CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1960/12/17

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02993701
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: March 17, 2020
• Document Release Date: March 26, 2020
• Publication Date: December 17, 1960

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17 December 1960
Copy No. C - 75
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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17 DECEMBER 1960
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
USSR tests another supersonic aerody-
namic vehicle.
Vietnamese Communists to announce on
20 December united front throughout
South Vietnam.
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Somali Republic to recognize Communist
China.
Shah says he plans parliamentary elec-
tions will choose candidates himself.
Situation in the Congo.
Ethiopia--Coup attempt has collapsed.
III. THE WEST
Italy--Political tension rising.
Ecuador to establish relations with
USSR.
:OP SECRET
0
LATE ITEM
0 Situation in Laos.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
17 December 1960
DAILY BRIEF
I. THE COM1VIUNIST BLOC
� USSR: On 16 December. the USSR launched what is be
lievia7-5.'-be a large supersonic aerodynamic vehicle called
Hotcross in the intelligence community. The last test of
such a vehicle took place on 23 March. The latest vehicle
was launched from Vladimirovka and was apparently pro-
gramed to fly to the Kamchatka impact area of the Tyura
Tam Missile Test Range. In the three previous transcon-
tinental tests, the Hotcross vehicles were also scheduled
to fly to Kamchatka: two are known to have crashed en
route; the third possibly completed its flight. According
to preliminary analysis
the vehicle traveled 2,800 nautical miles and may
have reached its apparent destination near Klyuchi, a dis-
tance of about 4,000 nautical miles. The vehicle flew at an
altitude of approximately 65,000 feet and at speeds of 1,600
to 1,800 knots, conforming to performance characteristics
of Hotcross observed to date. The role of the Hotcross
vehicle is not known, but it is estimated that such a vehicle
could be employed for weapon delivery, reconnaissance, or
for investigation of problem areas related to high-speed ,
flight.
North Vietnam - South Vietnam: The Vietnamese Com-
munists have designated 20 December as the date for pub-
licizing the establishment of a united front throughout South
Vietnam,
This move will
be a dramatic advance in Hanoi's two-pronged campaign to
topple the Diem regime, combining stepped-up guerrilla ac-
tivity with political agitation among elements opposed to
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President Diem, The Communists in the South, acting on or-
ders from North Vietnam, appear to be trying to exploit the
widespread non-Communist dissatisfaction with the government
evidenced by the abortive coup of 11 November.
(Page 1)
I I. ASIA-AFRICA
Somali Republic - Communist China: Prime Minister
Abdirascid announced in the Somali parliament on 14 Decem-
ber that his government had decided to recognize Communist
China and exchange diplomatic representatives. The decision,
the result of an assiduous campaign by Peiping in competition
with Nationalist Chinapeportedly was made following a recent
conversation between Abdirascid and the Chinese Communist
ambassador in Cairo. An official Chinese delegation reportedl
Mincrarliarin in 1-ha many fiitivrA
Iran: LThe Shah of Iran hopes to ('
begin parliamentary elections within the next ten days. He plans
to allow voters a choice between at least two contenders for each
seat and he will personally select the candidates. The Shah in-
tends to order local authorities not to manipulate the voting on
behalf of their favorites. It is unlikely that such an order would
be followed. Public knowledge of the wholesale rigging of last
August's elections forced the Shah to suspend them. A new elec-
toral fiasco could cause public disturbances
(Page 2)
Congo: The pro-Lumumba regime at Stanleyville has not
yet taken any action against Europeans there; it is mainly con-
cerned with nrpnaratinns In met a nncasihip attaelr y the Congo
Army. in adjoin-
ing Equateur ,province, -trom i,uuu to 1,300 men have been
called to military service in Stanleyville;' presumably in addi-
tion to pro-Lumumba militia who have controlled the city. In
Leopoldville, Congo Army commanders and key, staff officers
down to the battalion level have been called together by Mobutu,
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possibly to discuss military action against the dissidents.
Recent overtures by Ghanaian President Nkrumah con-
cerning an African army to restore Lumumba to power in the
Congo appear to have stimulated little enthusiasm among neu-
tralist Afro-Asian states. Although some form of military
consultative arrangement may be agreed upon among Ghana,
Guinea, Sudan, and the UAR, the government press in Cairo
has emphasized that the UAR has "its own plans" for combat-
ing "foreign aggression" in Africa. (Page 3)
*Ethiopia,: Troops loyal to the Emperor have regained al-
most complete: control of Addis Ababa, and the coup attempt
apparently has collapsed. Loyalists have freed the crown
prince and other officials who were being held in the palace.
Most of the dissidents are at large in the Addis Ababa area.
Elle army reportedly has issued orders for the arrest of the
ringleaders, including Bodyguard commander General Menghis-
tou, Director of Security Workeneh, and Germami Neway, Men-
ghistou's brother,who r..ortedly was the behind-the-scenes
leader of the dissidents 3 The Emperor, who landed in Asmara
on the afternoon of 16 December, can be expected to impose
severe nunishment.on
111. TILL Wbb 1
Italy: Political tensions are rising as the Christian Dem-
ocrats are negotiating for allies outside the four parties sup-
porting the government; only with such alliances will they be
able to govern key cities where the four parties do not have a
majority following the local elections on 6 and 7 November.
The Christian Democrats are playing down the national polit-
ical significance of the local collaboration with the Nenni So-
cialists which is urged by the government's moderate left sup-
porters. Opposition by right-wing Christian Democrats and
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DAILY BRIEF ill
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Liberals to such collaboration could build up pressures
leading to the fall of Fanfani's government.
(Page 5)
Ecuador: Ecuador's pro-Castro anti-US minister of
government--the principal exponent of pro-bloc policies
within the governmen1
formed Ecuadorean Communist leaders on 13 December
that the cabinet had secretly decided to establish relations
with the USSR. Three days earlier Foreign Minister Chiri-
boga had announced that Ecuador and CzechoslovakiaRould
soon exchange diplomatic missions of legation rank. (Pres-
ident Velasco told Ambassador Bernbaum on 14 December
that while Ecuador is willing to establish relations with the
USSR, he will neither take the initiative nor yield to domes-
tic pressures for close ties with the bloc or withdrawal frrffn
the Organization of American States (OASc-f
IV. SPECIAL WATCH COMMITTEE CONCLUSIONS
Con the basis of findings of a Special Watch Committee
Meeting on 16 December 1960 concerning developments re-
lating to Laos, the United States Intelligence Board concludes
thati
Erhe recent developments in Laos have undoubtedly forced
the Communists to review, their tactics and immediate objec-
tives,'
rSuch evidence as we have to date regarding Communist in-
tentions is susceptible of two interpretationg!3
Ca. A decision to rely on the Kong Le/Pathet Lao forces
with such increased assistance as is required in materiel anki
17 Dec 60
DAILY BRIEF
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Gelected personnel, to prevent the Phoumi- Boun Oum
forces from establishing effective control of Laoga
lb. A decision to intervene openly with Democratic
Republic of Vietnam or Chinese Communist force.
CThe course of action "a" would not only advance
Communist interests in Laos but would also allow full
opportunity for attempting to isolate and discredit the US.
Although the evidence better supports the adoption of
course "a," open intervention under course "b" is not
precluded even though such a course might involve sub-
stantial risks to the bloc-4
LATE ITEM
*Laos; The bloc continues its threatening propaganda 0 K.
line charging US and Thai "interference" in Laos. The bloc tt)
airlift also continued unabated through 16 December; a total
of 37 Sino-Soviet transports are now involved in this opera- _tp41
tion. In Vientiane, some Phoumi forces apparently have oc-
cupied the airfield, while other elements are continuing their
attempts to clear the town of remaining pockets�oferesistance.
(Page 6)
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DAILY BRIEF
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North Vietnam - South Vietnam
The Vietnamese Communists have designated 20 De-
cember as the date for publicizing the establishment of a
united front throughout South Vietnam.
widespread circulation of a
printed proclamation to be followed by demonstrations,
meetings, and dissemination of propaganda leaflets and
banners. These activities are directed toward "mobiliz-
ing thoroughly" all segments of the South Vietnamese
population, including government and army personnel.
� Although the Communists are confident that their con-
trol in some areas is sufficiently secure to permit open
establishment of local front committees, the directive
cautions that "the situation is still fraught with many dif-
ficulties." Aware that the Diem government is likely to
take reprisals against any persons who can be identified
with the movement, it warns against identifying the front
with "the name of the party" and appears to postpone the
selection of members of the front's central committee..
Although apparently caught by surprise when a coup
attempt was made against Diem on 11 November, the
Communists now appear to be moving rapidly to exploit
the widespread non-Communist dissatisfaction evidenced
that time.
Communists in me soutn to cultivate opposition ele-
ments involved in the coup.
Hanoi has embarked on a two-pronged campaign to
topple the Diem regime, combining stepped-up guerrilla
activities with political agitation among non-Communist
opposition groups in South Vietnam, In September Le
Duan, Ho Chi Minh's top lieutenant in party affairs, called
for a broadly based united front south of the 17th parallel
and indicated that Hanoi believed dissatisfaction in the
South was sufficiently widespread to permit enlarging the
"reunification s rilacrIP" hPunrirl thQtho'n of purely guer-
rilla warfare.
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mu.
Iranian Elections Scheduled to Begin Next Week
&he Shah
hopes to begin parliamentary elections,, minium the
next ten days. He plans to allow voters a choice between
at least two contenders for each seat, but will personally
select the candidates, thus ensuring a parliament respon-
sive to his demands. The Shah claims he will not attempt
to assure the victory of any particular individual or party,
and he intends to order local authorities notto;cinfluence
voting on behalf of their favorites. It seems unlikely that
many local officials will refrain from manipulating the
voting, but the Shah may hope to avoid the obvious involve-
ment of central government officials:}
Oremier Sharif-Emami and Interior Minister Alavi-
Moqadarn are urging the Shah torallow an unrestricted
number of independents to stand for election. They be-
lieve that if no party wins a clear majority, their chances
of retaining office will be increased. Allahyer Saleh, a
prominent independent who is distrusted by the Shah for
his popularity and past association with former Premier
Mossadeq, apparently will be permitted to run. Former
Premier Eqbal, who was forced to resign last August over
election scandals, is actively leading the Melliyun party
in the hope of again becoming premier.
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The Situation in the Congo
The pro-Lumumba regime at Stanleyville has not yet
taken any action against Europeans there; it is mainly con-
cerned with preparations to meet a possible attack by the
Congo Army. Although Ethiopian troops of the UN Command
have been concentrated in Stanleyville, concern for Euro-
peans outside the provincial capital has prompted the UN to
maintain units in the towns of Bunia, Buta, and Paulis.
in Equateur
Province, "from 1,000 to 1,300 men have been called to mil-
itary service in Stanleyville," presumably in addition to the
pro-Lumumba militia who have controlled the city since late
September. Although the dissidents have sought to extend their
influence outside Orientale Province, their present disposition
appears defensive.
Recent overtures by Ghanaian President Nkrumah con-
cerning an African army to restore Lumumba to power in the
Congo appear to have stimulated little enthusiasm among neu-
tralist African states. The government press in Cairo has
emphasized that the UAR has "its own plans" for combating
"foreign aggression" in Africa, but some form of military.con-
sultative arrangement may be agreed upon among Ghana, Guinea,
Sudan, and the UAR. Cairo may confine its aid to the dissidents
to financial assistance and military equipment, notwithstanding
Gizenga's recent appeal for troops.
&here are indications, however, that Gizenga's claim to
represent the legal Congo government may bear fruit in terms
�
with Lumumba in prison, Gizenga can be as-
sumed to be acting premier.;
he USSR appears to be awaiting the outcome of de-
velopments affecting the Stanleyville group and the attitude or
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CAfrican and Asian countries toward Gizenga's "government."
Radio Moscow reported that Gizenga had assumed respon-
sibility and moved the seat of government to Stanleyville, but
the USSR has not yet explicitly recognized his regime. Mos-
cow is continuing its efforts to rally opposition by Afro-Asian
countries to the UN Congo operation and to Mobutu11
In Leopoldville, Congo Army commanders and key staff
officers down to the battalion level gathered on 14 December
at Mobutu's call, apparently for a major council of war. The
meeting was characterized as one "to establish goals and
means," presumably with respect to Stanleyville. Mobutu's
deputy chief of staff indicated that units stationed in Orientale
Province had not been invited, partly because their loyalty was
f
suspect and Daftly becausn n the transportation problem in-
volved.
17 Dec 60 CEFI'M A I 1k11-01 I le*Gkle40 ni rrak.
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� CONFIDENTIAL
The Christian Democra s are now negotiating for new
local allies because the 6-7 liovember.local elections in
many cities, including Rome, Milan, Genoa, Turin, Venice,
and Florence, failed to give a majority to either the coalition
supporting the national government--Christian Democrats,
Social Democrats, Republicans, and Liberals--or to the Nenni
Socialists and Communists. The Christian Democratic party
is pledged not to form municipal governments with the Commu-
nists or neo-Fascists, and one or the other of its various fac-
tions opposes any nationwide collaboration with the Nenni So-
cialists or with the Monarchists, who have too few city coun-
cil seats to offer important municipal solutions on a large
scale.
Christian Democratic party leaders are anxious to play
down the significance of local commitments to the Nenni So-
cialists because of the implications such commitments would
have for the national government. Apprehension on the part of
the Liberal party lest the national government rely on Nenni
Socialist parliamentary support led to the collapse of the Segni
government in February 1960. The extent of Christian Demo-
cratic collaboration with the Socialists in municipal councils
may therefore determine the life of the Fanfani coalition.
Nenni is stressing the significance of local agreements,
however, in order to convince his own party's left wing that his
policy of independence of the Communists is paying off. Nenni
and his supporters fear that failure to achieve alliances with
the Christian Democrats in important cities would hurt him vis-
a-vis the Socialist left wing at the March party congress. He
has been pressing for collaboration in the Sicilian regional gov-
ernment with the Christian Democrats, who now participate with
the neo-Fascists and Monarchists.
Meanwhile the Communists are attempting to draw the So-
cialists back into united action by exploiting a series of strikes
in the railway and industrial sectors. Additional strikes are
threatened by teachers, newsmen, and shopkeepers. The strikes
are based on economic issues, and not only the Communist-
dominated CGIL but the largely Christian Democratic and Social
� unions have participated in most of them.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Situation in Laos
The bloc continues its threatening propaganda line
charging US and Thai "interference" in Laos. A Moscow
Home Service broadcast of 15 December attacked "Amer-
ican imperialists" as bearing full responsibility for the
Laotian crisis. The broadcast warned that US interference
in Laos was "provoking a wide military conflict" and prom-
ised a "clean sweep of the transatlantic interventionists."
Communist China's People's Daily stated on 16 December
that the Laotian people "are not alone," and North Korea is-
sued an official statement on 15 December charging the US
with "a flagrant violation" of the Geneva agreements on Indo-
china and with creating a "grave threat to the peace of the
world." North Vietnam continues to describe the Laotian
situation in terms of "a direct threat to the DRV."
The bloc justifies its actions in Laos by insisting that
Souvanna Phouma still heads the legal government. In a
move possibly intended to sound out the Burmese position
on this subject,
called on a Burmese official on 15 December to
state Hanoi's view on Souvanna and to inform the Burmese
that North Vietnam wanted a political solution in Laos. The
North Vietnamese diplomat stated that Souvanna was the only
individual qualified to form a coalition government.
The North Vietnamese recently withdrew transportation
from the ICC inspection teams at Haiphong and Vinh in North
Vietnam. The US Embassy in Saigon suggests this move may
�be intended to hamper observation of military movements. In
view of the supply lift to North Vietnam, the Canadian ICC
delegation for Vietnam has requested urgent ICC considera-
tion of apparent violation of the Geneva agreements. A spe-
cial meeting will take up this question on 20 December.
The bloc airlift in support of the Pathet Lao continued un-
abated through 16 December. Apart from the five Soviet IL-14s
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which were rtittected in flight to Vientiane on WDecem-
ber, two AN-2s, one LI-2, and one MI-4 helicopter--all
probably North Vietnamese�were scheduled to fly on 15
December, probably to the Sam Neua area. Several addi-
tional Chinese Communist transports subordinate to the
3rd Independent Regiment and two of naval subordination
have joined the 17 transports of the 13th Air Division in
airlift operations to Nanning. There are now a total of 37
Sino-Soviet transports involved in airlift operations. Some
of the 3rd Independent Regiment transports have been noted
in flight from Peiping to Hanoi. Also, three Chinese Com-
munist civil transports flew to Hanoi from Canton, Kunming,
and Hankow respectively on 16 December.
the planes were carrying "freight."
Some of the cargo is probably POL which Moscow asked
Peiping on 14 December to send to Hanoi for purposes of
refueling the IL-14s engaged in the airlift. Moscow in-
formed Peiping that the fuel shipment was necessary be-
cause "our fuel is delayed en route," and stated it would
compensate Peiping.
(Personnel evacuated from Vientiane report that Kong
Le's artillery and mortar fire has been very accurate and
that the destruction of US installations appeared deliberate.
The accuracy of the Kong Le - Pathet Lao artillery and mor-
tar fire tends to substantiate earlier reports of the arrival
of North Vietnamese gunners in Laos. Phoumi's Radio Sayan-
nalchet he claimed the capture of "some" North Vietnamese
soldiers.
In Vientiane, one of Phoumi's commanders claims that
commando elements under Major Siho have occupied the air-
field to the northwest of the town. Other Phoumi elements are
continuing their efforts to clear the town itself of remaining
pockets of resistance. The whereabouts of Captain Kong Le
and the bulk of his retreating force is unknown; they may link
up with Pathet Lao elements in outlying districts of Vientiane
Province, where together the two forces would pose a continu=
ing threat to Vientiane.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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
Director, Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization
Director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination
Chairman, Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities
Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy
Executive Secretary, National Security Council
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 Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary of State 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
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
The Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Air Force
The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
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
Commandant, United States Marine Corps
Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Special Operations
Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army
Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of Navy
Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander in Chief, Pacific
The Department of Commerce
The Secretary of Commerce
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
Atomic Energy Commission
The Chairman
National Security Agency
The Director
National Indications Center
The Director
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