CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/05/24

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03160459
• 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 24, 1957

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24 May 1957
Copy No.
134
DOCUMENT .
NO -214
CV-IANGE IN CLASS. X
0 DECLA&SIVIED
CLASS. CI-IANGEc.) TO: IS
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AU11-1- 70
REVIEWER
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP
Kff,X1f/
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
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CONTENTS
1. NEW STRAINS DEVELOP IN TUNISIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS
CIL (page 3).
_ 2. ARMY REGIME IN HAITI THREATENED BY GENERAL
tio' STRIKE (page 4).
3. ARGENT
TENSION (page 5).
It,P 4. DEVELOPMENTS IN JORDAN
Y DISSENSION INCREASES POLITICAL
(page 6).
5. EGYPTIAN NAVY ORDERED TO MIZE ISRAELI SHIPS
(page 7).
a60 WEST GERMAN DIPLOMAT LIN ICATION TALKS
r TO DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT (page 8).
)00 ANNEX� Conclusions of the Watch Report of the Intelligence
Advisory Committee
(page 9).
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1. NEW STRAINS DEVELOP IN TUNISIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS
Comment on
The decision of the Monet government
to suspend the first installment of a
$34,000,000 loan to Tunisia has further
strained Tunisian-French relations. The
initial payment, provided for by the eco-
nomic convention signed in Paris on 20
April, amounted to $5,700,000 and was
to have been made by 5 May. Tunisian
treasu funds are expected to be exhausted early in June.
The reason advanced for Paris' failure to
honor its commitment was Tunisian support for Algerian in-
dependence. Bourghiba indirectly suggested to the American
ambassador on 22 May that the United States increase its
economic aid to tide Tunisia over this crisis. He is unlikely
to capitulate to French pressure and renounce his support for
the Algerians.
24 May 57
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2. ARMY REGIME IN HAITI THREATENED BY
GENERAL STRIKE
Comment on:
The military government led by
Brigadier General Leon Cantave,
which seized power in Haiti on
21 May, appears to be tottering in
the face of a general strike in the
capital city and the refusal of most
senior colonels to support his re-
gime. Contave threatened on 23 May
to use force to break the strike, which
the American embassy believes has wide popular support.
The strike appears to be in support of the executive council
ousted by Cantave which still regards itself as the legal gov-
ernment, though its members are in hiding.
Cantave seemed to the American am-
bassador on 21 May to be frightened at the trend of events.
He admitted that the strike could cause his downfall and
feared that, in such an event, civil war would ensue be-
tween the Negroes and the mulatto minority.
24 May 57
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3 ARGENTINE ARMY DISSENSION INCREASES
POLITICAL TENSION
Comment on:
from both
old Majo,
officer in
A split over army policies and over
President Aramburu's political pro-
gram is widening within the army,
largest of the three armed services
which dominate the Argentine govern-
ment. Aramburu's appointment on 20
May of Lieutenant General V. J. Majo
as war minister prompted strong protests
major opposing army groups,
Aramburu reportedly chose the 66-year
a capable officer who retired in 1950, as a neutral
the divided army.
The efforts of both groups to force out Majo
resulted in the arrest of some 20 officers, including the army
commander in chief, whose duties have now been assigned to
Majo. Aramburu may make other arrests and changes in com-
mand in order to maintain army discipline and implement his
program, especially the election on 28 July of a constituent
assembly to revise the constitution prior to general elections,
now scheduled for 28 February.
Tension resulting from the army conflict
is expected to continue and could lead to efforts to exploit dis-
sidence in the other services. The navy and air force, how-
ever, are reported backing Aramburu and have ordered their
men to stay out of politics.
24 May 57
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4. DEVELOPMENTS IN JORDAN
Comment on:
The possible existence of a movement
among Jordanian army officers to or-
ganize an "operation to remedy the Taresent situation"
The Jordanian officers in-
volved reportedly were displeased over
the government's recall to duty of the
pro-Western and Bedouin officers who
were retired following the dismissal of General Glubb in
March 1956. had previously advised Cairo
that King Hussain's attempts to strengthen the political re-
liability of the Jordanian army by increasing the proportion
of Bedouin troops could lead to serious friction between the
Bedouin and Palestinian Arab elements. also
informed Cairo that the governments attempt to
dismiss the army's chief signal officer had provoked a
"secret revolt" among signal personnel, which forced the
army command to recall the officer to avoid a more serious
reaction.
it is likely that army opposition to the government's
increasing favoritism for the Bedouins will increase the gov-
ernment's difficulties.
Cairo radio reported on 22 May that the
refugee "Jordanian National Conference" in Damascus--
representing Jordan's left-wing political groups--had issued
its "first appeal to the Jordanianpeople" denouncing the "im-
perialist conspiracy, . �to annihilate liberated Arab nationalism."
According to press reports from Beirut,
Jordan announced that the curfew in Amman would be ended
on 25 May--the curfew having been lifted previously in the
other centers.
24 May 57
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5. EGYPTIAN NAVY ORDERED TO SEIZE ISRAELI SHIPS
instruc-
tions for the seizure of Israeli ships.
any such ships at-
tempting Suez Canal transit are "to be seized and taken to a
place selected by the canal company, and kept under surveil-
lance until the necessary instructions have been issued:'
Comment President Nasr reportedly stated on 17 May
that any Israeli ship entering Egypt's terri-
torial waters, with the intent of transiting the Suez Canal, would
be seized.
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6. WEST GERMAN DIPLOMAT LINKS REUNIFICATION
TALKS TO DISARMAMENT AGREEMENT
Herbert Blankenhorn, West Germany's
ambassador to NATO, told American
embassy officials in Paris on 22 May
that if even a limited agreement on dis-
armament is reached in the next few months, a high-level
four-power meeting will be essential, preferably before�
the end of the year, to determine the Soviet position on Ger-
man unification.
Blankenhorn, who has been briefing
Chancellor Adenauer for his trip to the United States, did
not indicate whether the chancellor shared these views.
Comment
Although Adenauer has expressed ap-
proval of an inspection zone in Europe with-
out German unification, he still insists that a major disarma-
ment agreement must be tied to German unification. Assur-
ance that a high-level meeting on reunification would follow
any disarmament agreement would strengthen Adenauer's po-
sition during the West German election campaign.
24 May 57
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ANNEX
Watch Report 355, 23 May 1957
of the
Intelligence Advisory Committee
Conclusions on Indications of Hostilities
On the basis of findings by its Watch Committee, the
Intelligence Advisory Committee concludes that:
A. No Sino-Soviet bloc country intends to initiate hostilities
against the continental US or its possessions in the im-
mediate future.
B No Sino-Soviet bloc country intends to initiate hostili-
ties against US forces abroad, US allies or areas periph-
eral to the Orbit in the immediate future.
C. Early deliberate initiation of hostilities by Israel or the
Arab states is not probable. Although tensions continue
between the Arab states and Israel and among certain
Arab states themselves, these are not likely to lead to
serious conflict in the immediate future.
24 May 57
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