CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A012400090001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 30, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T00975A01240,et
25X1
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
Secret
51
30 October 1968
State Dept. review completed
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400090001-4
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400090001-4
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400090001-4
 Approved For Release 2004/0~7BI'-'DP79T00975A012400090001-4
No, 0300/68
30 October 1968
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
South Vietnam: Situation report, (Page 1)
Czechoslovakia: The federalization bill is to be
signed today. (Page 2)
Rumania - Warsaw Pact: Rumanian authorities have
agreed in principle to joint maneuvers in Rumania in
1969, (Page 3)
USSR,-Yugoslavia: Moscow has again attacked Yugoslav
policy, (Page 4)
Japan-USSR: The two countries' Communist parties
are becoming further estranged over the Czechoslovak
issue. (Page 5)
Africa - Middle East: Locust plague conditions may
persist for several years. (Page 7)
Lebanon-Israel: Israeli shelling (Page 8)
Syria: New cabinet (Page 8)
Commercial ties with Eastern Europe (Page 8)
Mauritius: Soviet embassy (Page 9)
Approved For Release 2004/01$1& tDP79T00975A012400090001-4
 25X1
Approved For Release 2004/01/1g~eA-BAP79T00975A012400090001-4
 Approved For Release 2004/018IiP79T00975A012400090001-4
C South Vietnam: A review of allied efforts in I
Corps during September shows that despite limited prog
ress, the over-all status of pacification there re-
mains unchanged.
In Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces, security
improved in some areas close to the main population
centers as a result of the low level of enemy activ-
ity and of numerous allied operations. Following an
allied sweep through Vinh Loc District, east of Hue,
the government was able to assert some influence in
the area, which had been under tight Viet Cong con-
trol. The typhoon which hit these two provinces in
early September caused severe damage, however, and
diverted allied resources from economic development
projects and some security tasks.
In Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, the enemy
maintained a high level of guerrilla activity; se-
curity, therefore, continued to deteriorate. Com-
munist political forces have established a large num-
ber of village "liberation committees" in both of
these provinces. In Quang Ngai, the Viet Cong also
destroyed office buildings in the province's "model
village" and probably succeeded in further damaging
the government's image among the local people. Mean-
while, in Quang Nam, poor security conditions in two
additional districts, Dien Ban, and Hoa Vang, have
forced the Revolutionary Development teams there into
an essentially defensive posture.
Throughout I Corps, security was generally main-
tained in the urban areas and along the main lines
of communication, particularly Route 1. Joint South
Vietnamese - US refugee resettlement plans are also
making some advances. In Vinh. Loc the program has
begun to assist 13,000 people to return to their
original homes, and refugees are being resettled in
place in Da Nang city. Moreover, the number of ral-
li.ers to the government in I Corps reached its high-
est level in several months. 25X1
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
Approved For Release 2004/0'(o/SC I
DP79T00975A012400090001-4
A 4D
 Approved For Release 2004/0$ l i DP79T00975A012400090001-4
Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovak leaders have gone
to Bratislava to witness the signing of the federali-
zation bill today. The leadership delegation, which
includes Dubcek, President Svoboda, and Premier Cernik,
probably will also take part in Slovak commemoration
of the 50th anniversary of the Czechoslovak first re-
public.
The federalization bill calls for separate Czech
and Slovak national governments under a reduced cen-
tral government in Prague. The legislation, however,
is incomplete and many problems must be resolved be-
fore the new system is introduced on 1 January 1969.
Czechs and Slovaks have not yet come to an agreement
on the responsibilities to be given to a bicameral
National Assembly, or on the detailed division of
powers between the federal government and the respec-
tive national governments.
C There was an anti-Soviet demonstration last night
in Bratislava after the Czechoslovak leaders had ar-
rived. Soviet troops did not intervene, however, and
thus far the occupation command appears content to
let local authorities handle the situation. More
demonstrations are expected in Bratislava today as
the Slovaks mark the 50th anniversary of their de-
cision to form a common state with the Czechs.
The anti-Soviet demonstrations on 28 October
were nationwide. In Prague they appear to have been
led by a few hundred students who attracted additional
marchers at various times. There were apparently no
injuries or property damage. Some 85 Prague youths
were arrested, but later released. Although the dem-
onstrations did not develop into riots, the Soviets
and the Czechoslovak conservatives may consider that
at least they illustrated the leadership's lack of
control, Moscow may use the anniversary incidents
as a lever to exert new pressures on the Czechoslovaks
to hasten the pace of "normalization."
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/CSfC:DP79T00975A012400090001-4
 Approved For Release 2004/0IE1 tiA DP79T00975A012400090001-4
Rumania - Warsaw Pact: Rumanian authorities re-
portedly have accepted in principle a Soviet proposal
to hold joint maneuvers in Rumania sometime in 1969.
The maneuvers presumably would not be held before
next spring,
Bucharest is wary of the proposa
by adding that final agreement requires a government-
to-government accord, a procedure Bucharest has in-
sisted upon since mid-1965.
The accord would spell out exactly the number
of troops involved and the countries sending troops.
It would also specify the proposed dates for troops
to enter and leave Rumania as well as the precise
area and nature of the maneuvers. No joint Pact
maneuvers have been held in Rumania since October
1962.
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
25X1
A -DD
P79T00975A012400090001-4
Approved For Release 2004/0' Rll=
 Approved For Release 2004/0VI4
,RIR 'DP79T00975A012400090001-4
USSR-Yugoslavia: Moscow has again formally at-
tacked Yugoslav policy in the aftermath of Czechoslo-
vakia.
The Soviets have shown their displeasure this
time in a letter from the Soviet party central com-
mittee delivered to Marshal Tito on 19 October,. Dep-_,
uty Foreign Minister Pavicevic recently told the US
ambassador that the letter, although critical of Yu-
goslav policy, also asserted that Belgrade's fears
of a Soviet military threat are "unfounded." The
note did not clarify, however, the Soviet view of
the boundaries of the "socialist system" which the
USSR has pledged to defend. Belgrade fears that
this pledge could be used as a pretext for interven-
tion?
Belgrade judges the 'letter to be somewhat milder
in tone than a note of 30 August, That note produced
an unyielding Yugoslav reply and reportedly touched
off a shouting match between Tito and the Soviet am-
bassador.
Moscow has also treated Soviet-Yugoslav relations
in the party journal, Kommun`ist.. An article in the
.Latest issue suggests tFIat Yugoslavia is a part of
the "socialist system," but does not pin this down,
The ambiguity suggests that. Moscow wishes to keep
Belgrade uncertain about its intentions in hopes of
quieting Yugoslav criticism of Soviet policy: Judg-
ing from Tito's truculent speech of 20 October and
the recent rebuttal of the Kommun.ist article in the
Yugoslav press, the Soviet -ressurc has as yet had
no effect.
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
Approved For Release 2004//~l??kT4rDP79T00975A012400090001-4
 Approved For Release 2004/05A .] DP79T00975A012400090001-4
Japan-USSR: The Japan Communist Party (JCP)
and the CPSU are becoming further estranged over
the Czechoslovak issue.
The latest round of a polemical exchange was
set off by the Japanese party's condemnation in late
August of the Soviet intervention. Moscow has
severely censured the JCP for its criticisms. On
26 October the JCP party organ Akahata responded
by equating the Soviets with those aoist elements"
that condemn the JCP as "antirevolutionary."
Last February a Soviet party mission led by
Party Secretary Suslov made an unsuccessful attempt
to patch up relations. A return JCP mission to
Moscow in early August accomplished nothing, due in
part to Soviet irritation at the JCP's support for
the policies of the Czechoslovak leadership. The
JCP permanent representative in Moscow has returned
to Japan and shows no sign of going back to his post.
Moreover, the JCP apparently had no contact with
politburo member Shelepin on his recent visit to
Japan, ostensibly for consultations with Japanese
trade unionists.
The JCP's public denigration of both the So-
viets and the Chinese and its display of indepen-
dence from "big power chauvinists" are popular in
Japan. These tactics are a continuation of the
party's policy of placing primar emphasis on
domestic political interests.
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400090001-4
SECRET
 Approved For Release 2004/01SP79T00975A012400090001-4
Desert Locust Plague Continues to Grow
j Area of locust infestation
Country threatened by locusts
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400090001-4
SECRET
 Approved For Release 2004/ 6 TRDP79T00975A012400090001-4
Africa - Middle East: The locust plague is
far from contained despite extensive control measures,
and plague conditions may persist for several years.
Several previously unaffected areas will prob-
ably be infested in the next few months. Locusts
in the Ogaden area of Ethiopia and Somalia are
moving toward Kenya, which they will probably reach
by December. Tanzania and Uganda may also be in-
fested. Additional swarms are settling along the
Red Sea coast. Smaller swarms in eastern Sudan,
Chad, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania are generally
moving northward toward the Mediterranean, but are
not considered a serious threat..
In East Africa, equipment and supplies available
to the regional organization combatting the locusts
remain inadequate despite some assistance from the
UN and other donors. The morale of the comparatively
few personnel engaged in this campaign is also low
after more than a year of widespread antilocust
work with no end in sight.
Large hordes of locusts now are breeding in
Saudi Arabia, which has done little to eradicate
them, although some Saudi officials are beginning
to recognize the problem. If these locusts move
across the Red Sea into Africa in 1969, the present
regional control organization: and the various
governments involved would probably be faced with
an even worse situation?
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/0~Mkk r DP79T00975A012400090001-4
 Approved For Release 2004/011pP79T00975A012400090001-4
NOTES
Lebanon-Israel: The Israelis twice have shelled
Lebanese vzlla.gs in the past two days, and have
warned Lebanon to watch its territory more closely to
cut off terrorist infiltrators. Israel has claimed
that recent attacks on Israeli settlements originated
in Lebanon and the Israeli shelling was in retaliation
of these attacks. In the past Syria has sent terror-
ists into Israel via Lebanon, despite attempts by
Lebanon to stop attacks through its territory for
fear of Israeli reprisals.
Syria: Yesterday's cabinet change in Damascus
seems to represent only another round in the country's
perennial game of governmental musical chairs. The
realignment within the radical Baathist leadership
is an apparent victory for Minister of Defense Hafiz
al-Asad. The political position of strongman Salah
Jadid, who has ruled Syria from behind the scenes
since February 1966, is still unclear. Asad appears
to have strengthened his own position with the mili-
tary and has appointed a number of top military fi -
ures to the new cabinet.
Peru: The military government is taking up ef-
forts begun by its predecessor to expand commercial
ties with Eastern Europe. Since 3 October it has
already hosted a Czechoslovak commercial mission,
ratified a commercial accord with Hungary, and begun
economic talks with the Soviet Union, It also plans
to sign commercial and cultural agreements with Ru-
mania, and had gone so far as to set up the signing
ceremony for Foreign Minister Manescu's brief stop
I--
in Lima o
25
n
October, only to be told by Manescu
1- h
e was not em owered to sign agreements.
(continued)
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400090001-4
SECRET
 Approved For Release 2004/0111'5. DP79T00975A012400090001-4
Mauritius: Prime Minister Ramgoolam is recom-
mending that the cabinet approve a Soviet proposal
to establish an embassy on Mauritius. When it at-
tained independence in March 1968, Mauritius recog-
nized both the Soviet Union and Communist China.. The
prime minister told the US charge that the Soviets
were not offering any technical assistance or other
inducement, but he hoped they might want to provide
some economic help in the future. Ramgoolam's efforts
to secure from the West an increase in much-needed
assistance for the small Indian ocean island have
met with little success.
25X1
25X1
30 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
Approved For Release 2004/0t . p DP79T00975A012400090001-4
 Secr@tproved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400090001-4
Secret
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400090001-4