agreement between Taiwan and Japan is not con- cluded this year, individual contracts may be negotiated to continue the flow of goods. The Nationalists may seek to re- strict this trade to bring pressure on Japan. but only as a iasort. CONFIDENTIAL 14 Mar 58 rFKITPAI IKITF1110.FMCF RI III FTIM page 10 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Ato,SECRET4114 New Indian Finance Minister Appointed Sixty-two-year-old Morarji Desail who became Indian finance minister in a general cabinet shuffle announced on 13 March, is a moderate socialist and a devout Hindu. He has risen rapidly since 1956 from the post of chief minister of Bombay State, through the Commerce and Industry Min- istry, to the important Finance Ministry. His new appoint- ment is a promotion, but the post is one of the most dif- ficult in the Indian cabinet. Desai, despite a lack of financial experience, may prove successful in his new job because of his widely recognized administrative talents and the fact that basic Five-Year-Plan financial policies are already fairly well established. Despite his promotion, Desai may have lost a covert battle for power with his senior in age and experience, Home Minister Pant. Apparently both men recognized the com- plexities of Indian financial problems and felt that the Home Ministry was a better steppingstone to the Prime Ministry. Desai, therefore, is rumored to have tried to force Pant into the Finance Ministry. 14 Mar 58 Ai7)131:o7e-d for 201'9./6'026' COHTEa66 Page 11 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 s Ni�W Nue III. THE WEST Britain Plans Further Cuts of Forces in Germany Britain's present plan to maintain on the Continent five brigade groups totaling 45,000 men from 1959 to 1961 represents a further reduction of 10,000 from the number the WEU Council approved in January for the coming year. British planners regard this as the appropriate proportion for the Continent of the total future armed forces of 375,- 000 by 1962. Foreign Secretary Lloyd told German Foreign Minister Brentano on 6 March in Rome that failure to solve the sup- port cost problem would force a complete or major with- drawal of British forces from Germany. That warning, and British press speculations on a 35,000-man reduction, ap- pear to reflect the Treasury view that even the 45,000 may be more than London can afford. The present plans and threats of complete withdrawal will intensify European suspicions of Britain's long-term in- tentions toward defense of the Continent and thus indirectly further impede London's efforts to establish a European free trade area. General Norstad has warned the British that such an advance decision on the cut would subject Britain to criticism from its allies for acting before approval of this year's special study of minimum forces essential to NATO over the next five years, and would also adversely affect the Western position in any negotiations with the USSR. 14 Mar 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 12 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 AR SECRET Foreign Policy Dispute Continues in Bonn The president of the West German Bundestag, Eugen Gerstenmaier, one of the leaders of Chancellor Adenauer's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has sought the support of Germany's leading publisher Axel Springer for a unifica- tion elan which would neutralize Germany, Gerstenmaier already has secured approval of a top Social Democratic party official. The support of Springer, a strong neutralist recently returned from Moscow, would provide an outlet in publications having the widest circulation in Germany. An early appearance of the plan in the Springer publications would provide added ammunition for the opposition parties' new campaign against atomic weapons and for a nuclear-free zone. The CDU Bundestag faction held a stormy session on 11 March. When Adenauer attempted to reimpose a strong discipline on policy statements, one of Gerstenmaier's sup- porters walked out of the meeting. Since Gerstenmaier's plan departs markedly from the government position on non- recognition of East Germany and freedom of alliances for united Germany, Chancellor Adenauer will have difficulty in compromising with Gerstenmaier's views. Several CDU deputies are convinced, however, that Gerstenmaier will be forced to back down, in view of the increasing number of deputies who are adopting a more negative attitude toward his'nronosals. -Ste-RE-T 14 Mar 58 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 Page 13 Approved_ for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 tt/ftritliftlYttitt The Colombian Congressional Elections With the approach of the 16 March Colombian con- gressional elections, the first since the .overthrow of the Rojas dictatorship last May, the political situation is be- coming increasingly restless. A recent increase in violence and banditry resulting in more than 300 killings a month in the provinces, a week-long student strike in Medellin, and a three-hour riot in Bogota between moder- ate and rightist Conservatives over the selection of a unity presidential candidate presage further violence dur- ingtheelectiOns, The government is still considering the suspension of elections in areas of the greatest unrest and has banned all political meetings or demonstrations before 17 March. The congressional elections will be carried out in bonformity with the plebiscite which overwhelmingly ap- proved the constitutional amendment establishing a parity of Liberals and Conservatives in the government for 12 years. The conduct of the elections will to a degree fore- cast the possibility of bipartisan political cooperation and prospects for political stability. Junta member Genpral Ordonez has admitted that the presidential election sched- uled for 4 May could conceivably be 'postponed if the political parties cannot agree on a joint presidential candi- date. -CONFIDENTIAL- 14-sMar 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 14 Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866 - Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866' TOP SECRET �ow CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 14 MARCH 1958 DAILY BRIEF � Soviet ships for Indonesia: Seven small Soviet genera-I - cargo merchant ships are southbound in the East China Sea. The secrecy surrounding the movements of these ships sug- gests that the USSR is quickly fulfilling its agreement to provide Indonesia with vessels for interisland shipping. The first of these ships could arrive in Indonesia as early as 15 March. (Page 2) Yugoslavia - USSR Yugoslav-Soviet relations are likely to take a marked-turn for the worse. In preparation for their April party congress the Yugoslays have published a new party program, aggressively reaffirming their inde- pendent road to socialism and implicitly criticizing Moscow. Such a "revisionist" program will undoubtedly be a target of the new international Communist journal which has just been established in Prague. (Page 3) Watch Committee conclusion�Indonesia: There is no evidence of ino-Soviet intention to become militarily in- volved in the Indonesian situation. The Djakarta govern- ment is proceeding with military measures to subdue the dissidents, but an early resolution of the issue is unlikely. The general situation continues to favor the Communist position on Java and exploitation by the Sino-Soviet bloc. �Watch Committee conclusion--Middle East. A deliberate initiation of hostilities in the Middle East is considered un- likely in the near future. Serious incidents could arise, how- ever, from continuing border tensions, inter-Arab political frictio s or the nossible formation of a Palestinian state in Gaza. Egypt - Yemen: Yemen's affiliation with the United Arab Republic may be followed shortly by dispatch of Egyptian naval ships to be based in Yemeni waters. Yemen is constructing a "military area" on the coast at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. artillery pieces have been brought into the coastal area, where emplacements were observed last summer. In mid-February a Soviet survey team is reported to have visited the area for the purpose of laying out a rrdlit_l_b-h,tilsta (Page 7) (Map) Colombia: The 16 March congressional elections, the first since last May's overthrow of the Rojas dictatorship, may be marked by considerable violence, despite the mili- tary junta's precautionary measures. (Page 14) Approved for Release: 2019/08/20 CO2066866