CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A010600150001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 6, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 18, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
DEPT OF STATE review(s) completed.
Top Secret
196
18 December 1967
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18 December 1967
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
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Greece: Constantine's return to Athens being
negotiated. (Page 3)
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Dahomey: Young officers take over government.
(Page 8
2:6
Algeria: Attempted army revolt crushed (Page 10)
Australia: Outlook following Holt death (Page 10)
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Greece- King Constantine and emissaries of the
ruling junta are negotiating the King's return to Athens.
The junta leadership in Athens met in emergency
session yesterday to consider Constantine's response
to their "unofficial" overtures carried to Rome last
Saturday by Greek Orthodox Primate Archbishop
Ieronymos. Foreign Minister Pipinelis and Ieronymos
returned immediately to Athens Saturday night after
lengthy discussions with the King.
King Constantine is
rea y to return to Greece i a
ace-saving formula can be found. He apparently feels
he has a strong bargaining position and almost certainly
has demanded assurances from the junta that it will
move rapidly to restore full constitutional government
in Greece. The junta will probably insist on a commit-
ment from Constantine to stay aloof from further in-
volvement in Greek politics.
Nonetheless, the junta is going to consi era e . eng
to leave the way open for Constantine's early return
Deputy Premier Patakos told a press conference on
Saturday that the Greek throne belongs to Constantine,
and that the King's rather substantial properties in
Greece remain intact. Constantine's portraits have
been restored to the walls of government offices.
The full impact of the abortive countercoup will
be far-reaching. Within the military regime, Papa-
dopoulos, as the new premier, has emerged more
powerful than ever. Apart from the junta leaders,
virtually the entire top leadership of the armed forces
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is being changed. The officers arrested for involve-
ment with the King apparently will be amnestied and
then dismissed. In addition, the Greek people prob-
ably are now more sharply divided than ever, between
supporters and opponents of the military regime.
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18 Dec 67
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Dahomey: Key army elements ousted President
Soglo's military government yesterday and announced
a take-over by young officers.
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Paratroop and armored units placed Soglo and
most senior officers under house arrest during the
night of 16- 17 December, The politically important
chief of staff, Lt. Col. Alley, whose role in the coup
is still uncertain, reportedly was escorted to the coup
group for discussions. A Revolutionary Military Com-
mittee consisting mostly of little-known junior officers
has promised to form a new provisional government
and to submit a new constitution to the people within
six months.
Junior army officers had long been dissatisfied
with their limited influence under Soglo's regime and
had complained of corruption and mismanagement. The
coup occurred as the general strike which paralyzed
Dahomey last week was subsiding as a result of new
concessions by Soglo. Midway through the strike, Al-
ley had ordered into Cotonou the forces that staged
the coup.
Basic economic ills have been the root cause of
every crisis in Dahomey's short history, including
previous military coups in 1963 and 1965. France,
whose financial support keeps the country functioning,
seems reconciled to Dahomey's chronic instability
and is unlikely to increase its aid to ease local pres-
sures resulting from austerity measures.
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Algeria: Forces loyal to Boumediene apparently
have put down an attempted revolt of dissident army
units that began on the night of 14 December, but
scattered outbreaks of fighting may still occur as the
rebels are rounded up. The leader of the attempted
coup, former army chief of staff Z'Biri, apparently
has not been captured. Boumediene's success in crush-
ing the revolt, the most serious threat to his govern-
ment since he ousted Ben Bella in June 1965, may en-
courage him to move more confidently against other
disgruntled elements.
Australia: The death of Prime Minister Holt
will probably not produce any immediate changes in
the composition of the government or in its domestic
and foreign policies. Deputy Prime Minister McEwen,
leader of the junior party in the governing coalition,
will assume the prime ministership, at least for an in-
terim period. He has been closely identified with his
predecessor's policies, but the dominant Liberal Party
may soon elect a permanent replacement from among
its own members.
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Top Secret
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