WEEKLY SUMMARY

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8
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RIPPUB
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S
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29
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December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 24, 2009
Sequence Number: 
5
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Publication Date: 
July 22, 1966
Content Type: 
SUMMARY
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Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 [State Dept. review completed. 22 July 1966, (SCI No, 029 /6'6 Copy No. 'R ET R~7UPm1 Ezdtdedfromv-6tcrnattc do~rngrd'dn and declassficptron Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 `"" SECRET (Information as of noon EDT, 21 July 1966) Page VIETNAM PEACE MISSIONS TO MOSCOW FAIL 1 To the surprise of none of the parties concerned, In- dira Gandhi and Harold Wilson last week found Moscow stony ground for planting proposals for peace in Vietnam. THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM Ho Chi Minh's announcement this week of plans to "par- tially mobilize" the DRV's reserves evidently represents little more than a propaganda response to the POL strikes in view of the country's already high degree of mobili- zation. Hanoi, however, is maintaining a high rate of infiltration into the South (via a new route directly across the Demilitarized Zone) in an apparent effort to relieve hard-pressed Communist forces there. Peking's propaganda continues to play up its steadfastness in aiding the Vietnamese Communists. The emphasis in Chinese statements, however, remains on Hanoi's own persistence, indicating Peking's reluctance to become directly in- volved. Saigon, meanwhile, has restated its own uncom- promising views on ending the war. NORTH KOREA ENCOUNTERING SNAGS ON DIPLOMATIC FRONT Pyongyang's diplomatic offensive in its competition with Seoul has, in the past few :months, had setbacks in Ghana, Indonesia, and Tanzania which are only partially offset by Syria's decision this -week to establish relations with North Korea. SECRET Page i WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 SECRET SOVIET SALES OF COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT The USSR still is far from being a serious competitor of Western manufacturers of commercial aircraft, but its discount prices and long-term credit offers attract purchasers in Communist and less developed countries. FURTHER INTERNAL SHAKEUP INDICATED IN ALBANIA Thousands of personnel were transferred from the central government apparatus to rural posts last spring in an apparent effort by the regime to tighten party control, and recent remarks by top leaders suggest that additional changes are coming. FRENCH TAKING HARDER LINE IN NATO NEGOTIATIONS De Gaulle seems to be trying to avoid any written state- ment which would lead to automatic involvement of French forces in wartime. Given the current domestic -pressure on the government in Germany, he may also hope to hold out for a more favorable status for French troops there. Middle East - Africa YEMENI REPUBLICANS CONSIDERING INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT 12 A significant number of republican leaders appear fed up with Egyptian interference and are exploring the possibility of a new regime. SECRET Page ii WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET SUDAN GOVERNMENT STILL TROUBLED BY FACTIONALISM The struggle within the dominant Umma party is dis- rupting the coalition government, hindering any effort to settle the rebellion in the southern provinces INTERNATIONAL COURT THROWS OUT SOUTH-WEST AFRICA CASE While the South Africans welcome the court's decision, on procedural grounds, not to pass judgment on their mandate over South-West Africa, they expect further attacks on their racial policies. The African govern- ments, however, have apparently reached no decision on their next move against Pretoria. BELGIAN-CONGOLESE RELATIONS UNDER HEAVY STRAIN 16 Brussels has indicated it may end its technical assistance if Congolese provocations continue. STEP-UP IN SOVIET MILITARY AID DELIVERIES TO ALGERIA The current surge of arms shipments again indicates Moscow's willingness to supply military aid to Alge- ria despite the change of regimes last year, ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT YIELDS TO STRIKERS Yerovi's capitulation to provincial strikers protesting his financial measures may lead other groups to strike SECRET Page iii WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 SECRET GUATEMALA'S REACTIONS TO RECENT GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS Some extremists are getting government posts, possibly because of President Mendez' inexperience or poor ad- vice, and conservative circles are concerned. SE GRE l Page iv WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET VIETNAM PEACE MISSIONS TO MOSCOW FAIL To the surprise of none of the parties concerned, Indira Gandhi and Harold Wilson last week found Moscow stony ground for planting proposals for peace in Vietnam. About the only common ele- ment in the missions of the two prime ministers was the need to accommodate political pressures at home. Neither expected a favorable response to proposals which, although framed very dif- ferently, were alike in urging that Moscow take an active role, as cosponsor of the Geneva agree- ment of 1954, in arranging peace negotiations. The two leaders also appealed to the Russians to intercede with Hanoi on be- half of American prisoners of war. Ostensibly, and for the record, these appeals were re- jected on the grounds that it was a matter for Hanoi to decide. The Soviets took what dip- lomatic profit they could from the Indians but gave the British short shrift. When the high- level meetings were over, the visitors had at least demonstrated that they had done what they could for peace in Vietnam, while the Soviets, though they would prob- ably have been happier had their guests stayed home, could take credit for having shown themselves stern, steadfast allies of the North Vietnamese. Mrs. Gandhi, anticipating the problem of an unprotected left flank in India's 1967 elec- tions, sought to forestall do- mestic criticism of New Delhi's increasingly close ties with the US by again demonstrating India's independent outlook. However, she accepted explicitly anti- Western references in the commu- nique' which closed the visit, indicating she was no match for the apparently hard-bargaining Soviets. She nevertheless se- cured for India a Soviet agree- ment to extend about $630 million in new aid and to carry over $420 million in previous commitments to help finance India's fourth five-year plan. Wilson's impromptu trip achieved its immediate political purpose of delaying a confronta- tion with domestic critics of ais support of US policy in Viet- nam. The trip should satisfy some doubters that Wilson is do- ing all he can in the cause of peace and that Communist intransi- gence is responsible for the Vietnamese deadlock. The trip is unlikely, however, to soothe for long the growing number of opponents of Wilson's Vietnamese policy, and his reception by the Russians--perfunctory bordering on rude--did not help his efforts to develop a "peacemaker" image. SECRET Page 1 WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET Far East THE SITUATION I N VIETNAM Allied and Vietnamese Army (ARVN) forces have stepped up the scale and intensity of battalion- sized or larger spoiling opera- tions against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army (PAVN) units in South Vietnam, with encouraging results. Last week the number of Communist troops killed and captured exceeded 1,000 for the tenth consecutive week. The heaviest fighting occurred in northernmost Quang Tri Prov- ince. Six US Marine and five ARVN battalions participating in search-and-destroy Operation HASTINGS/LAM SON 289 engaged in almost continuous large-scale combat with major elements of at least one and possibly all three regiments of the 324th PAVN In- fantry Division. By Wednesday the US and ARVN forces, supported by heavy B-52 Stratofortress bombing strikes, had at least temporarily delayed or disrupted a major Communist drive and had killed more than 425 North Viet- namese regulars. Operation MACON, a clearing/ security/pacification mission by three US Marine battalions southwest of Da Nang, and Oper- ation MOKULEIA, conducted by three battalions of the US 25th Infantry Division in the Hau Nghia - Tay Ninh - Binh Duong triborder area northwest of Saigon, also achieved favorable results. More than 240 Viet Cong were reported killed. US losses were moderate. Communist-initiated military activity during the past week was highlighted by battalion-sized attacks against South Vietnamese Regional Force positions in Binh Thuan and Binh Duong provinces on 15 and 18 July, respectively. In addition, an enemy unit of undetermined strength conducted a damaging ambush against an ARVN road-clearing operation in Binh Duong Province on 15 July. Political Developments in Saigon The 12th anniversary of the 1954 Geneva Accords on 20 July afforded the South Vietnamese Government an opportunity to publicize once more its uncompro- mising views on ending the war. A government proclamation stated that abandonment of the war ef- fort by Hanoi, including with- drawal of PAVN troops from South Vietnam and dissolution of the National Liberation Front, was necessary before bombings of the North could be stopped and allied troops withdrawn from the South. This position is essentially no departure from previous govern- ment statements. Foreign Ministry officials reportedly were pri- vately pleased by Ho Chi Minh's recent public reaffirmation of the DRV "hard line," feeling that this should dispel any "wish- ful thinking" in the South about peace negotiations. There has been no major political activity reported since SECRET Page 2 WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 JNL"( RIfj 1 Nwo~ 14!!x! i?F PH N CSC 7/' 7 UC ' N,: SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET the announcement of Premier Ky's revised cabinet and the initial filing last week of candidates for the September constitutional assembly election. Unresolved leadership and policy problems within the Buddhist Institute continued to prevent any settle- ment between it and the govern- ment. On his own, the institute's moderate chairman, Tam Chau, sought the release of Buddhist monks under government detention and avoided attending meetings of the institute counci?. South's Economic Situation The rate of price increases in South Vietnam has slowed some- what since the period last month immediately following the govern- ment's announcement of devalua- tion and other economic reforms. However, high prices reportedly remain the major topic of con- versation among Vietnamese, out- ranking the forthcoming elections and even the war itself. Workers in the Saigon area employed by RMK, the major US construction combine in South Vietnam, may strike again next week for higher pay, despite the 15-percent raise recently given all RMK employees. "Mobilization" in North Vietnam Hanoi attempted this week to dramatize its determination to continue the war with tough public pronouncements highlighted by a special Ho Chi Minh announce- ment on 17 July that the country's reserves would be "partially mobilized." These statements all emphasized an intent to stay in the fight whatever the cost. Ho's 17 July announcement, well advertised in advance, turned out to be somewhat anticlimactic. Since April 1965 the DRV has added some 100,000 men to its reg- ular army, a million to its militia forces, and 300,000 to the paramilitary crews building and repairing roads. In view of this already high degree of mobilization, the new "partial" mobilization order is believed to represent more of a propaganda response to the POL strikes than any change in Hanoi's call-up program. The North Vietnamese manpower pool is believed capable of ex- panding all categories of manpower related to the war effort even further. Ho's pronouncement may have been aimed in part at pre- paring the populace for a further call-up of reservists and younger men, at least some of whom will probably end up in South Vietnam. In the first half of 1966 some 30,000 North Vietnamese military personnel were sent into South Vietnam, and Hanoi appears still to be maintaining this high rate of infiltration. The most significant infil- tration this year involves elements of the 324th North Vietnamese Infantry Division. The presence of one regiment of this division --the 812th--has been confirmed in Quang Tri Province. Two other re invents may also b SECRET Page 4 WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 SECRET These units reportedly came directly across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the first regular North Vietnamese units reported to have utilized this route. The others have moved around the DMZ through Laos. The unit report- edly covered the new route in only 12 days, whereas the trek down the Laos infiltration corri- dor normally takes four to six weeks. Groups subjected to the long march through Laos, more- over, reportedly suffer a high rate of disease, UNCODED The infiltration of part or all of the 324th Division at this time may reflect Hanoi's concern with the deteriorating Viet Cong military position in the central highlands. A large Communist force very near the North Viet- namese border could allow the Communists to mount a number of large-scale attacks in Quang Tri. They might hope such actions would draw off US forces from the high- lands, giving the hard-pressed Communist troops there a respite and an opportunity to launch some of their long-planned opera- tions. Chinese Propaganda Support Chinese propaganda continues to play up Peking's steadfast- ness in assisting the Vietnamese Communists, but the emphasis re- mains on Hanoi's own persistence. The People's Daily editorial comment on Ho's 17 July "mobili- 25X1 zation" announcement, broadcast by Peking on 18 July, had a sim- ilar thrust. While promising "resolute support," with the us- ual caveats, it did not have the ring of enthusiasm that marked Chinese statements on this sub- ject a year ago. A reference to the possibility that all of Viet- nam will be turned into a US colony did not specify what China would do in that event. In formu- lating their own position with re- gard to the Vietnamese, the Chi- nese have begun to use the formu- lation "great rear area"--which suggests that Peking is more re- luctant than ever to become di- rectly involved. SECRET WEEKLY SUMMARY 22, Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET NORTH KOREA -ENCOUNTERING SNAGS ON DIPLOMATIC FRONT Pyongyang's diplomatic of- fensive in its competition with Seoul has, in the past few months, met with setbacks in Ghana, Indo- nesia, and Tanzania. Syria this week announced a decision to es- tablish relations with North Korea, but this gain will only par- tially offset Pyongyang's losses. South Korea still holds a nearly three-to-one advantage over North Korea in terms of in- ternational recognition. Pyongyang SECRET Page 6 WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET made substantial gains from 1963 to 1965 when ten states of Asia and Africa extended recognition. Previously only two non-Communist states--Guinea and Mali--had done The first reversal of the trend in Pyongyang's favor came in Indonesia. Pyongyang's im- portant diplomatic success in gaining recognition by Djakarta in April 1964 was undercut by the September 1965 coup attempt in Indonesia, and North Korean criticism of Peking's involve- ment reflected Pyongyang's con- cern for its own position in In- donesia. For the past few months Pyongyang's emissaries in Djakarta have been on the defensive, and in May the North Korean ambassa- dor attempted to discourage the Indonesians from recognizing South Korea. However, the Indo- nesian Government has already agreed in principle to the open- ing of a South Korean consulate general in Djakarta, and Seoul reportedly hopes to send a mis- sion in August. In Ghana, events since the military take-over have brought relations close to the breaking point. Pyongyang did not approve of the new regime and withheld its recognition. The new Ghana- ian leadership, in turn, looked with disfavor on the North Ko- rean mission's close and obvious dependence on the Chinese Commu- nist Embassy. Last month Pyong- yang, following the example of Hanoi, closed its embassy in Accra. Ghana is now receptive to the establishment of diplo- matic relations with Seoul which sent an emissary last week to begin negotiations. In Tanzania, the reception of a North Korean good-will mis- sion earlier this month was at best cool. The visit was not followed by the usual joint com- muniqud, reportedly because of Tanzanian refusal to endorse a diatribe against the United States. The mission's heavy- handed propaganda pressure ap- pears to have dispelled some illusions in Dar es Salaam about the North Korean regime. Visits by this same mission to the UAR immediately before and after the Tanzanian stop re- sulted in little more than pro forma expressions of friendship and solidarity. It arrived in Iraq on 17 July and may yet visit other countries on its present tour. The non-Communist states which currently recognize Pyong- yang, in addition to Indonesia, the UAR, Tanzania, Ghana, and Syria, are Algeria, Guinea, Mali, Uganda, Yemen, Mauritania, Cambodia, and Congo (Brazzaville). SECRET Page 7 WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET Europe SOVIET SALES OF COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT The USSR still is far from being a serious competitor of Western manufacturers of commer- cial aircraft, but its discount prices and long-term credit of- fers attract purchasers in Com- munist as well as less developed countries. One of its more popu- lar exports is the twin turbo- prop short-range AN-24 Coke transport. The modified AN-2 Colt biplane, widely used for crop dusting, also has drawn a number of customers. Recent Czech negotiations for Western long-range jet air- craft still may founder over ar- rangements for financing, servic- ing, and spare parts, and Prague may reconsider purchasing the So- viet IL-62 Classic, comparable to the British VC-10. Poland, faced with difficulties in ob- taining spare parts for its Con- vairs and DC-3s and short of hard currency, has ordered 3 AN-24s and an unspecified number of TU-134 Crusty medium-range jets from Moscow for delivery this year. Cuba has received 8 AN-24s this year to replace the obsolete IL-14 Crates in use on its in- ternal routes. China also re- ceived two AN-24s as well as two TU-124 Cookpot short-to-medium- range jet airliners--the first all-jet transport aircraft in Peking's civil air fleet. Re- cent Soviet aircraft deliveries to North Vietnam include 2 AN-24s, an IL-18 Coot, and six MI-6 Hook helicopters. Moscow, apparently hoping to re-establish the dominant po- sition in Guinea's civil air op- erations lost to Pan American last year, provided two AN-24s in March on a loan basis to meet urgent Air Guinea service re- quirements. If Guinea's current negotiations to purchase US trans- ports from Fairchild fall through, it will have little alternative but to turn back to Moscow for as- sistance. Congo (Brazzaville) has acquired at least one AN-24 with possibly one more on order, and the Somali Republic is awaiting delivery of an unspecified num- ber of the same aircraft. Despite an active sales promotion campaign in the indus- trial West--highlighted by the major Soviet display at the Paris air show last year--Moscow has made no headway there. Some sales of Soviet helicopters may develop. Earlier this year Mos- cow took the MI-6 on a demonstra- tion and publicity campaign through a number of European countries. SECRET Page 8 WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET FURTHER INTERNAL SHAKEUP' INDICATED IN ALBAN I A Albania's top leaders appear to be setting the stage to deal with serious party factionalism that became evident last spring. Although they have not identified those in disfavor, both party boss Hoxha and Premier Shehu in recent speeches have referred to "hostile elements" within Albania and have hinted that some are guilty of "revisionism." Factionalism in Albania first came to light earlier this year when the regime took meas- ures to deal with "bureaucratic excesses." As many as 8,000 gov- ernment personnel reportedly have since been assigned to work in agriculture and industry brigades. Last March, Shehu announced that the number of personnel in the central state administration had been reduced by 50 percent. These changes seem designed to tighten party control in the central and local governments. Then, in a speech on 4 July, Shehu again warned that remnants of the overthrown "exploiting" classes and "hostile enemies born from our own ranks," were acting to re-establish a capitalist re- gime. He said that the measures taken so far were only the begin- ning of a general program to rev- olutionize life in Albania. These remarks suggest that additional personnel changes will be forthcoming, but the regime apparently is not yet ready to move. The national elections of 10 July returned every high-rank- ing official of the party and government to the National Assem- bly. At a party central committee plenum held on 12 and 13 July it was announced that the Fifth Party Congress would be held in November. The congress had been planned for sometime in the first half of 1966, which, in view of the party statutes, would already have it a year late. These de- lays are themselves indicative of internal party problems. Resolu- tion of these problems may now come in November. The draft di- rectives for the congress, pub- lished last week, call for a "merciless pursuit" and determined struggle against "internal en- emies." The Albanian military hier- archy may be at the center of the factionalism because of its op- position to.the revolutionary, Chinese-style approach to Commu- nism. Predictably, Albanian sol- diers are.not happy with a recent decree that abolishes rank and insignia and Albanian officers appear uniformly sullen about the re- 25X1 introduction of political commis- sars in all military units. The regime's deep concern with the military's discontent is probably reflected in the replacement of the chief and deputy chief of the army's political directorate. SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET FRENCH TAKING HARDER LINE I N NATO NEGOTIATIONS Since President de Gaulle's return from the USSR the French have taken a harder line in ne- gotiations with their NATO part- ners over the mission of their military forces. At the North Atlantic Coun- cil (NAC) meeting on 19 July the French representative told the other fourteen that France does not accept their statement of "as- sumptions" regarding French in- tentions toward military coopera- tion with NATO. This statement had been presented to the French at a NAC meeting last week as a means of meeting the requirement laid down in the communique of the NATO foreign ministers meet- ing in Brussels that agreement on political matters must be reached in NAC before there are discus- sions on a military level of the future mission of the French forces. The French representative maintained that the Fourteen's "assumptions" were a distortion of the French position and that the Brussels requirement for an "exchange of views" in NAC had been satisfied by the French statement at a meeting of NAC on 21 June. Thus, he claimed, it was now appropriate for the French chief of staff and SACEUR to be- gin detailed negotiations. The consensus of the NAC representatives of the Fourteen Allies is that the Brussels re- quirement was not met by the French statement of 21 June. The French agreed to a request by the NATO secretary general to check back with their government to determine whether the state- ment of "assumptions" could not at least serve as the basis for further discussions in NAC. Failure to do this, the secretary general indicated, would lead to an impasse and require referral back to the NATO foreign minis- ters. It remains doubtful that De Gaulle will agree to any written statement--such as now contained in the "assumptions"--which would lead to automatic involvement of French forces in case of hos- tilities. The harder French line may also be due to an aware- ness that internal pressures on the West German Government might lead to an agreement allowing French troops to remain in Ger- many in a status more favorable to the French than Bonn is at present willing to accept. If such a bargain can be struck with the Germans, Paris may feel its position in the negotiations with the Fourteen would be strength- ened. Meanwhile, Belgium has ob- jected to the proposed reloca- tion in West Germany of the Head- quarters, Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT). The Belgians were upset when the Germans made -a firm offer to put up AFCENT in Aachen, and the Dutch subse- quently withdrew their offer to SECRET Page 10 WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 SECRET locate it in the Netherlands. The Belgians felt the Dutch were taking on their fair share of NATO installations after the Belgians quickly approved relo- cation of the Supreme Headquar- ters Allied Command Europe in their country. However, follow- ing Belgian-Dutch talks on the matter, the Netherlands has again offered to accept either AFCENT or the US European Command (EUCOM). SECRET 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET Middle East - Africa YEMENI REPUBLICANS CONSIDERING INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT Leading Yemeni Republicans, apparently fed up with the Egyp- tian presence in Yemen, are cur- rently exploring the possibility of forming an independent repub- lican government against Egyp- tian wishes. dent, who is also a member of the dissident group. On 17 July a representative of the group approached a US of- ficial in Yemen and requested fi- nancial assistance to pay off the republican army. Yemeni Prime Minister Amri, presently in Cairo, submitted his resignation on 14 July in pro- test over Egypt's interference in Yemen's internal affairs, includ- ing flooding the country with worthless paper currency. Amri's resignation, in turn, has report- edly moved every member of Yemen's Republican Council to follow suit. Important military leaders, including the chief of staff, apparently support the protest also. Even more significant is the reported backing of leading tribal sheiks. The Egyptians have so far suppressed any official announce- ment of the resignations, even though these have reportedly been accepted by the acting Presi- Discontent in Yemen has been exacerbated by drought and in- flation. Religious friction and southern resentment of domination by the predominantly northern re- publican government recently flared in a rebellion in the Bayda area of southern Yemen. The ar- rival of republican army elements and tribal levies forced a truce, but there have been signs of tri- bal restlessness in other areas. SECRET Page 12 WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET SUDAN GOVERNMENT STILL TFOUB'LED BY FACTIONALISM The coalition government in the Sudan is still disrupted by factionalism within the Umma Party, and efforts to solve the country's major problems remain at a standstill. As the political arm of the conservative Islamic Ansar Broth- erhood, the Umma is the Sudan's dominant political force. The Ansar are the descendants or followers of the Mahdi Mohammad Ahmad, who besieged Egyptian- held Khartoum in 1885, killed General Charles Gordon, and ruled the Sudan until defeated by Brit- ish-led forces in 1898. The brotherhood today includes approx- mately four million Sudanese, roughly one third of the coun- try's total population. The Umma's current turmoil has been developing for months. Essentially, it results from the attempts of Sadiq al-Mahdi, the Mahdi's 30-year-old great-grand- son and president of the Umma, to broaden the party's base by including elements outside the Ansar brotherhood, particularly more politically sophisticated townsmen. Sadiq has obtained the support of a number of in- fluential parliamentarians in this effort, but has been opposed by his uncle, the traditional leader of the Ansar, Imam al- Hadi al-Mahdi. Sadiq also wants to replace the ineffectual Mohammed Mahjoub as prime minister, and it is on this immediate issue that Sadiq and his uncle have locked horns, since the Imam has generally supported Mahjoub. Sadiq's backers are now attempting to force a showdown and install Sadiq himself as premier. Sadiq has been reluctant to provoke an open conflict with the Imam or risk a split within the party. should the issue come to a vote in the Sudanese parliament, how- ever, Sadiq could almost cer- tainly control a majority vote despite the Imam's opposition. The intraparty conflict has so preoccupied the politicos in Khartoum that they have taken no new steps toward a settlement of the continuing Negroid separa- tist rebellion in the country's three southern provinces. The government's military campaign against the dissidents also is stalemated. , EGRET' Page 14 WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET INTERNATIONAL COURT THROWS OUT SOUTH-WEST AFRICA CASE South African whites are jubilant over the decision this week of the UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ) concern- ing South-West Africa. The ICJ refused on procedural grounds to pass judgment on whether South Africa had violated its interna- tional responsibilities in its administration of South-West Af- rica, a League of Nations man- date. The court decided that the plaintiffs, Liberia and Ethi- opia, had no legal right to re- quire South Africa to meet its mandate obligations. According to the court, only the defunct League of Nations had that right. South African Government spokesmen have no illusions, how- ever, that the ICJ decision will prevent further action by African governments and others against Pretoria's racial policy in South-West Africa and, ultimately, within South Africa itself. At the same time, these spokesmen note that the ICJ deci- sion relieves Western powers of the legal responsibility to sup- port enforcement measures, such as sanctions against South Africa, which a different ICJ decision might have brought. They say that any new responsibilities which the West.may assume will be taken for political reasons and in response to new initiatives against South Africa by the black African states. The African governments have apparently reached no deci- sion on their next step. Like almost everyone else, they seem not to have anticipated the ICJ's decision and have no contingency plans. Indeed, it is question- able that the Africans had an agreed plan of action in case the court's decision had gone against South Africa. The Af- rica Group at the UN has set up an eight-member steering commit- tee to consider future action. There is a possibility that the Africans may call for a spe- cial session of the General As- sembly--an idea which the USSR is reported to support. Another possibility is a Security Coun- cil meeting to constitute a spe- cial committee on South-West Africa to act as the interested party and take the case back to the ICJ on behalf of the UN. How- ever, this raises the question of whether such a committee can legally do this and might re- quire a preliminary ICJ advisory opinion. There has alsobeen at least one African suggestion for a ministers' meeting of the Organization of African Unity. Available comments about the ICJ decision from other parts of the world vary from critical dis- appointment in the Netherlands to a sigh of relief in the Brit- ish Foreign Office. SECRET Page 15 WEEKLY SUMMARY Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET BELGIAN-CONGOLESE RELATIONS UNDER HEAVY STRAIN The Congo's President Mobutu the gap, is looking to other car- has continued to harass the Bel- riers, including the Soviets. gian Government and Belgian en- terprises in his country. Brus- sels has now indicated it may end its technical assistance rather than accept further provo- cations. Mobutu is trying to bolster his regime's prestige at home and throughout Africa by demand- ing "economic independence" through the "Congolization" of Belgian-controlled enterprises. One target has been Belgium's government-controlled Sabena air- line, which owns 30 percent of the Congo's domestic airline. Sabena has refused to knuckle un- der to Mobutu's pressures to give up this interest, and has threat- ened to withdraw vital technical assistance after 31 July unless certain blocked funds are re- leased. Mobutu is now threaten- ing to deny the airline landing and overflight rights and, to fill The Belgians are chagrined by Mobutu's unilateral moves to set- tle such outstanding issues as con- cession and mining rights. His government has recently taken over rights of two mining companies granted by the former Belgian co- lonial government. This move, how- ever, was very limited since both. companies were practically defunct and one was almost totally owned by the Congolese Government. STEP-UP IN SOVIET MILITARY AID -DELIVERIES TO ALGERIA A recent surge of military aid deliveries to Algeria again indicates Moscow's willingness to supply such assistance to Algiers despite the change of regimes last year. Since Ahmed Ben Bella's overthrow, Moscow has maintained a restrained but proper relation- ship with the Boumediene regime, and has continued its arms ship- ments. Algeria is the second largest recipient of Soviet mili- tary aid in Africa. SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET In the past two months at least six Soviet freighters car- rying military cargo have arrived in Algiers. Deliveries this year have included 20 MIG-21 Fishbed jet fighters with a limited all- weather capability--the first Algeria has received--as well as additional MI-4 Hound helicopters, surface-to-air missile equipment, artillery, armored personnel car- riers, ammunition, and spare parts. Algeria continues to be used fcr transshipment of Soviet mili- tary aid deliveries to other Af- rican countries. Recently, five Soviet AN-12 Cub transports--the first Soviet transports used to deliver MIG aircraft--stopped at Algiers en route to Mali.F SECRET WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Iq Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 SECRET ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT YIELDS TO STRIKERS Yerovi yielded last week to de- mands of provincial interests striking against a revenue meas- This is the first time Yerovi has submitted to special interests resisting his financial measures. He conceded in order to end a five-day general strike in Cotopaxi Province protesting a decree depriving the provincial government of a share of banana export tax revenues which they have received heretofore. Ye- rovi's capitulation will damage his prestige and authority and encourage other groups to strike for concessions. Velasco and his followers 25X1 were not able to exploit the Cotopaxi strike They remain eager to capitalize on Yerovi's difficulties, how- ever Peruvian plans to commem- orate the 25th anniversary of the 1941 border war with Ecuador have provoked press and street reaction in Ecuador which will probably worsen before the cele- bration ends on 31 July. The boundary is a hypersensitive is- sue in Ecuador, and a frontier shooting incident is a possibil- ity. Velasco, during his third and fourth presidencies (1952- 56, 1960-61), was the leading advocate of revising the border in Ecuador's favor, and he might play on public emotions in an attempt to oust Yerovi. SECRET Page 20 WEEKLY SUMMARY 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 SECRET GUATEMALA'S REACTIONS TO RECENT GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS As expected, the new Guate- malan Government is under pres- sure from both right and left. Conservative circles are privately expressing fears that the majority of President Mendez' second-eche- lon appointments are going to "known leftists." The Communist guerrillas have rejected his "peace" overtures and pledged in- stead to give a new push to their revolutionary struggle. Mendez and Foreign Minister Arenales appear to have had a confrontation over appointment of Miguel Angel Asturias as ambassa- dor to France. A long-time resi- dent of Paris, Asturias is a poet and writer with a long history of Communist activities. During his residence in France he has been involved in activities connected with Guatemalan and international Communism and has traveled widely in the Soviet Union and other bloc countries. Last May, he was announced as a winner of the 1966 Lenin Peace Prize. According to the US Embassy, Arenales was opposed to the ap- pointment. A Foreign Ministry official said that it was "rammed down his throat." In the wide- spread confusion surrounding the new government appointments one fact is clear--some extremists are getting government posts, possibly because of Mendez' inex- perience or poor advice. IF- - SECRET Page 22 WEEKLY SUMMARY 22 Jul 66 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927A005300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8 Vae S1.L t 140 SECRET Approved For Release 2009/03/24: CIA-RDP79-00927AO05300120005-8