CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/12/24

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03010221
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: December 24, 1958

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CENTRAL
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LATE ITEM
Launch Under Way at Tyura Tam (Information as of 0430
EST 24 December): A valid launch operation is under way at
the USSR's Tyura Tam Missile Test Range. If the countdown
proceeds normally, firing would be at approximately 1300
GMT (0800 ESTA, 24 December 1958. The rapid development
of the activity and a lack of details early in the countdown
precludes determination of the type vehicle involved.
A
24 Dec 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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24 DECEMBER 1958
I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Soviet tanker in contact with sub-
marines remains in Cape Canaveral
e area.
Soviet shipments of arms to Iraq
continue;1 ow total more than 10.-
3
000 tons.
II. ASIA-AFRICA
Nasir in speech makes first direct
attack on Communists; accuses
Syrian party of opposing Arab na-
tionalism.
UAR withdraws some supporting
elements for MIG squadron sta-
tioned in Iraq.
0 Jordan - Husayn planning early
change in present government of
Rifai, who intends to resign next
spring.
0 Chiang Kai-shek's decision to relin-
quish presidency after 1960 will not
alter his control of state affairs.
rb rr
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
24 December 1958
DAILY BRIEF
L THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Soviet naval activity: The Soviet tanker Vilyuisk is
still in the general down-range area of the Cape Canaveral
missile test range, where it has remained since 10 Decem-
ber, approximately 750 miles southwest of the Cape Verde
Islands. Naval communications on 19 December indicate
a direct association between the tanker and a Northern
Fleet submarine detachment probably in the same gen-
eral area.
USSR-Iraq: With the arrival at Basra of a third cargo
of arms which is expected momentarily, nearly 10,000 tons
of materiel will have been delivered under a $170,000,000
Soviet-Iraq arms deal concluded in November. A fourth
Soviet cargo shin has been nrciArpri to load arms for de-
livery to Iraq. (Page 1)
Watch Committee conclusion -- Berlin/Taiwan Strait:
No Sino-Soviet bloc country intends deliberately to initiate
direct military action against US forces abroad, US allies,
or areas peripheral to the orbit in the immediate future.
No significant changes were noted during the past ,
week in either the Berlin or the T iman_Strait situations.
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I L ASIA-AFRICA
Watch Committee conclusion � Middle East:- A deliberate
initiation of large-scale hostilities in the Middle East is unlike-
ly in the immediate future. The situation, however, remains
precarious throughout the area, particularly in Iraq, Jordan,
and along the Syrian-Israeli border.
UAR: In the course of his 23 December speech celebrating
the second anniversary of the Anglo-French evacuation of
Suez, Nasir charged the Communist party in Syria with op-
posing Arab nationalism and Arab unity and said that the "force
of the Arab people" had compelled Communists and "opportunists"
to "hide in their holes." This is Nasir's first personal public
attack on the Communists, and may signal a new drive to sup-
press their activity in the UAR as well as a stronger effort to
limit Communist influence elsewhere in the Arab world.
UAR-Iraq: The UAR is preparing to return to Dumayr
airfield in Syria some of the support equipment and personnel
of the MIG fighter squadron which has been stationed in Iraq
eptember,
The intent is to enable additional fighters to move
quickly from Iraq if required for operations against Israel;
at present there are only two MIG squadrons in Syria. Plan-
ning for the redeployment may also be related to political'
s between Nasir and the Qasim regime.
Jordan: Prime Minister Rifai says he intends to resign
next .--AFT-1. in order to run the government from behind the
scenes. King Husayn, however, may be planning changes
earlier and is considering naming one or two "liberal" poli-
ticians to the cabinet. Husayn appears increasingly restive in
view of what he considers his country's basically untenable posi-
tion as an island of Western influence surrounded by hostile gov-
ernments. (Page 2)
24 Dec 58
DAILY BRIEF ii
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Nationalist China: Chiang ICai-shek's announcement that
he will not seek re-election to the presidency of Nationalist
China in 1960 does not mean that he will abandon his leader-
ship of the ruling Kuomintang party, the real basis for his
control of state affairs. A primary reason for his decision
is the difficulty of changing the constitutional prohibition
against a third term. If a solution to this problem can be
found, he may reconsider. If he does step down, Vice
President Chen Chem would probably succeed Chiang as
president. (Page 3)
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Fourth Soviet Arms Cargo Apparently Scheduled for Iraq
The Soviet vessel Jan Jores, a former US Liberty ship
now undergoing repairs at Odessa, has been directed to pro-
ceed to Nikolaev later this week to "load cargo similar to that
of the Pskov." The Pskov arrived in the Iraqi port of Basra
on 11 December with the second cargo of Soviet arms for
Iraq. The first delivery to Basra was made by the Dimitry
Pozharsky on 18 November, only a few days after a Soviet
Iraqi arms deal reportedly worth $170,000,000 was concluded.
Another Soviet vessel, the Ismail, was due in Basra be-
tween 18 and 26 December. With its arrival, nearly 10,000,
tons of military equipment will have been delivered. The
shipments thus far have included artillery, tanks and mai-
tary vehicles, and orobab y a variety of smaller arms.
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IL ASIA-AFRICA
Developments in Jordan
King Husayn is agaiia. planning to replace the cabinet of
Samir Rifai with a less unpopular government. Although the
King is under no illusion that any new government--to be
selected primarily from among Jordan's old-line politicians--
would be an improvement, he feels that change is desirable
for psychological reasons. Premier Rifai
planned to resign in April; the King,
however, presumably contemplates an earlier cabinet re-
shuffle and is considering the inclusion of one or two poli-
ticians more "liberal" in outlook.
The King is considering asking Senate President Said
Mufti, a supporter of Rifai, to form the new cabinet. Rifai
hopes to replace Mufti as president of the Senate and is con-
fident that he can continue to run the government from be-
hind the scenes. He wishes to have his brother, Abd al-
Munim Rifai, appointed foreign minister in the new govern-
ment. The premier is also defense minister and foreign
minister, and his claim that he needs a rest has good basis in
fact as he has had several mild heart attacks.
Rifars government has become so unpopular that it is
in many ways a liability to the monarchy. The regime is
blamed for deteriorating economic conditions, and Rifaits
army reorganization program has offended Bedouin elements
in the army and government, upon whom the monarchy has
relied for its principal support. The King risks further op-
position from the Bedouins if he retains Rifai.
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Name
Chiang Kai-shek Announces He Will Not Seek Third Term
Chiang Kai-shek announced on 23 December before a
meeting of the Mainland Recovery Planning Board, a group
composed chiefly of Kuomintang party members, that he
would not seek re-election to the presidency of Nationalist
China in 1960 when his second term expires. A third term
would require a constitutional amendment which would arouse
opposition from liberal elements on Taiwan. Presumably,
Chiang believes he could continue to control the state ef-
fectively from his equally important post as leader of the
ruling Kuomintang party.
Vice President Chen Cheng would be Chiang's logical
successor. Chen is a long-time associate in whom Chiang
has confidence, and his designation as the official Kuomintang
candidate would be tantamount to election.
If the threat of Chinese Communist military action
against the offshore islands continues, Chiang may decide
to stay in office.
CONFIDENTIAL
24 Dec 58
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
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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
Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization
Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination
Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities
Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy
Special Adviser to the President
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 Economic Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary 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
The Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Air Force
The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
Commandant, United States Marine Corps
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
Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Special Operations
Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army
Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of the Navy
Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander in Chief, Pacific
The Department of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
Atomic Energy Commission
The Chairman
National Security Agency
The Director
National Indications Center
The Director
United States Information Agency
The Director
CONFIDENTIAL
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