SOVIETS FOMENT ARAB STRIFE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74-00297R001100670044-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2013
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: May 3, 1957
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

3TAT AA A
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/05/14: CIA-RDP74-00297R001100670044-2
?Jl;+,7 Rip
nnumnm
WASHINGTON MERR Y- GO - R 11 N D
Soviets Foment Arab Strife
. (Editor's' nate?Mile Drew
Pearson is onWiiewegathering
'flip, his associate, Jae* Ander-
son, writes his column.)
WASHINGTON, May 2. -= It
was intended only for the eyes
of Anted-can diplomats. but the
Slate Department has pre-
iarta a confidential report on
"Communist penetration in the
Middle East,"
This -bluntly changes that
Arab Reds are acting "on orders
from Moscow" to foment note
a nd disturbances. Their aim,
claims the report, Is "to effect
anti-western alliances."
The report has Important
bearing on trouble in Jordan
and the question of whether the
Eisenhower Doctrine against
Communist penetration of the
Near East should be invoked.
"Soviet clandestine operations
In the Middle East are concen-
trated mainly in Syria and
Lebanon," the secret report
states, "where a network of
Communist espionage, subver-
sion, and other 'fifth column'
activities extends from Damas-
cus and Beirut to Aleppo, Horns-
Hama, and other centers in the
Eastern Mediterranean area.
"The most noted Communist
in the Middle East is Khalid
DREW PEARSON , ? winning musignA to .t?1cfrant*
Bik dash, n Moscow-trained,
Syrian Kurd, who team the
first acknowledged Conuininial
to be elected to the Syrian Par..
liament . (but) the main cen-
ter of Soviet undercover sub-
versive activities in the MiddiF
East is the Beirut headquarters
of the Lebanon Comindhist
Part y.
"The LCP Central COMfnittee
has been headed by Mustafa al-
Ariss, but the Communist par?
ties of Syria and Lebanon are
governed by a joint central
corm/land under Khalid Blkdash:
However, -Soviet intrigues and
subversion in the Middle ?East
are directed by .a secret MVD
official holding ? Soviet diplo-
matic post in Beirut. This cornea
from Turkish sources."
?
SUMMARIZING Red strategy
In' the Middle East, the report
claims:-
"Soviet long ? range , strategy
tn the Middle East is gOverned
by. the following considerations:
(1) expansion of Soviet influ?
Oleo in the eastern Mediter-
ranean region: (2) diversion of
Arabian oil resources from the
west to ..the, Soviet bloc; 43)
of or active (sympathy tv th
Communism, to Oen the way
for ultimate communization of
the entire region."
Israeli Attack?
Central Intelligence has
eeiOnd terse were (ham the Mid- -
Ole East that 14=4 May attack
Egypt again this' Montt. The
Israelis are alarmed- over the
Egyptian military build-up, par- =
Ocularly the arrival of LW MIG.
.17 lighters with -Russian pilots
to fly them.
farad! leaders have about de. gte,
tided to hit again before they =
get hit, warn intelligence reports.
-?
? Soviet Subs
The Navy has confirmed to
Congressmen this column's re- F.
port that Soviet subs are lying
off the Florida coast, 'spying On
Our guided-missile 'tests. Am- E
bassadur to Nicaragua . Tom .3
Whelan, sometimes criticized for
; not using the stripedistants op- ;?,7.
i.preach, has survived the diplo-
matic shake-up. He persuaded =
'Texas oil millionaire Clint Mur-
ehtson to invest in Nicaragua 5,
(everything from an insecticide =
- plant to a plush hotel.)
.1157. .177 The .13?11 etedlester Ind)
npdassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/05/14: CIA-RDP74-00297R001100670044-2