104-10302-10018 SECRET COPY NO. 54 OCI NO.0234/63 | | i 26 November 1963 ‘CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE SECRET oN | ve | NO FOREIGN DISSEM GROUP 1 AETURN TO ANDES 2 ARIAS ute ote Excluded from automatic ae —_ downgrading and E an rH ATEL { AFTER Use, declassification na 1, lo ¥ ; 8 FOS sox SATO,
13-00000 SECRET ne on 21 November Lao my, and Meo NOTES Communist Chi » Australia USSR ‘ Japan Algeria Yemen Cuba (Page 10) SECRET | 26 Nov 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST so Page ii
13-00000 * SECRET | Ve — | A clearing action launched north of Vientiane on 21 November by neutralist, Lao Army, and Meo guerrilla elements has met with considerable success. \/SK on, | SECRET 26 Nov 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST ° Page ii.
13-00000 SECRET ” World Reaction to Change of US ministration World reaction to the as- sassination of President Ken- nedy and its aftermath is in- creasingly preoccupied with speculation over the possible effects on US foreign and do- mestic policies. Oswald's Communist back~ ground, however, and his dra- matic murder while in police custody are being exploited for almost every conceivable propa-~ ganda line. The USSR continues to reflect sensitivity over Os- wald's political motivations; Khrushchev, talking with Am- bassador Kohler on 23 November, recalled that Lenin had con~ demned "nihilist" activities and asserted the Soviet Communist Party is praditionaltly opposed to terrorisn, Prayda, citing a denial by the US Communist. Party that Os- wald had ever been a member, suggested he was linked to "American Trotskyites," but con- cluded that the Kennedy assas- Sination was the work of "fasc-~ ist forces" trying to destroy the detente atmosphere. Papers in West Germany, Belgium, and Lebanon, among others, theorize Oswald was killed by associates to silence him. A Cairo newspaper calls his killer "one Jack Rubenstein, a Jew of course." The US Em- bassy in Beirut has received many telegrams speculating that GENERAL Oswald’s killing is evidence of a Communist plot against the US. The émbassy notes with dismay the probable foreign impact of dramatic news photos showing the escorting officer apparently looking away while Oswaid is shot. An Afrikaans paper in Johannesburg editorialized that while US racial difficuities might not be "directly concerned with the assassination," they had become a vehicle for the undermining of the state by the Communists and Afro-Asians. A Cairo editorial expresses concern that President Johnson, while committed to the policies of his predecessor, may have to compromise and. postpone decisions in order to avoid antagonisms as the US enters an election year. Syrian Vice President Bitar commented to Ambassador Knight on 25 November that the Arab cause might suffer from the loss of President Kennedy, “who had shown. signs of increas- ingly better understanding of the Arabs and their problems." West German and French press commentaries range from expectations of initial uncer- tainty or temporizging in US for- eign policy to the gloomy view of Der Spiegel that it is "doomed to immobility” for the next year. Some segments of the British press had suggested (continued) SECRET 26 Nov 63 _ CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST Page 1
13-00000. SECRET that an opportunity existed for development of a strong British leadership in the Western alli- ‘ance, but London officials, noting that the UK also faces 1964 elections, are not in- clined to expect any radical departures. ; Genevieve Tabouis, writ- ing in Paris Jour, expects no major decisions from the pres- ent meeting between President Johnson and General de Gaulle, but notes that De Gaulle will probably urge that France-~Ameri- can problems be settled in the course of 1964, while Johnson will urge a "Western summit con- ference." The Peruvian Chamber of Deputies on 24 November unani~ mously adopted a motion urging the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Kennedy. (SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM) ere ME Be ZY mera Sd Bice ves. 2 ES ey) fe Moma Cnkt ited tl aeetes ie? per er tip) SECRET 26 Nov 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST Page 2
13-00000 SECRET Hanoi Apparently Renewing Cam- paign eutralization or South Vietnam Hanoi appears to be re- newing its campaign to generate international support for the “neutralization” of South Viet- nan, In pressing its neutraliza- tion proposal, Hanoi probably hopes to take advantage of Cam- bodian Premier Sihanouk's re- cent reiteration of his scheme for an international guarantee of neutrality for Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam, The North Vietnamese reportedly have urged Premier Souvanna Phouma of Laos to press for adoption of their neutrality proposition. For the first time in nearly a year, moreover, the Hanoi-con- Wh. Met aur 25e6, 32.206 or) Vbtln. 23 Van 6%, + FAL S WAsaes 7?. ton 2 3Covs) | fog 6) 89.054. 2 Y flbu CB 7 VU SHOE CO _ GENERAL [88 trolled National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam has publicly restated its support of the three-country neutrality plan. North Vietnam is also drawing support from Moscow and Peiping, whose propaganda has recently become less reticent on the subject of South Viet- namese neutrality. North Vietnam's premier re- portedly told a French official recently that his country sees indications of growing weariness and dissatisfaction in the US with the war in South Vietnam. He implied that Hanoi intended to keep up military and political pressure in the South in order to help induce American with- halal (SECRET NO FOREIGN DI SEM , Jee SECRET 26 Nov 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST % Page 3
13-00000 SECRET French Aid to Cambodia \ ‘France is considering ex- tending additional economic and military aid to Cambodia. Despite the general irri- tation in French Government. circles over Sihanouk's recent actions, the prince's direct appeal for French aid has posed a dilemma for Paris. A flat rejection could adversely affect France's position in Africa and the Middle East, as well as in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, Paris is probably reluc- tant to take over the recently canceled US financial commitments in Cambodia. _The French are presently reviewing what seems to be a renewal of a long-standing Gh. Gouie 2631 Bt Cae 64 72 paris BS30, 2 $ thee 6% 7) - GENERAL Cambodian request for more mili- _tary equipment, mostly obsoles- cent. They are also thinking of offering Phnom Penh $5 million in economic and cultural aid, plus either larger loans or greater export credits. Perhaps related to their plans’ to assist Cambodia is the strong possibility that French Defense Minister Messmer will be sent to Cambodia in January. Since 1956, French grant aid has amounted to $15 million. Negotiations for an additional $2 million have been deadlocked for the past 18 months by dis-— agreements over exchange rates. (SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM) 8% SECRET 26 Nov 63 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST s Page 4
13-00000 SEGRET 4, Rumaniats Industrial Development Rumanian party first secre- tary Gheorghiu-Dej has just com- pleted another tour of industrial construction sites throughout Rumania--his sixth such trip in the last two months. The exten- sive Rumanian press coverage of the trip is designed to show both Rumania's rapid economic growth and its broadening trade contacts with the West. The Rumanian public has been officially informed for the first time of the extent of West European participation in the construction of indus- trial installations in Rumania. It is also the first time that detailed information has been given to the public regarding industrial installations. Press coverage divulges statistics on production capacities. of the various installations as well as on the items they produce. Information on the planning and construction of. the facto=--. ries also is unusually detailed. On 13 November the party visited Slatina, the site of an aluminum plant whose -con- struction is just beginning. According to the Rumanian press, the plant ultimately will have an. annual production capacity of 50,000 tons of aluminum and alloys and will be completed in the next 18 months with help of a French firm. Other sources SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST 26 Nov 63 EASTERN EUROPE indicate, however, that the French firm is assisting in, con- struction of the first stage of the plant, which will have a 30,000-ton capacity. | Equipment is being provided by several West European countries, the press reported. The Craiova chemical com- bine will include 14 factories having a capacity of about 300,- 000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and 100,000 tons of urea, according to the press which also reported that the ammonia, nitric acid, and ammo- nium nitrate factories--planned and equipped by the USSR-- are over two thirds completed. Belgium,Holland, and West Ger- Many are supplying equipment for portions of the combine. From variocus sources it is known that during 1960-61 West- ern firms added several ‘catalyti refining installations to the Brazi oil refinery, built in 1934. The Rumanian press now reports that the Rumanians re- cently completed construction ef a crude -oil distillation unit with a three-million-ton capacity. This unit will boost the plant's capacity from 1.5 million tons to 4.5 million tons per year. Brazi is one of the three major refineries in which Rumania plans to concentrate its refining capacity. The press VAN Page 5