CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/08/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03179855
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: August 16, 1957

Approved for Release: 2019/12/10 C03179855,
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TELLI E CE
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3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
AUTH: HF
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16 August 1957
Copy No.
1,
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This document contains classified information affecting
the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws, US Code Title 18, Sections
793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an un-
authorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States
or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detri-
ment of the United States.
74/
";;AW/7/eryrzed./.74TOP SECRET
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A0k.
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CONTENTS
1. REPORTED PURGE IN SYRIAN ARMY
(page 3).
FEAR CIVIL WAR OVER SUCCESSION
(page 4).
3. EGYPT REPORTEDLY SUGGESTING TUNISIA OBTAIN
SOVIET WEAPONS (page 5).
4. GREECE HOLDING DOOR OPEN TO TRIPARTITE CON-
FERENCE ON CYPRUS (page 6).
le_ 5. AUSTRALIAN VIEWS ON INDONESIAN SITUATION
(page 7).
-1-1-
6. BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA MAY PROPOSE RESOLUTION
FOR A LATIN AMERICAN ATOMIC ENERGY CENTER AT
ECONOMIC CONFERENCE (page 8).
ANNEX---Conclusions of the Watch Report of the Intelligence
Advisory Committee
(page 9).
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ou.A....rtr., I
1. REPORTED PURGE IN SYRIAN ARMY
Reference:
Fourteen Syrian officers have been ar-
rested by Syrian military intelligence
for complicity in the alleged American
"plot,"
Among those arrested were Major General
.uagnestam, army inspector general; Brigadier Mahmud
Shawkat, commander of the Israeli front; and Colonel Faysal
Atasi, commandant of the military academy, These three of-
ficers are prominent conservatives who have belonged to a
group which urged that the army stay out of politics.
Chief of Staff
Nizam ad-Din is opposed to the purge and that army intelli-
gence is attempting to oust him within the next two days. The
prime minister announced late on 15 August that the Chief of
Staff had "applied for retirement!' One of two candidates men-
tioned for Nizam ad-Din's post is Col. Afif Bizri, reliably re-
ported to be a Communist. The army is pressing for the reim-
position of martial law, but this is being resisted by President
Quwatli, The Egyptian attache stated that "we are still trying
to resolve the matter without creating a clash which might lead
to a revolution!'
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2. YEMENIS FEAR CIVIL WAR OVER SUCCESSION
Comment on:
A widespread acceptance of the probabil-
ity that civil war may break out over the
choice of a successor to the ailing Imam
was reported by the American consul in
Aden after a recent trip to southern Yemen.
Anticipation of civil war has led to a revival in southern Yemen
of separatist leanings, which have been given further impetus
by rumors
The northern tribal chiefs traditionally have
elected each new Imam, and refuse to recognize the Imam's des-
ignation of his son Badr as crown prince. The consul reports
that most members of the Yemeni ruling class with whom he
talked believed that Badr could not succeed to the throne with-
out foreign help, and that the tribal leaders favored the Imam's
brother, Prince Hassan, who heads the Yemeni delegation to the
UN. The consul concludes that some movement undoubtedly is
under way to reverse the present extension of Soviet influence
in Yemen and to prepare the ground for the succession of Prince
Hassan.
The consul also reports a widespread ex-
pectation of Egyptian, Soviet, or possibly Saudi intervention in
support of Badr, who undoubtedly hopes to support his bid for
power with newly received Soviet arms, assisted by Yemen's
Soviet advisers. Meanwhile, Egyptian propaganda, portraying
the USSR as the supporter of Arab independence, appears in-
creasingly successful in convincing the mass of Yemenis that
the Soviet arms and technicians are needed to resist British ag-
gression on the Aden border.
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. EGYPT REPORTEDLY SUGGESTING TUNISIA OBTAIN
SOVIET WEAPONS
Comment It is not clear whether
Nasr is serving as intermediary for a
direct delivery of Soviet arms to Tunisia or whether he con-
templates making Soviet arms available from Egyptian stocks,
In June, Nasr was planning to
offer Soviet arms to the Sudan.
Although Tunisian President Bourghiba is
urgently seeking military supplies for Tunisia's small and ill-
equipped security forces, he is unlikely at this time to agree
to any such arrangement involving Soviet arms. On 8 August,
however, after again sharply criticizing France for withhold-
ing military equipment from Tunisia and for bringing pressure
on other potential suppliers, he warned that Tunisia will find
arms "at any price."
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v**
4. GREECE HOLDING DOOR OPEN TO TRIPARTITE
CONFERENCE ON CYPRUS
Comment on:
Greek Foreign Minister Averoff is hold-
ing open the door to a tripartite confer-
ence on Cyprus in London next month,
but it is unlikely that the Greek govern-
ent will agree to attend without prior assurances which are
argely unacceptable to Britain. Britain is, however, now
illing to surrender sovereignty over Cyprus except for a
mall base area. Averoff replied on 7 August to the first Brit-
sh sounding by rejecting the idea of a tripartite conference as
'quite inadequate" and involving "serious dangers." However,
e hinted that Greece might accept a British invitation if London
ould support independence for Cyprus with a guarantee against
change in the island's status either for a 20-year period or by
he consent of a majority of the UN or of NATO, or continuation
I British sovereignty with a plebiscite after ten years.
The initial Turkish reaction to the British
proposal was favorable, although the Turks also indicated a
desire for a prior understanding with London and have not for-
mally replied pending clarification of the Greek reaction. Ankara
remains firmly committed to partition for Cyprus and appears to
believe that London is bound to support its view; however, there
is some indication that the Turks recognize the general lack of
support for partition and are studying alternative solutions, in-
cluding a three-power condominium and even guaranteed inde-
pendence. Nevertheless, the Turks are certain to balk at any
solution which is intended to leave the way open to the eventual
union of Cyprus with Greece.
Despite the questionable prospects for a
tripartite conference at present, the three governments appear
to be approaching an area of agreement.
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5. AUSTRALIAN VIEWS ON INDONESIAN SITUATION
Comment on:
Australian officials see
increasing momentum toward the
fragmentation of the Indonesian state.
Factors in this development are the continuing political
divergence of area army commanders and the central gov-
ernment, Communist electoral successes in Java which
will probably harden the opposition of area commanders,
and growing illegal trade in the non-Javanese provinces.
Recent reports available to Australian officials indicate
that the area army commanders are giving serious consid-
eration to secession rather than to demands for increased
local autonomy.
The extent of this fragmentation tends
to be obscured by the gradual day-to-day drift of affairs, in
the Australians' opinion. Regardless of the intention of the
area commanders regarding secession, a de facto separation
is rapidly becoming a reality.
The impression has been gained that the
Australian government has decided to intervene if the Com-
munists gain control in Java.
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1-01,4116 Li I
6. BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA MAY PROPOSE RESOLUTION
FOR A LATIN AMERICAN ATOMIC ENERGY CENTER AT
ECONOMIC CONFERENCE
Comment on:
the
president of the Argentine Atomic Energy
Commission was enthusiastic about a pro-
posed joint Argentine-Brazilian draft reso-
lution on an atomic energy center for Latin America. The res-
olution may be presented at the Buenos Aires economic confer-
ence which opened on 15 August. The purpose would be "to
give public demonstration of unity of views" in an attempt to de-
feat the US proposal to locate the center in Puerto Rico. The
resolution would direct the special committee created by the
Committee of Presidential Representatives to present a draft
report within a short time on this subject, indicating the best
location for the center.
Brazil planned to propose during the eco-
nomic conference that the center be established in Brazil. The
Committee of Presidential Representatives last spring "took note"
of the problem and referred the matter to the Inter-American
Nuclear Energy Commission for consideration "when, in its
judgment, it is deemed desirable:'
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ANNEX
Watch Report 367, 15 August 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 hostili-
ties against the continental US or its possessions in
the immediate 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.
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