INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING OF MR. TRUMAN, 30 JULY 1958

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001000040018-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 22, 2002
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: August 1, 1958
• Content Type: MEMO

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1 Aug 58
MEN!ORANDU14 FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT : Intelligence Briefing of Mr. Truman, 30 July 1958
1. Because of the planets late arrival in Kansas City, 4:35 p.m.
instead of 3:30 Tuesday, 29 July, which would bring me to Independence
later in the afternoon, I called Y r. Truman from the airport and asked if
it was convenient for him to receive me as soon as I could get from the
airport to the Library or whether he preferred me to come Wednesday
morning. Mr. Truman asked me to meet with him at 9:00 the following
morning, Wednesday, 30 July, saying that we would then have plenty of time.
2. The briefing session Wednesday morning lasted from 9:00 to
10:20 and took place in Mr. Truman's private office in the Truman Library
building. The briefing was very well received.
3. Mr. Truman's interest centered on Near Eastern problems and he
read the pertinent section of the prepared briefing in its entirety. He
interrupted his reading frequently to ask quick questions, to make com-
ments, and to reminisce about Near Eastern personages. He recognized the
sensitive nature of the information contained in the prepared briefing
and expressed his appreciation for this information several times,
assuring me that he understood the security problems involved.
). He was particularly interested in our evidence of the UAR's role
in the Lebanese situation and in the wide scope of Nassir's clandestine
activities. )It was his opinion that we would find the Grand Mufti's hand
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in Nassirts machinations and that the Grand Mufti should be kept under
He read our statement on Israel with great care. Likewise,
the pace of his reading slowed down when he came to Kuwait and to the
problems of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somaliland. On several occasions Mr.
Truman returned to and stressed the danger in Iran, illustrating his dis-
cussion by pointing to the Soviet-Iranian border on the large globe which
stood by his desk and recalling details of the Soviet incursion in
Azerbaijan at the close of World War II. When I remarked that the Shah
was afraid to go home after the iraqi coup Mr. Truman exclaimed that he
had guessed as much. The fact that our intelligence supported his guess
pleased Mr. Truman.
5. I briefed Mr. Truman orally on the Sino-Soviet problem, for it
was apparent that he did not wish to read on in the prepared text but
instead wished to talk and ask questions. Where possible I referred him
to sections in the text as part of my response to his questions and in
this way Mr. Truman read our pages on Indonesia and on Latin America.
6. In general it was apparent from Mr. Truman's comments that he
is prepared for more crises bringing bad news not only in the Near East
but elsewhere in the world of emerging nationalist states. He voiced the
opinion that a generation may pass before these new states and some old
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ones as well, such as those of Latin America, will be sufficiently stable
and enlightened to appreciate the danger of Communist totalitarianism.
7. Mr. Truman was obviously pleased to see your "Briefing Notes" for
the "Meeting at the White House with Congressional Leaders," dated July
1I, 1958, and thanked you for the opportunity to read them. He read every
word and expressed his emphatic agreement with the conclusions.
8. I found an opportunity to show Mr. Truman the Central Intelligence
Bulletin for 29 July. He was very interested in the Bulletin's develop-
ment and recalled his own part in its origin.
9. Mr. Truman would appreciate being briefed whenever a crisis
develops on which he may have to comment, publicly. I believe he intends
to discuss this matter with you. Although I offered to discuss specific
arrangements then and there he was disinclined to commit himself to any
schedule. It would be very helpful to us if Mr. Truman would agree to
take the initiative and call for briefings. Tiis principle governed our
relations with Mr. Stevenson and Y r. Kefauver in 1956 and is the best way
of avoiding possible misunderstandings, in fact the only way if regular
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scheduled briefings are not desired.
1.3(a) (4)
cc: DDCI Activifias and Methods
Orig: OCI grn (1 August 1958)
Distribut on:
Orig. & 1 - Addressee
1 - DD/I
1 - AD/CI
Current intelligence__._~
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