isenhower:
Papers, 1953-61 :
.
,
(Ann Whitman file)
.
poe
pm pe
QVr OM
oneaAbL
\< Ne rT
Gale etRe Qiee
:
boo
reaction in Syria to the union had been slow and not very enthusiastic. Syrian businessmen were pessimistic at the prospects, and
Syrian labor was unenthusiastic because it feared large-scale immigration of unemployed Egyptians into Syria. Even in Egypt, enthusiasm was lacking in a good many circles, and the government
had had some difficulty in organizing mass demonstrations in favor
of the union. The plebiscite which is to occur on February 21
would be a mere formality. Frince Badr of Yemen has finally arrived in Cairo, where he will discuss not the union of Yemen with
Syria and Egypt, but some looser form of federation.
While, said Mr. Dulles, the union has caused consid-~
siderable apprehension in the Baghdad Pact states, the intelligence community does not believe that the USSR was behind the
move toward union, as the Turks all seem to believe. Indeed, the
evidence that we have indicates opposition to the union by the
Syrian Communists. Moscow has been puzzled as to what attitude
to take. Accordingly, the union of Egypt and Syria may actually
produce opportunities for weakening these two countries. On the
other hand, it would put Iraq in a tough position for a time, at
~ee
least, and Iraq must be strengthened by nations friendly to it.
Secretary Dulles commented that King Saud had not been
very receptive to the proposal for a meeting of himself with Kings
.
{ °
Hussein and Feisal.
As to the world reaction to the orbiting of the first
U. S. earth satellite, Mr. Allen Dulles said that initial official
comment from Moscow had been congratulatory, with a hint of condescension. Most of the East Eurovean satellites had stressed our
lateness on the space scene. The Poles, however, had been enthustastic in their praise of the U. S. achievement. In Western Europe
there had been expressions of great satisfaction and relief, and
much the same reaction had come from Latin America.
Turning to North Africa, Mr. Dulles stated that Spain
may presently launch an offensive against the Moroccan Liberation
Army. The French may lend some quiet support to this offensive
because the French have been so concerned about Moroccan incursions into Spanish territory. Spanish military forces are being
built up in the Canary Islands.
The situation along the Algerian-Tunisian border, said
Mr. Dulies, continues to be very grave.
The National Security Council:
Noted and discussed an oral briefing
Central Intelligence on the subject,
ence to the Soviet ICEM program; the
nesia; the union of Egypt and Syria;
.
— ante
EP eae
5.
by the Director of
with specific refersituation in Indoworld reaction to
Raceig
wt
Bor.
Ma Wed ad
h
ty Mn tat ay
wail hsierins"