MIDDLE EAST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001100110002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 7, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 4, 1959
• Content Type: BRIEF

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NSC BRIEFING 4 November 1959
I. UAR: Nasir has moved to strengthen Syrian flank by appointing
Amir as effective viceroy there.
A. Since union with Egypt last year, Syria has suffered from
drought and locusts, and there is continuing resentment
Egyptian economic and political dominance.
Agriculture, suffering from:two years' drought and
poorly organized land redistribution, probably cannot
recover satisfactorily during next year.
Industrialization plans are overly ambitious and present
economic stagnation will probably be accentuated before
any real progress is visible.
Despite Cairo's tight control over Syrian military
dissidents by retirement, transfer, and removal,
discontent is apparently still widespread and coup
plotting in army remains a constant problem.
Public discontent may be eased somewhat by plans
for early formation of semi-autonomous governing
bodies on local levels throughout the UAR and a new
national parliament--but Nasir will continue to rely
primarily on his personal popularity and tight security.
II. TAPLINE: The UAR has postponed--apparently until the first of
the year--issuing the decree, originally scheduled for the end of
October, designed to increase sharply the transit fees from
TAPLINE.
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1. Nasir may be reluctant to disturb his relations with the
West at this time because of the critical situation in Iraq.
III. Sudan:
A. Main issues in Nile Waters dispute with UAR have been re-
solved, and signature of formal agreement expected in next
few days.
1. Agreement result of compromises on both sides in Cairo
negotiations.
2. Agreement will pave way for beginning next month of
construction of first stage of Aswan High Dam and for
granting of $59,000,000 World Bank loan to cover
foreign-exchange costs of Sudan's $100,000,000 Roseires
Dam project.
3. Frictions may develop with Ethiopia and UK (speaking
for Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika) on any final alloca-
tion of Nile Waters.
Unstable and unpopular Abboud government will try to gain
new public support by emphasizing favorable terms of
agreement.
1. Sudanese political and religious leaders have been
pressing for return to civilian government.
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IV. Jordan:
A. A ranking Soviet diplomat--Kiktev, ambassador to Lebanon-
visited Jordan for first time week before last as "tourist."
B. Shah of Iran is now in. Jordan.
1. He and Husayn are unlikely to decide on undertaking any
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adventures in Iraq.
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Iq
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