CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00975A003000500001-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
13
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 4, 2002
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 19, 1957
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00975A003000500001-2.pdf411.37 KB
Body: 
ILLEGI CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN State Department review completed 19 April 1957 Copy No. 134 ILLEGIB _ CU ENT`NO. __--- CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE: --10101 25X1 AUTH: HR 70 DATE) ? REVIEW'ER:, OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET VZZx"//xxx/. X4~ 2 0 0 2 / 10 / 2 1 : C I A - R D P 7 9 T WZ 0 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO03000500001-2 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO03000500001-2 25X1A Approved For gle 7 503000500001-2 25X1 25X1 CONTENTS SOVIET OFFICIALS SUGGEST TOP-LEVEL CONFERENCE WITH THE WEST 25X1A $12. THE JORDANIAN SITUATION 25X1A 25X1A t 0 3. GREEK-TURK TENSIONS MAY EASE 64. KISHI PROPOSES US AND JAPAN CO-OPERATE I CO- NOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA 25X1A d 5. SOVIET LEADERS EXPRESS OPTIMISM FOR IMPROVED . INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 25X1A (9 46. MIKOYAN COMMENTS ON POLITICAL EFFECT INDUSTRIAL REORGANIZATION 25X1A 25X1A 8. PRO-SOVIET DIPLOMAT TO BE BURMESE PREMIER'S PERSONAL SECRETARY ANNEX- -Conclusions of the Watch Re ort of the Intelligence 25X1 Advisory Committee 25X1A 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A Approved For Releao Approved For (ease 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975A0030 0500001-2 25X1A 25X1A 1. SOVIET OFFICIALS SUGGEST TOP-LEVEL CONFERENCE 25X1A WITH THE WEST 25X1A First Deputy Premier Mikoyan told Am- bassador Bohlen on 17 April that the Soviet government did not understand why the United States, Britain and France were not prepared 25X1A to talk over Middle East problems, and said that he felt if this were done some areas of common interest could be found. Mikoyan as- serted that the chief Soviet interest in the Middle East lay in the security field, that his government did not wish to see the installation there of Western, particularly Amer- ican, military power, and that the Soviet Union felt that as a great pow- er it had a right to have its interests in bordering areas recog- nized. His remarks were made in response to Bohlen's suggestion that one of the Soviet purposes in the area was to use control of the oil supplies as a weapon of pressure against Western Europe. Other Soviet officials have suggested recently in public and private statements that the USSR is seeking a top- level conference on Middle Eastern problems, or possibly even another summit conference. A Soviet request for a conference on the Mid- dle East, delivered to the Western powers and India on 11 Febru- ary, was rejected by all the addressees except India. Such a con- ference has since been a recurrent theme in Soviet propaganda. I 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 25X1 Approved For Re lease - 00001-2 Approved For Release 2 U_ U-21 1012 1 : - 03000500001-2 25X1A 25X1A 2. THE JORDANIAN SITUATION Jordanian prime minister Khalidi, in his first interview with Ambassador Mallory on 17 April, stated that great difficulties could arise if Ambassador Richards' mission should arrive in Amman at this time. He said that a delay of eight or ten days would be helpful, and that in the meantime he would study the question of the exact wording of an invitation, which he considered to be important. Khalidi stated that what had looked like the eruption of "several volcanoes" in Jordan now appeared to be changing to a period of relative calm, The new prime minister said he regarded the formation of his cabinet as "almost miraculous" in the sense that a number of people who had foresworn any government activity had been induced to re- turn to public life. 25X6 The armored units which had been stationed in Amman reportedly returned to their barracks on 17 April. The decree issued on 18 April confirming the appointment of General Hiyari as chief of staff in place of exiled general Nuwar should serve to stabilize the situation further. 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 Approved Fo 25X1A 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A 3. GREEK-TURK TENSIONS MAY EASE Tension between Greece and Turkey over he arrival of Archbishop Makarios in Athens appears to be easing, at least for he present. Athens' reception of Makarios-- personifies the enosis Struggle to the Turks- -produced no immediate violent reaction in Turkey, despite the archbishop's for self-determination. ration to the crowds reiterating his demand Turkish prime minister Menderes issued a statement over Ankara radio on 18 April hich was considerably milder than that he had previously planned to deliver to the National Assembly a day earlier. After deploring the British release of Makarios as an "injudicious action," he nevertheless expressed the hope that Britain and Turkey, whose relations are "extremely cordial," would proceed together toward a solution of the Cyprus problem. 25X6 The secretary-general of the Turkish Foreign Ministry had already indicated to American and British diplomats that the Turks might assume a less militant line than had been expected. Menderes has ordered additional precautions in Istanbul to prevent any "untoward incident" after a visit there. The deputy governor of Istanbul told the American consul-general on 16 April that "any and all" demonstrations would be prohibited, but he warned that the prime minister could reverse that decision at any time. The embassy points out that 23 April is a Turkish national holiday, and would be a logical day for a popular demonstration. planned further conferences with government leaders. satisfaction with Athens' handling of the Cyprus issue and said he Makarios appears to be treading cautiously among rival Greek factions in Athens and is receptive to official Greek counsel of moderation. After an interview with Foreign Minister Averoff the evening of 17 April, Makarios reiterated his 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 Approved For 1 - 3000500001-2 25X1 Approved Fo 4. KISHI PROPOSES US AND JAPAN CO-OPERATE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA 25X1A 25X1A Prime Minister Kishi, in the third of a series of discussions with Ambassador MacArthur on US-Japanese co-operation, has proposed that the US, in concert with Japan and other non-Communist countries, establish an Asian development fund which would provide the necessary capital for economic development of Southeast Asian coun- tries. He believed such a fund could also be used to adjust the demand and supply of certain primary products of the area, and to provide a credit mechanism for facilitating trade. Kishi also suggested that the US help fi- nance a Japanese investment agency which would provide long-term, low-interest loans. He recommended that the US render financial assistance on specific projects already planned by Japan and the countries in Southeast Asia,, "con- sider" Japan in connection with US aid projects, establish joint US-Japanese technical training centers, and encourage the establishment of a branch of the World Bank in Tokyo. Kishi commented that the military aspect of US-Japanese co-operation has been overemphasized and said that it is an urgent necessity to demonstrate to the Jap- anese people that economic co-operation is one of many other fields in which mutual benefits can be obtained. 25X1 Comment Latent suspicion of Japan's intentions, political instability in Southeast Asia, and well-entrenched European and Indian interests are hand- icaps in strengthening Japan's ties in the area. In response to pressure from within his Liberal-Democratic Party to demonstrate Japan's "independ- ent" policy, Kishi plans to make a trip through Southeast Asia before coming to Washington. He also intends to appoint rov- ing "economic" ambassadors in several areas, including South- east Asia, to improve the atmosphere for economic co-opera- tion with Japan. Approved F - 00500001-2 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 25X1A Approved Fo Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975A00300 500001-2 25X1A 5. SOVIET LEADERS EXPRESS OPTIMISM FOR IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Soviet leaders Khrushchev and Bulganin, in a farewell conversation with Ambassador Bohlen, expressed optimism for a relaxa- tion of "international tension" and an im- provement of relations with the United States and other Western countries. Khrushchev indicated that he felt the cur- rent London disarmament conference had gotten off to a better start than previous meetings, and expressed the hope that some- thing positive would be accomplished. On the subject of German reunification, how- ever, Khrushchev and Bulganin maintained the official Soviet position since the Geneva summit conference of July 1955 that the Soviet Union was not prepared to go any further than to fa- cilitate contacts between the two German states for the purpose of working out unification. 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 Approved For Release/'O/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975A003000500001-2 Approved For 25X1A 25X1A The forthcoming decentralization of Soviet industrial administration will over a period of time affect the political structure of the Soviet Union and result in greater au omy for local institutions, in the opinion of 6. MIKOYAN COMMENTS ON POLITICAL EFFECT OF SOVIET INDUSTRIAL REORGANIZATION First Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan. At a farewell luncheon for Ambassador Bohlen on 17 April, Mikoyan at- tributed the possibility for greater local autonomy in eco- nomic and "eventually" in political matters to the increase in numbers of trained people in the provinces. He agreed with Bohlen that many forms of Soviet administration, par- ticularly in the political field,, were hangovers from the past, adding that this has been the essence of the tasks confront- ing the leadership since Stalin's death. The principle of collective leadership, according to Mikoyan, was not only being maintained but was being continuously strengthened and developed. 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 Approved Fo 25X1A 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO03000500001-2 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO03000500001-2 Approved Fo Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975A003 00500001-2 25X1A 8... PRO-SOVIET DIPLOMAT TO BE BURMESE PREMIER'S PERSONAL SECRETARY 25X1A U Ohn, for many years the Burmese ambassadlor in Moscow, has become personal secretary to Premier Nu, ac- cording to an official announcement in angoon. Ohn replaces U Thant, who is to become Burma's permanent representative to the United Nations. Ohn is be- lieved by the American embassy to be close to the Soviet embassy. Comment U Ohn is a member of the Socialist oligarchy which dominates the Burmese government, and his appointment to this influential position has long been anticipated. Since his college days in the 30's he has never concealed his pro-Communist inclinations. In his new position, Ohn will be in daily contact with the pre- mier and his advice will probably carry considerable weight in the determination of both domestic and foreign policies. Although a moderate and devout Buddhist, U Thant is unlikely to be as aggressively anti-Communist in the 'United Nations as U Pe. Kin, the man he is relieving. 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10 25X1A 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO03000500001-2 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO03000500001-2 Approved For Lipanp 2002/10/21 - - 3000500001-2 ANNEX 25X1A Watch Report 350, 18 April .1957 of the Intelligence Advisory Committee Conclusions on Indications of Hostilities On the basis of findings by its Watch Committee, the Intelligence Advisory Committee concludes that: A. No Sino-Soviet bloc country intends to initiate hostilities against the continental US or its possessions in the imme- diate future. B. No Sino-Soviet bloc country intends to initiate hostilities against US forces abroad, US allies or areas peripheral to the Orbit in the immediate future. C. A deliberate initiation of hostilities by either Israel or the Arab states is improbable in the immediate future. Unsettled issues and tensions, particularly the internal situation in Jordan, continue to constitute possibilities for violence. Should there be intensified disorders or civil war in Jordan, military intervention by neighboring .Arab states probably would occur, and Israeli intervention would be a possibility. 25X1A 19 Apr 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 12 25X1A Approved For b00500001-2 25X1