CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A008800310001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 25, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 17, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
RELATING TO NATIONAL SECURITY
State Dept., JCS reviews completed
GROUP 1
EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
TOP SECRET
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17 March 1966
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
CONTENTS
1. Vietnam : Current situation report. (Page 1)
2. Indonesia: Sukarno trying to renege on authority
accorded Suharto. (Page 3)
111111,
IN
3. India: Punjab riots present new problems to hard-
pressed government. (Page 4)
4. West Germany: Leading official suggests pushing
plans for NATO nuclear sharing. (Page 5)
5. UK - Common Market: Paris holds out prospect of
resuming talks on Britain's membership. (Page 6)
6. USSR: Cosmos 110 recovered yesterday. (Page 7)
7. Notes: France-USSR;
Belgium. (Page 8)
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
17 March 1966
*Vietnam : (Information as of 4:30 AM EST)
Political Developments in South Vietnam: General
Thi so far appears to be cooperating with Premier Ky
by trying to quiet agitation aroused by his dismissal as
I Corps commander. Thi's public statements made in
Da Nang since his arrival there yesterday have all been
in a helpful vein, except for one sarcastic reference to
his "sinus trouble" causing things to "smell bad." He
has thanked his followers for their loyal support, but
admonished them to look to the higher interests of the
nation and to settle down. He also stressed his con-
tinued friendship with Ky.]
[it is not known whether self-seeking political and
Buddhist elements will be able to influence Thi adversely
during his scheduled visit of about two days in I Corps.
These elements, far from committed to Thi, are seek-
ing to promote his dismissal as an issue to use against
the government to advance their own ends. Premier Ky
has admitted that permitting Thi's return to I Corps is
a calculated risk, but believes that on balance it will
help undercut government critics
(Peaceful rallies, each attended by some 10,000
Bud ists, took place yesterday in both Hub and Saigon,
the latter being the first such demonstration in the cap-
ital since Thi's dismissal. There is as yet no official
reporting on the Saigon meeting. Press accounts differ
as to whether the tone of remarks made by a ranking
Buddhist monk were in a moderate or inflammatory
vein, but he appears to have held forth the goal of a re-
turn to civilian rule.]
the Bud-
dhis s will continue to press for government concessions
on four basic demands--a more democratically based
civilian council, to serve as a national assembly, the
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reinstatement in some official position of retired gen-
erals from the former Minh junta in order to restore
national unity, steps to return the military "to the bat-
tlefield" and restore civilian authority, and concrete
progress 'toward economic and social reforms. The
Buddhists claim to have already received partial con-
cessions from. Ky and Chief of State Thieu, but it seems
likely that little more than probing for weak points and
areas of agreement has been achieved to date.]
the Bud-
dhists do not desire Ky's overthrow, but merely an end
to quarrelling and ineffectiveness on the part of the
military. If Thi remains on an even keel in his rela-
tions with Ky and peacefully quits the country in a few
days, some of the Buddhist thunder may be undercut
and a temporary cooling-off period may ensue. The
Buddhists, however, may feel that there is already a
sufficient breach of military unity for them to continue
to press for more drastic changes. The ruling mili-
tary Directorate reportedly is to meet on 18 March to
consider how to handle this threat
The Military Situation in South Vietnam : A battal-
ion of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade participating in
Operation SILVER CITY battled enemy forces for nearly
five hours yesterday in Bien Hoa Province. The Viet
Cong disengaged after sustaining losses of 275 killed
and two captured. US casualties were three killed and
104 wounded. Earlier in the day, US forces discovered
two enemy arms caches containing some 66 weapons
and 14, 000 rounds of ammunition.
Since its initiation on 7 March, SILVER CITY has
resulted in cumulative Viet Cong losses of 293 killed,
one captured, and 96 weapons (31 crew served) seized.
Allied casualties are 12 killed (10 US) and 170 wounded
(160 US). South Vietnamese forces have terminated
their portion of the operation without significant enemy
contact.
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Indonesia: President Sukarno is trying to renege
on the authority he accorded General Suharto last week-
end.
Yesterday a presidential announcement asserted
that the order to Suharto was being misinterpreted, and
that only Sukarno is responsible for carrying out de-
cisions and for appointing his assistants. The announce-
ment stated that the public was trying to force its will
-on the President regarding cabinet composition and was
deviating from "established ways of consultation."
The announcement apparently was provoked by
the pro-Suharto mass rally of the previous day. A
statement read at the rally called on him to purge the
cabinet and other government agencies of Communist
elements. Prior to Sukarno's announcement, students
had also presented a statement to parliament calling for
an overhaul of the cabinet and listing 24 ministers they
want dismissed.
Cukarno is keeping up his efforts to erode support
for Suharto within the armed forces, but does not appear
to have had any significant successI
Although Suharto holds more actual power than he
did a week ago, he has publicly denied that any execu-
tive power has been transferred to him or that the Presi-
dent's authority has decreased. He has likened his
present duties to the security responsibilities conferred
by the President after 1 October.
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PUNJAB STATE, INDIA
MONGOLIA
JAMM'U'& KASHMIR
PAKISTAN
Rajasthan
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India. Communal riots in Punjab State are
presenting a new problem to Prime Minister Gandhi's
.hard-pressed government.
The disorders began on 11 March, after the
ruling Congress Party bowed to pressures from the
Sikh religious group for a separate Punjabi-speaking
state in that area of the Punjab in which most of the
Sikhs reside. New Delhi feared that the Sikh's most
influential figure might carry out his threatened self-
immolation on the issue and bring on violent communal
disorders and losses for the Congress Party in next
year's general elections.
On hearing the party's announcement, Punjabi-
speaking Hindus in northwestern Punjab rioted out
of fear of Sikh domination in a partitioned state.
They were joined by the Hindu extremist Jan Sangh
party which adrvccaes the supremacy of the Hindi
language, ~t least sixjpersons have %el-en `billed so
far.
Although the Sikh response has been relatively
restrained, communal feeling runs high. According
to press reports, the Sikh leader has announced that
he will still immolate himself if the decision is not
implemented within four weeks.
The government seems prepared to apply what-
ever force is necessary to put down the disorders,
and has alerted army units for action if the police
are unable to cope with the situation. Nevertheless,
the communal clashes, together with recent leftist-
instigated rioting in Calcutta, a revolt of Mizo Hill
tribes, and the food shortages and other economic
troubles, are keeping Mrs. Gandhi's government on
the defensive.
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West Germany: (A leading West German official
has suggested that the current confrontation with
France may afford the opportunity to push plans for
NATO nuclear sharing
[State Secretary Carstens, who has been acting
as foreign minister during Gerhard Schroeder's
vacation, told a US official on 14 March that progress
on nuclear sharing would serve as a counter to
De Gaulle's moves. Carstens thought that the matter
of French reaction to NATO nuclear force proposals
was no longer a problem.]
(Bonn, according to Carstens, had been encouraged
by the "positive remarks" made to Erhard by Presi-
dent Johnson on German nuclear sharing proposals
during their meeting in Washington last December.
Carstens claimed that the British remained ready
to go ahead with an alliance nuclear force. He
thought that the subject could be taken up during
Erhard's visit to London, now scheduled for May.J
In recent public statements Schroeder and De-
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Special Committee.
fense inister von Hassel have made clear that the
Erhard government will not be satisfied solely with
the McNamara Special Committee, and still desires
German participation in an alliance nuclear force.]
Other members of the alliance--especially those
who already fear that France's military disengagement
will leave West Germany in a preponderant position
on the continent--may well question that this is a
good time to reopen the controversial issue of nuclear
sharing. London almost certainly still hopes that
Bonn's nuclear needs can be satisfied within the
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UK - Common Market: [Paris may be attempting
to disarm European opposition to France's attack on
NATO by holding out the prospect of resuming talks on
Britain's membership in the Common Market
(According to press reports, the French stated at
a me ?According
of the seven Western European Union coun-
tries in London on 15-16 March that they now believe
it desirable for the UK to enter the EEC. In announc-
ing this at a press conference, British Foreign Secre-
tary Stewart reportedly said that this removes one
obstacle to British entry
Cn further comments, Stewart' reiterated that
London still insists on protection for British farm in-
terests, the Commonwealth countries, and Britain's
EFTA partners. He also said the withdrawal of French
forces from NATO would make it difficult for Britain
to link up with the EEC. According to one press re-
port, however, he added that the Labor government--
if re-elected on 31 March--would initiate "preliminary
exchanges" with the Common Market countries]
[France probably expects that, should preliminary
discussions of Britain's accession to the EEC take place,
they would tend to forestall a firm stand against France
on NATO issues. Over the long run, Paris might hope
that such talks could lead to renewed consideration of
some kind of mechanism for coordinating European
foreign and military policies.
;yf
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USSR: Cosmos 110, the Soviet satellite carrying
two dogs, was recovered yesterday, apparently be-
cause the dogs' physical condition was deteriorating.
The Soviets have announced that the dogs were
in "good condition" after recovery, but that their
heartbeats had become abnormal toward the end of
the flight. The space craft landed shortly before
sunset, and recovery operations were carried out
under difficult conditions. If the Soviets had been
able to wait several days, a landingUn daylight et 4?r
would have been possible.
The satellite, in orbit 22 days, was designed
primarily to study the effects of radiation and pro-
longed weightlessness on. living creatures. In addi-
tion to the dogs, a variety of biological specimens
was carriegd, Cosmos 110 was in a higher orbit than
any[previousJsatellite, Carrying living creatures and
its orbit carried it through the lower part of the Van
Allen radiation belt.
The data transmitted to earth by the satellite
and study of the recovered specimens will provide
valuable information applicable to prolonged space
flights such as lunar missions and space stations.
The longest Soviet manned flight--Vostok 5 in 1963--
lasted five days
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earned out, 7
ties suggests that such an agreement might nevp.r be
France-USSR: [There is a good chance that De
Gaulle will sign a French-Soviet space agreement dur-
ing his visit to Moscow in June, according to a senior
French space official. Both sides would view the agree-
ment primarily as a political maneuver, but it could
provide for the launch of a relatively simple French
scientific satellite by the Soviets. The Soviets' un-
willingness during six months of preliminary talks to
provide detailed information on their booster systems
and to grant the French access to Soviet launch facili-
TurkeyV General Cevdet Sunay s appoin men
senator on 15 March, and his resignation as chief of the
Turkish general staff open the way for his eventual elec-
tion by Parliament as president of Turkey. The virtual
certainty that seriously ailing President Gursel will
never be able to resume his duties has brought increas-
ing pressure for his replacement. Sunay is acceptable
to both major parties, and is friendly to the US. F
(continued)
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Belgium: Agreement of the Catholic and Liberal js
parties to form a coalition with Paul Vanden Boeynants
as prime minister will bring a more conservative gov-
ernment to Belgium. Catholic labor groups are backing
Vanden Boeynants, although they are uneasy about his
alliance with the business-oriented Liberals. The de-
from the Foreign Ministry of Socialist Paul
parture
Henri Spaak may leave the government more vulnerable
to rising popular pressures for reduction of the national
j defense budget--a move which could affect Bel ium's
j commitments both to NATO and in the Congo.
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THE PRESIDENT
The Vice President
Executive Offices of the White House
Special Counsel to the President
The Special Assistant for National Security Affairs
The Scientific Adviser to the President
The Director of the Budget
The Department of State
The Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The Counselor and Chairman of the Policy Planning Council
The Director of Intelligence and Research
The Treasury Department
The Secretary of the Treasury
The Under Secretary of the Treasury
The Department of Defense
The Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Air Force
The Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy
Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
Chief of Staff, United States Army
Commandant, United States Marine Corps
U.S. Rep., Military Committee and Standing Group, NATO
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander in Chief, Pacific
Commander in Chief, Atlantic
The Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
The Director, The Joint Staff
The Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army
The Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of Navy
The Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force
The Department of Justice
The Attorney General
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Administrator
The Atomic Energy Commission
The Chairman
The National Security Agency
The Director
The United States Information Agency
The Director
The National Indications Center
The Director
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