CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/04/03

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03003289
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: April 3, 1957

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3 April 1957
Copy No. 134
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
I. ; DECLASSIFIED
CLADS. C; IANGED ;10: 1.3
NEXT REVIEW DATE�
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DATE4'..1.'IP
REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
VX/7/7/57,777/7.
TOP S C
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CONTENTS
. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
(page 3).
2. RHEE TO SHAKE UP SOUTH KOREAN HIGH COMMAND
(page 4).
3. EGYPT FEARS FRENCH FLEET MOVE TO EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN (page 5).
6. NEW IRANIAN PRIME MINISTER
3 Apr 57
(page 6
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-rIL-L�IVE, I
1. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
Comment on:
Prime Minister Nabulsi and his cabinet
have not yet submitted their resignations
to King Hussain, despite their decision
on 31 March to do so in an effort to force
a showdown.
The cabinet apparently continues to hope
that it can through intimidation prevent the king from carrying
out a series of political moves to arrest Jordan's leftist drift.
The cabinet also objects,
to Hussain's opposition to its efforts to reorganize
e government and the electoral machinery, and to "his con-
stant contacts with America without reference to the govern-
ment."
Nabulsi and his cabinet appear to believe
that without representatives of the parties in the present cabinet,
Hussain could not form a government with sufficient popular sup-
port to maintain order. They are reportedly prepared to sup-
port their stand with the threat of calling out leftist mobs.. Na-
bulsi is reported to have appealed personally to Jordan's Com-
munist Part "to stand by and be ready to fight the king"
3 Apr 57
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2. RHEE TO SHAKE UP SOUTH KOREAN HIGH COMMAND
Comment on:
President Rhee has informed American
officials of his intention to remove his
senior military leaders to make room for
promotions which will improve morale
I" and efficiency in the armed forces. Rhee has decided to ap-
point General Chong Il-kwon, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, as ambassador to Turkey, and will also try to find a
civilian position for General Yi Hyong-kun, army chief of staff.
He reportedly is considering offering a diplomatic post to Gen-
eral Paek Son-yop, commander of the First Army.
Yi succeeded Chong as chief of staff last
June. The widespread command changes instituted by Yi
since then, some of which were politically motivated, have
been a factor in the reported decline in morale of the army.
Rhee may hope that the removal of these top leaders will di-
minish the factional bickering among their supporters. He
may also want to send General Chong abroad because of Chong's
involvement in the assassination of the CIC chief in 1956.
General Yi has been the most vigorous sup-
porter of Rhee's demands for a "march north." There is no
indication as to his successor. Air force general Kim Chong-yol,
who has been co-operative with American officials, has been
mentioned as the possible next chairman of the joint chiefs,
3 Apr 57
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3. EGYPT FEARS FRENCH FLEET MOVE TO
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
The Egyptian ambassador in Athens
told Ambassador Allen on 1 April that
Cairo had reports of French naval ves-
sels moving from their base at Toulon
toward the eastern Mediterranean.
Allen reported that the Egyptian had
queried him in detail as to any NATO
plans for maneuvers in that area, and
commented that the Egyptian apparently
feared France might try to use such maneuvers as a cover
for moving naval units toward Egypt.
Comment
A French seagoing squadron--a force
of 20 vessels, including an aircraft
carrier and accompanied by a commando unit--left Toulon
on 25 March for exercises off the Algerian coast. This
force is scheduled to return to Toulon on 6 April.
The next NATO naval maneuver involv-
ing French units in the Mediterranean is a training exercise
in early May.
3 Apr 57
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4. NEW IRANIAN PRIME MINISTER
Comment on:
The appointment of Manuchehr Eqbal,
capable and pro-Western minister of
,court and chancellor of Tehran Univer-
sity, as prime minister of Iran offers
some hope for a constructive program
of economic and social reforms only
if the Shah is willing to withdraw from
personal participation in the govern-
ment.
Although the Shah apparently has been
preparing Eqbal for the new post for nearly two years, the
monarch has a long-standing fear of strong prime ministers
and a reputation for attempting to limit the authority of
anyone who appears to be winning popular support.
The resignation of the Ala government,
which has become progressively more unpopular because
of its corruption and ineffectiveness, has long been expected.
3 Apr 57
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