CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/05/22

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03160458
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: May 22, 1957

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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
. FRENCH PREMIER MOLLET LOSES VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
ON TAX PROPOSAL (page 3).
2. SAUDI TROOP MOVEMENT BACKS EFFORT TO OBTAIN
wyrunn AW AL OF SYRIAN FORCES FROM 'JORDAN
(page 4).
Ab3. HAITIAN ARMY SEIZES GOVERNMENT
4.
HPS PRIMARY OBJECTIVES FOR WASHINGTON TALKS
(page 6).
5
5. EGYPTIANS FINANCE LEBANESE OPPOSITION POLITICIANS
(page 7).
tA4)6. ALBANIAN "TITOLST" FLEES TO YUGOSLAVIA
(page 8).
Q67. POLISH CENTRAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTIOI,
(page 9).
22 May 57
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1. FRENCH PREMIER MOLLET LOSES VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
ON TAX PROPOSAL
Comment on:
The 250 to 213 defeat of French premier
Mollet's 16-month-old minority government
in a confidence vote on his request for new
taxes raises the prospect of a prolonged
crisis. Despite President Coty's refusal to accept Mallet's
resignation, the premier's defeat on a major policy question
makes his position untenable.
Mollet's Socialist Party, whose support or
acquiescence is virtually essential to a new government, will
probably be reluctant to back a coalition in which the Independ-
ents, whose vote was decisive,, would play a prominent role.
The Socialists argue that the longer the delay, the more Mollet's
policies will be justified. Before the confidence vote, there
was some speculation that Mollet would be able to succeed him-
self with a broader coalition, possibly including the Popular
Republican Party (MRP).
The Independents have recommended a
"government of public safety" and warned that it would be im-
possible to govern against their opposition. Their attitude
stems from their improved position in recent by-elections and
their increased influence in the assembly.
The deputies will be under considerable
pressure to approve a cabinet quickly so that France's critical
financial problems and the Algerian question can be handled.
A new premier could be expected to acquiesce quickly in
French use of the Suez Canal, and a choice might be facilitated
if this point is clarified soon. Even an interim premier, how-
ever, will probably insist on budgetary cuts and additional
taxes.
The crisis is likely to force President Coty
to postpone the visit he planned to the United States for early
June since it is his refsponsibility to designate the candidates.
22 May 57
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Norr
2. SAUDI TROOP MOVEMENT BACKS EFFORT TO OBTAIN
WITHDRAWAL OF SYRIAN FORCES FROM JORDAN
Comment on:
The Jordanian cabinet decided on 20 May
to present a note to the Syrian embassy
the next day requesting the withdrawal of
,Syrian troops,
Possibly against the eventuality that the
Syrians might refuse to leave, the 39000
man Saudi Arabian infantry regiment de-
ployed in the Jordan River Valley west of
Amman moved on 19 May to old Mafraq
airfield near the Syrian border. The new
Saudi positions are immediately south of
the encampment of the Syrian brigade.
The transfer of the Saudi regiment will
also assure the presence of a force loyal to Amman in north
Jordan following the evacuation of the new Mafraq air base by
British Royal Air Force personnel scheduled for 31 May.
the Jordanian command had or..
dered the Syrian brigade in Jordan to prepare for movement
to Aqaba in South Jordan, The Syrians had not been consulted
on the matter and opposed the transfer to so distant a posi-
tion.
22 May 57
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3. HAITIAN ARMY SEIZES GOVERNMENT
Comment on:
Brigadier General Leon Cantave seized
control of Haiti's government in a blood-
less coup on 21 May, creating a situation
which may produce further serious dis-
orders and violence among supporters of opposing presiden-
tial candidates.
Cantave had been ordered to resign on
20 May by the executive council of government, which was
controlled by two presidential candidates. Five other candi-
dates, firmly in control of the important cities of St. Marc
and Cap Haitien, had been supporting Cantave and last week
refused to recognize the authority of the council. It now ap-
pears probable that supporters of the council may attempt
reprisals against the five candidates and Cantave.
Cantave, who is believed to represent the
interests of supporters of ousted president Paul E. Magloire,
has announced that the army will enforce military rule until
a provisional president is selected who can guarantee "free
and honest elections." This announcement apparently fur-
ther postpones the national elections most recently scheduled
for 16 June.
22 May 57
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4. KISHIS PRIMARY OBJECTIVES FOR WASHINGTON TALKS
Japanese prime minister Kishi reportedly
plans to emphasize four objectives during
is forthcoming visit to Washington: the
return of former Japanese residents to the
Bonin Islands; US agreement to the establishment of a joint
committee to revise the administrative agreement defining the
status of American forces; relaxation of the China trade con-
trols; and co-ordination of US investment and Japanese tech-
nical aid to Southeast Asia,
ICishitoldKazushige Hirasawa, who is now
in the United States to handle public relations for Kishi's visit,
that these specific matters had been chosen as the ones on
which he is most likely to obtain the "political victory" he
needs to consolidate his strength at home.
Kishi emphasized that no request would be
made for Japanese administrative control of the Bonins.
Comment In preliminary discussions with Ambassador
MacArthur, Kishi also indicated his inten-
tion of laying the groundwork for making additional adjustments
in US-Japanese relations, including a revision of the security
treaty, a date for the return of the Ryukyus, and an agreement
on withdrawal of American forces.
22 May 57
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5. EGYPTIANS FINANCE LEBANESE
OPPOSITION POLITICIANS
Ali Sabri, Nasr's chief political ad-
viser, has authorized Egyptian rep-
resentatives to spend the equivalent
of $179,000 in influencing the Lebanese
parliamentary elections beginning on 9 June
Comment Egypt stepped up its opposition to the
pro-Western policy of Lebanese pres-
ident Chamoun and prime minister Sami Solh following
Lebanon's acceptance of the American Middle East propos-
als. The Egyptians see a possibility of regaining their in-
fluence in Lebanon through the election of a pro-Egyptian
or neutralist parliament. Parliament will elect a new pres-
ident late in 1958.
22 May 57
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.� ALBANIAN "TITOIST" FLEES TO YUGOSLAVIA
ajor General Panajot Plaku, Albanian
mister without portfolio and member
f the central committee of the Albanian
orkers' (Communist) Party, escaped
to Yugoslavia on 16 May and applied for
sylum, according to the Yugoslav radio.
According to Western press reports, he
said he "sympathized with Tito's independ-
ent Communism and disagreed with the
pressure maintained on Albania by the Soviet Union!'
Comment
Plaku's flight suggests that the Albanian
regime was about to purge him as it did
four other pro-Yugoslays in the upper party .hierarchy within
the last two years. Two of these had been on the 43-man cen-
tral committee. Repeated speeches during the past year by
party boss Hoxha against "Titoism" indicate the party's diffi-
culties in ridding itself of the influences remaining from its
early years as a Yugoslav satellite.
Plaku, reportedly one of the organizers
of the Albanian Communist movement, was a deputy defense
minister until October 1956, when he became minister with-
out portfolio and chairman of the state geology committee,
probably a demotion.
22 May 57
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7. POLISH CENTRAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
omment on:
The Polish Communist central committee
on 20 May reaffirmed the Gomulka policies
as outlined last October as "the only cor-
rect, realistic policy line' The resolution,
which followed a stormy debate on the mer-
its of these policies, indicated that factionalism remains a
serious problem in the party. It reflected Gomulka's middle-
of-the-road policy toward the party organization by attacking
factional groups of both right and left. While "revisionism"
was declared to be the principal danger, the resolution also
attacked the Stalinists on the central committee, and espe -
clay their arguments against Gomulka's policies during the
central committee debates. The resolution, which warned
party members to observe party discipline in public statements,
probably foreshadows further stringent measures to curb the
liberal press, as well as measures to cleanse the party of ex-
tremist elements.
The fact that Gomulka's keynote speech is
to be published in full by Moscow's Kommunist, together with
the general conformity of the Polish resolution to current bloc
ideological policies, suggests that differences between Gomulka
and the Soviet leaders have been narrowed.
22 May 5'7
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