CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/02/04

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02993971
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
August 20, 2019
Document Release Date: 
August 30, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 4, 1954
File: 
Body: 
-120-P-S-EGRE Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 4 February 1954 Copy No. 4 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO, 4 / NO CHANGE IN CLASS, I DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE 009 AUTH: HR 70t DATE: REVIEWER: Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY / , TOP SECRET / 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) f.4 /74 Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 Wiwi I Li I d 1%.LS A SUMMARY GENERAL 1. FAR EAST 2. South Korea planning to demand criminal jurisdiction over UN troops (page 3). SOUTHEAST ASIA 3. Opposition Indonesian army commanders reportedly asked to resign (page 4). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Comment on the Syrian crisis (page 4). WESTERN EUROPE 5. France reportedly sounds out Spain on Moroccan compromise (page 5). * * * * TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971- 4 Feb 54 Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 -441.01 L., 1�� \ Ls A 1111, FAR EAST 2, South Korea planning to demand criminal jurisdiction over UN troops: Public statements by Foreign Minister Pyun in the past few days confirm that the Rhee government is now drafting an administrative agreement covering the s us o S orces in South Korea and giving the Rhee government criminal jurisdiction over them, according to the American embassy in Seoul. The draft aims at arrangements comparable to those pro- vided under the NATO, US-Japan and US-Philippines agreements. Comment: Some UN members probably will prefer to withdraw their troops from Korea rather than to sub- ject them to Korean justice. TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 4 Feb 54 Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 1. %L .S A Rhee is motivated principally by a desire to gain equal treatment with Japan in all his relations with the United States. There is neither popular pressure in South Korea for such arrangements nor political opposition to exploit the issue. SOUTHEAST ASIA 3. Opposition Indonesian army commanders reportedly asked to resign: The Indonesian government reportedly has asked the two leading anti-Communist territorial commanders, Colonels Kawilarang and Simbolon, to resign in order to avoid dismissal and disgrace. Their reply is not yet known. Comment: Kawilarang and Simbolon have been leaders of the army opposition to the policies of the pro-Communist defense minister. Their removal would pave the way for the government's use of the army for political purposes as a preliminary to the elections scheduled for 1955. A demand for the colonels' resignation might result in open resistance by antigovernment army commands. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Comment on the Syrian crisis: Syrian president Shishakli remains in control of the country) thanks to his hold on the army, but his posi- tion has been seriously weakened by the current unrest. Shishakli has failed in a major effort, undertaken last July, to sell his military dictatorship as a consti- tutional regime. He is faced with opposition from old-line politi- cians, left-wing radicals, ex-army officers, fanatical religious leaders and the Druze tribesmen in the south. He must rely in- creasingly on inexperienced administrators, incompetent army officers and many opportunists in parliament. - 4 - TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 4 Feb 54 Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 I. k.../ I , In this situation Shishakli must rely on severe repression to preserve his regime. Fear of popular opposi- tion lessens his ability to cooperate with the United States on an eco- nomic agreement, on resettlement of Arab refugees, and on the development of the Jordan River valley. WESTERN EUROPE 5. France reportedly sounds out Spain on Moroccan compromise; On 1 February the Spanish charg�n Tangier confirmed to the American minister that France has sounded out Spain on a compromise proposal to re- place the present sultan of Morocco with the second son of the former sultan. He stated that Spain is more interested in a "positive reaffirmation" of its rights in Morocco than in who occupies the throne. The American minister believes the French proposal could be an "all-around face-saver" if Spain can be persuaded that France is genuinely interested in settling out- standing problems and willing to reaffirm Spanish rights. Comment: Previous reports indicated that Paris was marking time on the dispute pending an answer to its protest over Madrid's Moroccan policy. While the present sultan has wanted to abdicate, the French might have difficulty in persuading the former sultan's son to accept. -5 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2993971 4 Feb 54