MIDDLE EAST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001000040021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: August 6, 1958
• Content Type: BRIEF

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6 August 1958
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1. Lebanese rebels still pressing for imuediate politics] victory,
**eking quick withdrawal VS troops and resignation or departure of
Chanoun and Vrimin Sulh from country. To this end, they using
same means they halm used sines inception of rebellion;
A. Terrorism in towns to intimidate merchants into closing shops
and carry tag on so-callod "general strait."
B. looping up minor military harasseents, refusing to lay down arm
until "domands" mot. Chehab more relaxed and awes disadvantage
of quick withdrawal.
II. No improvoment in Jordan situation
A. Syrians closed border on 3 August, thus cutting country off
economically from practically all contact with outoids world.
1. POL situation still touchy er4anians have not got back
some 45 tank trucks caught by coup in Iraq, and may not
get then until Iraqi-supplied FM is paid for.
2. Amman money changors now refusing change dollar's oreept at
heavy discounts, alleging that they in tura unable contact
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Boirat money uartst? to soli them.
Talk grow in all circles Jordan that Vesaya should do the
"right thing" and abdicato to avoid a "bloodbath."
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III. Iraqi leaders still appear fearful presence WS-UK troops in the
area is aimed primarily at them. After mere troops landed.
A. This fear probably encouraged by NAN experts* who have flocked
to Baghdad, since their services seem more essential if Western
threat appears imminent.
1. No actual move yet by Iraqi rgi to enter WAR or leave
Baghdad Pact. both questions stiliaviously *under study"
and could be subject of dispute within regime.
2. Nasir has said, he believes there- is some trouble within
Baghdad government - rivalry between Primin Quin and
Deputy Primin Arif, and friction -between civilian and
military elesents . but me see nothing yet to indicate
?really serious trouble.
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Basic reported contemplating
possible reorganisation of SABI with double Objective in mind:
A. Free his from persenal responsibility for Syrian problems,
which 107 Wear serious to him.,
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I. psychological - 6 months of ULK administration has not
brought dynamic "now look" to Syria and Emir admitted
this in recent speech in Alcsandriaj
2. Romanic worst Syrian grain crop in tea years combined
with poor budget planning could produce deficit which
Syrians unable finance by themselves;
Political - sniping among Syrinx*, factions continues,
occasionally breaks out in Dasssess Press, which is
relatively undisciplined compared to Cairo's. Purge of
Syrian officials may be brewing. Sarraj and Pasir said
to agree that only solution for Syrian bureaucracy nay be
to put 500 officials is concentration camps in order to stop
their endloss talk and get them to do soma work.
U. Second objective would be wait Iraq and other Arab states to
join in some form of union other than tight EAR structure (UAS
with Tamen is actually sort of joke* to Egyptians).
C. **organisation might take fora of dissolution lug and formation
Arab federation with cocoon army and foreign policy. Parallel
authoritarian regimes would be similar in structure but each
with individual responsibility for domestic affairs.
1. Such a set-ups. it it included Iraq would appeal especially
to Syrians, who would hope to be geographic and polittc1
center of Zgyptian-ftrian Iraqi federation. Rumors on this
already circulating in Damascus.
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D. Nosir, in apparent calculated insult to US Government, put
off meeting with Deputy Undersecretary of State Murphy
scheduled for morning 6 August, until evening. Masir's move
reported to be in retaliation for recent US charges of
Egyptian interference in. Lebanon.
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