CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1960/12/24

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03179293
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
18
Document Creation Date: 
March 17, 2020
Document Release Date: 
March 26, 2020
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 24, 1960
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULL[15798834].pdf918.52 KB
Body: 
- %.# r ac %in& I Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) 24 December 1960 Copy No. C CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN- DOCUMENT NO. 117 NO MANGE IN CLASS. g D DECLASSIFIED CLASS. 011,.NCED TO; TS 1.91 NEXT R. VIEW DATEt Anit J16111111.2, DATE* REVIEWER* -TOP-SKR-Fr- jApproved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 �1-12r�Z1L-VITC1� NNW' Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 proving relations relations with the US. East German officials apparently expect to reach early agreement on interzonal trade. II. ASIA-AFRICA Ghana signs protocol with USSR on eco- nomic development projects. Dissident Saudi military officeff_seell UAR support in planned coup. Congo--UAR battalion commander in the Congo urges Cairo to infiltrate guerrilla bands and supply arms and advisers to Gizenga. 24 DECEMBER 1960 I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC Gromiko reiterates Soviet interest in im- 0 0 Laos--USSR calls for reconvening ICC. 0 III. THE WEST Cuba--Bloc resuming large.. scale arms shipments to Cuba. TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Niftwil'OP SECRET CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 24 December 1960 DAILY BRIEF I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC *TJSSR: Foreign Minister Gromyko's report to the Supreme Soviet 3 December--the first authoritative foreign policy statement since the Moscow conference of Communist leaders provides further evidence that the USSR intends to combine a bid for high-level negotiations with the West with a vigorous prosecution of its truculent "anti-colonial" line. Gromyko's re- marks on the Congo, Laos, Algeria, and Cuba were framed in the militant anti-Western tone of the Moscow declaration, al- though he avoided any general attacks on US "imperialism." After quoting Khrushchey's telegram to President-elect Ken- nedy, Gromyko declared, "I am empowered to state. . . that as far as the Soviet Government is concerned, on its part there is a complete readiness to contribute to an improvement in So- viet-US relations." He also repeated Khrushchey's proposal that the heads of government attend a special UN session on disarma- ment. rEast - West German Interzonal Trade Negotiations: the East Germans are counting on the reinstatement of the interzonal trade agreement before it lapses on 31 December. "We shall continue to work until trade can function without a hitch." The East Germans, however, have been stubbornly resisting West German demands for a precise, written commitment not to enforce Pankow's decree of 8 Septem- ber requiring West Germans to secure permits to enter East Berlin. The East Germans have now postponed further talks with the West Germans until 28 December, presumably in order to decide whether they can make some face-saving announce- ment on this point. In the first high-level Soviet comment on the. TOP SECRET AApproved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 . negotiations, Foreip Minister Gromyko war:a d that failure to reach agreement would be "fraught with unexpected and quite dangerous consequences." IL ASIA-AFRICA Ghana-USSR; Ghana and the USSR rtpor ted1:, have signed a pr Y4wg a wide variety of economic development prole' 'to be undertaken by the USSR under the $40,000,000 credit it extended to Ghana last ,August. One project envisaged- - lit hydroelectric dam for depressed northern Ghana- -could upset present plans of a Viesternconsoxtium to construct the much larger and more important Volta River hydroelectric aluminum roject'which Nkrurnah is determined to set started very soon. e USSR reportedly is also examining a Ghanaian I equest for military aid, including the construction of Laval and al: bases. Ghana signed preliminary trade and technical assistance. agree- . merits with Czechoslovakia in November and is rtpcited t signed similar accords with Hungary earlic;- this met th. (Page 1) Saudi Arabia: A group of dissident Saudi militar-f officers � has requested StiPrkort from the LIAR for their, plans to undortake . a coup and set up an independent-state of Hijaz and Ash in the western Dart of the country, The plotters said the; hope to WA* advan- � "the confused thinking" resulting from King Sates tesump- Ontrol of the government and expressed concern OVeL Pos.- Israeli, Jordanian, and US intervention. They asked for as- ces that the LIAR would supply' them with antiaircraft weapons and prevent, by military action if necessary, intervention by any foreign state. The dissident officrs' group does not appear at this Sage to control enough toreea or have a tight enough organ iZatiFat. for a suceessiul coup. The LIAR will probably not commit "to any extensive support for immediate action tiy the group, t may offer clandestine assistance for a move several months hence. (Page 3) (Map) DAILY 'BRIEF � - Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 003179293 A , Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 %416400011:7P�SteltiEf- .} Congo: The commander of the UAR battalion in the Congo, following his representative's conference with dissident leader Antoine Gizenga in Stanleyville, has urged that Cairo infiltrate armed bands in the Congo in addition to providing arms and military advisers for the dissidents, Gizenga as claiming that he could extenct nis control to 111VU and Kasai provinces if provided with sufficient technical, financial, and military assistance. Cairo, which reacted coolly to a suggestion in November by its ambas- sador in Leopoldville that the Congo be turned into "another Algeria," may still wish to limit its involvement in the Congo. Soviet-type air- craft have made a few flights to Stanleyville since mid-Decem- ber ossibly carrying aid to the dissidents. (Page 5) Laos: The Soviet Union, acting in its official capacity as co-c aFT.C�man with Great Britain of the 1954 Geneva Conference, has requested the revival of the International Control Commis- sion in Laos and has asked Britain's cooperation in calling a meet- ing of all governments which participated in the 1954 conference. In its note to the British on 22 December, Moscow also urged that the ICC confer with Souvanna Phouma on practical measures con- corning the renewal of the commission's activities in Laos,EWnile the British would be reluctant to accept the Soviet proposal with- out a favorable reaction from other governments involved, they support the neutralist concepts of Souvanna': The Soviet proposal comes in the wake of a concerted effort in bloc propaganda during the past week to stimulate international alarm over events in Laos and build pressure for reconvening a new Geneva conference. The USSR meanwhile has augmented its airlift capacity with eight AN-12 transports-- each capable of carrying 15 to 20to1is--which arrived in Peiping on 23 December. General Phourni's troops are moving slowly northward from Vien lane in pursuit of Kong Le's force; no major contact has yeti been made-,3 Page 7) 24 Dec 60 DAILY BRIEF AApproved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 pproved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 lar trao.L.,-Cuba: two-month pause in military deliveries, the bloc apparently large-scale arms shipments to Cuba. The Soviet frr K E.:ovedst: currently is unloading a 4,400-ton cargo in - unc:er the stringent security conditions usually applied to tn:'3'; _ shilraz-mts. Another Soviet ship is be- lieved also to be unlc:te.f. arms in Cuba. At leazt three other Soviet ships are loading or are en route from the Black ...3ea with possible area: 2:;oes for Cuba. Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 003179293 Vproved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Ghana Expanding Ties With Soviet#Bloc . Ghana and the USSR re.ortedly have signed within the last few days a protoco.- ecifyinc,f development projects to be carried out by the under the $40,000,000 credit, it extended to Ghana last Ae�--2...1.3t. The American Embassy in Accra has been autherii.azively informed that the package . agreed on includes assfe ance and equipment for a hydro- electric dam at -Bui c.k.::.-eessed northern Ghana, as well'as for an ancillary power tr line. This schernA (*mild upset present Diann col-- "rv- rot,- ror olta River hy- um um p et.. Officials of the World Bank-- which has tentatively to advance $40,000,000 for the Volta project-.-are cons:en-led that Ghana may not be able to make economic use of 2C, Leech electric power arid have indi- cated that another revicv: cf the Volta plan will be required if the Bui dam is unclertaLen Lew. Nkrumah, however, is de- termined to see the Volta project begun in the very near future and would probably react zo any further delay by turning im- mediately to the USSR. � Other projects outlined in the reported protocol are a com- prehensive geological cer 'ey, a fishing industry Complex, the establfshment of three lae-;:;:i state farms, and assistance with housing projects planned for Accra and the new port city being built at nearby Tema. Separate negotiations are said to be un- der way concerning the installation in Ghana of a small nuclear test reactor. Implementation target dates vary, extending in at least one case into 196B. � In addition, the USSR reportedly is examining a request by Nkrumah for aid in establishing naval and air bases and a mil- itary aviation school which presumably would supplant the air training program now c9nducted by Israeli instructors. the usart had itself offered to train provide jet aircraft for Ghana r-win-vn .34 fl Luirusacnev had expressed willingness to provide _60 _CApproved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 _ n"�e� Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 003179293 Air -assistance for a Gi .` =Pal base and school. t One of the Soviet negotiators at the talks recently -n Lccra apparently was General Sidorovich, a key Soviet organization respon- sible for negotiating a� pie.menting arms deals. Ghana's increasing ,-�--Ivement with the bloc, which is being spurred by influzn,12.11,-.1t-wing elements in the Nkru- mah regime, coincides h indications that the President is becoming increasingly :_l_-.agonistic toward the West, t:Spe- - cially the US, as a resu_,: of frustrations encountered in his -African policy. He has publicly a.ccused the US of abetting Belgian attempts to "re:-::.in control" of the C0.11 naid IS car mitti Ghan contrec nreF.:3 to Pursue a violently anti-US line.. 24 Dec 60 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 003179293 Pace 2 Approved for Release:, 2020/03/13 C03179293 '-OP 3ECRE vow Dissident Saudi Arabian Officers Seek UAR Aid For Planned Coup Representatives of the Saudi "free officers" group contacted the UAR charge in Jidda on 22 December, to seek support for plans to undertake a coup and set up an independent state of Hijaz and Asir compris- ing the two western provinces of Saudi Arabia. The plotters hope to take advantage of the political confusion resulting from King Saud's abrupt resumption of control of the Saudi Government. They have asked for assurances that the UAR would supply them with antiaircraft weapons, would recognize their new "Islamic Republic" as soon as they proclaimed it, would "safeguard the revolution" against possible attacks by Israel or Jordan, would prevent "intervention by the Americans, particularly the Amer- ican air force at Dhahran," and would be prepared to take mil- itary action in the case of intervention by any "foreign party." The "free officers" group is said to be composed of regular army and air force officers who have Hijazi tribal connections and have always resented domination of the government by the House of Saud and other leaders from the central province of Nejd. Most of the dissident officers are statione in Jidda area of Hi'az Province. The dissident officers do not, however, seem to control enough forces or have a tight enough organization for a success- ful coup. The White Army�which is at least as strong as the regular army�the Royal Guard Regiment, and some units of the regular army itself would almost certainly remain loyal to the King. The UAR charge's immediate reaction to the "free officers" overture was cautious and noncommittal. The UAR is unlikely TOP SECRET 24 Dec 60 CENTRAL INITFI I ICIFKIrF RI III FTIM Page 3 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 ---nreia-sEeRE to undertake any extensive support for immediate action by the group, although Saud's reassertion of authority has probably given Nasir increased incentive to work for the overthrow of the mon- archy. For the present, Cairo will probably limit its actions to an offer of clandestine assistance to expand the strength of the plotting group for a move several months hence. -TOP-SEC-RE-1_ 24 Dec 60 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 "Rek, NortOP SECRJT e.ripi The Situation in the Congo the commander of the UAR battalion in the Congo, Colonel Shazeli, portrayed the Gizenga regime in Stanleyville as insecure but capable of expanding its control into the Congo interior if provided with extensive outside support. followed a four-hour conference on 18 December with Gizenga and certain of his advisers in which Gizenga took the view that "it would be easy" to gain control of Kivu and Kasai provinces if he were given enough technical, financial, and military assistance. of 6,000 troops in Orientale Prov- ince --comprising six Longo Army battalions and two battalions of militia--90 percent are loyal to the Gizenga regime. Nine thousand recruits are being mobilized, but these have no weap- ons. In the economic field, Gizenga requires $2,000,000 per month financial aid until such time as the dissident forces may capture some diamond mines. Cairo send ur ently "flat-trajectory arms" including 7.92-mm. rifles, and respond to Gizenga's re- quest for military and technical experts. Without specifying whether he contemplated the use of UAR or dissident troops, observed that "our policy should be to infiltrate armed bands and not to form battalions. � If (guerrilla) companies were used circumspectly, it would be possible to cause diffi- culties for the greatest of armies." Cairo is favorably disposed toward aiding the dissidents and may have already airlifted some supplies to Stanleyville. Various reports have alluded to a few landings in Stanley- ville by Soviet-type aircraft, possibly bearing UAR aid. Cairo may nonetheless wish to limit the extent of its military involve- ment in the Congo. It reacted coolly in late November to the suggestion by its ambassador in Leopoldville that the Congo might be turned into "another Algeria." Meanwhile, Guinea, Ghana, Mali, and the UAR have ac- cepted an invitation from King Mohamed V of Morocco to meet 24 Dec 60 CEI�11TD A I INJTCI I irt=mrc RI III CTIt1/41 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Page 5 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 vas" 0P in Rabat on 3 January to discuss common problems, includ- ing Algeria and the Congo. In addition to providing a sounding board for anti-Western pronouncements, the meeting may pro- mote discussion of the proposed "joint African command" for the Congo--a plan originally advanced by President Nkrumah, in which African contingents withdrawn from the UN Congo force would support the dissidents independently of the UN. President Nasir has indicated his approval of the plan, and has urged that African nations rid their armies of "imne7a1- let," i. e., Western, officers. TOP SECRET 24 Dec 60 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE RUIIETIN Page 6 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved-for�Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 -"No Noe' NOW Situation in Laos In its efforts to prevent the Boun Oum regime in Vientiane from establishing an effective government and to provide the catalyst for a possible political settlement of the Laotian crisis favorable to Communist interests, the Soviet Union has official- ly requested the cooperation of Great Britain, as one of the co- chairmen with the USSR of the 1954 Geneva Conference, in re- viving the International Control Commission (ICC) in Laos and convening representatives of all governments which participated in the 1954 conference. The Soviet note to the British on 22 De- cember follows recent government statements by Hanoi and Pei- ping calling for a new conference of the Geneva participants. Cm n view of London's opposition to Indian and Soviet efforts to reconvene the ICC in 1959 over Laotian objections, a favorable response to the current Soviet request appears unlikely unless the request is supported by other governments involved or un- less SEATO involvement--which the British are most anxious to avoid--appears imminent. Foreign Secretary Home stated on 19 December. that Britain would approach the USSR if the Laotians supported the Indian request for reconvening the ICC. Boun Oum has already said that recalling the ICC would serve no useful pur- pose in Laos. However, London has long considered a neutralist Laos under. Souvanna�even if it involved an accommodation with Pathet Lao elements�the best means of avoiding overt Commu- nist intervention The Soviet proposal referred to a request by Nehru, who had earlier suggested reactivation of the ICC as a means of settling the crisis. During the past week there has been a concerted bloc propaganda effort to heighten international tension over events in Laos and exert pressure for a new international conference to end the civil war. Both Cambodia's Prince Sihanouk and the Burmese Government have already expressed themselves in favor of some sort of international discussion of the problem. In the note, Moscow also urged that the ICC confer with Sou- vanna Phouma on practical measures concerning the renewal of SECRET 24 Dec 60 CENTD AI IldTD111etckirc 121111 CT11.1 Page 7 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 SECRET tts activity in Laos. The bloc continues to insist that Sou- vanna represents the only legitimate government and hopes that reactivation of the ICC would preserve present Commu- nist assets in Laos and lead ultimately to a coalition govern- ment including the Communists--an aim previously endorsed by Souvanna. The ICC�composed of Indian, Polish, and Canadian representatives�was deactivated in 1958. During its existence, the commission's activities served to frustrate government attempts to suppress the Path t Lao. Previous bloc attempts to revive the ICC have always been thwarted by the Laotian Government's objections. The note, which repeated earlier charges of US military support for General Phoumi's forces, suggested that the US Government should take part in the efforts of the two chairmen of the Geneva Conference to normalize the situation in Laos. Moscow will probably, continue to build its case against the US and may try to bring the issue before the United Nations in the event its call for r � � Laos or a new Geneva � conference fails. In the midst of their diplomatic maneuvers, the Commu- nists continue to expand their airlift capability for supporting military activity in Laos. Six Soviet AN-12s scheduled for Communist China from Irkutsk arrived in Peiping on 23 Decem- ber. They were to go on to Canton, but this flight subsequently was canceled. In addition, two of the three AN 12s which first flew to Canton from the USSR on 17-18 December have returned to Peiping, bringing the total number of AN-12s at Peiping to eight. One of these heavy transports has been scheduled on to Hanoi. If this flight is made, it will be the first by a military transport across the Sino North Vietnamese border. Soviet and North Vietnamese transports continue to be sched- uled for lift operations into Laos through 23 December. There are indications that ten North Vietnamese light aircraft--five Aero-45s and five Zlin-226 trainers�may also be added to the operations into Laos. These light aircraft would most likely be used for transporting key personnel and reconnaissance missions. Caovernment forces continue to advance slowly northward from Vientiane in pursuit of Captain Kong Le's force. One -SECRET 24 Dec 60 CENT!? Al IMTPI I irtriorrDliiicTlkl Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Page 8 Nwirtve," Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Now Glement encountered some enemy resistance at a point about 15 miles from Vientiane. but no major contact has as yet been reported. -3 24 Dec 60 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 9 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 4 *IMO 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 Director, Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization Director, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Special Assistant for Security Operations Coordination Chairman, Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities Special Assistant for Foreign Economic Policy Executive Secretary, National Security Council The Department of State The Secretary of State The Under Secretary of State The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration The Counselor Director, International Cooperation Administration The Director of Intelligence and Research The Treasury Department The Secretary of the Treasury The Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense The Deputy Secretary of Defense Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs The Secretary of the Army The Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Air Force The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff 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 Commandant, United States Marine Corps Assistant to Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of Navy Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Commander in Chief, Pacific The Department of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce Atomic Energy Commission The Chairman Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director National Security Agency The Director National Indications Center The Director rYINA'Ing'XiTi A I Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293 4 Ms eZi r. /. 4 /77,41// WWWW/WWWWW777 //1 �g . af v. Approved_ for Release. 2020/03/13 CO3179293 Marairj�Cterk / / / / / 7j4 / / / / /VIA / / / / / / / / / 3.' / / / / 4 / / / / 4 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /' / / / / / /5 / / / / / / / /.,// / i3DS d 0 / Approved for Release: 2020/03/13 C03179293