THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 27 SEPTEMBER 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977009
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 27, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
27 September 1969
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BOLIVIA
The new government, installed by General Ovando yesterday
shows a strong leftist and nationalistic orientation.
Fifteen cabinet ministers--nine civilians and six mili-
tary officers--were sworn into office immediately following
the coup. The civilians are all young, strongly nationalistic,
and with the possible exception of the finance minister,
sharply critical of US policies in Bolivia. The US Embassy
reports. that the military men in the cabinet are strong per-
sonalities, which might indicate that early strains are likely
to arise in the government.
Ovando gave evidence that he intends to follow a nation-
alistic policy by announcing that his first act would be to
annul the petroleum code, a move obviously aimed at the US-
owned Bolivian Gulf Oil Company. The new government may be
planning to obtain greater revenues from the company through
increased taxes or a demand for part ownership. Ovando has
hinted on various occasions, however, that he would consider
outright expropriation of the company if circumstances war-
ranted such an action.
Ovando said on the radio yesterday that the armed forces had
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taken power "to offer people a nationalistic and revolution-,
ary alternative to the Siles government," which he character-
ized as perpetuating "a system of privilege and submission to
foreign monopolistic interests."
In statements echoing those of Peruvian President'Velasco,
Ovando reiterated after official swearing in ceremonies that
the change in governmentwas not a coup but "a national left
revolution aimed at structural changes..": He stated tat...his
government was now studying a plan for complete administrative
reform and "wished to form an ideological confederation with
Peru," Regarding relations with the.USi Ovando said his gov,.,
ernment did not have any problems with the American people,
and did not expect any with-the US Government, He-closed.his
press conference by referring to his government as "the sec-
ond republic,"
WEST GERMANY
? Some late polls have shown the SPD in the lead as the
West German election campaign goes down to the wire. We be-
lieve, however, that the recent wave of labor unrest .and the
renewed controversy over revaluation will, if anything, work
to the CDU's benefit.
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SOVIET UNION
PAKISTAN
The government may again have a tiger by the tail in East
Pakistan. The US consul general in Dacca reports that Bengali
student leaders, having defied two official summonses to appear
and account for offenses they allegedly committed last week,
have taken refuge on the Dacca University campus and are call-
ing for a general student strike on Monday. At the same time
some East Pakistani workers have gone on strike in defiance of
martial law prohibitions.
The regime has the strength to maintain order in East
Pakistan's urban areas, but its response to these challenges
has been surprisingly sluggish so far. It is using the euphe-
mism "work abstentions" for the strikes in an effort to avoid
test of strength with the workers, and it has not shown much
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determination to bring the students to book either. The prov-
ince's ever-watchful politicians will find it hard to refrain
for long from capitalizing on the discontent.
There is no trouble so far in East Pakistan's rural areas,
where disturbances would present .a far greater security prob-
lem. There have been a few unconfirmed reports from sources
of the Consulate General, however, of an increase in agitation
among the peasants by antiregime extremists.
LIBYA
The Libyan education minister resigned on Tuesday, ap-
parently as a result of disagreement with Prime Minister
Maghribi.
We expect more fallings-out among the civilians in the gov-
ernment, many of whom belong to mutually antagonistic polit-
ical groups. Unless major differences develop between the
cabinet and the all-powerful junta, however, we do not antic-
ipate a full-scale government shakeup.
The Libyan Government, meanwhile, concerned over the pos-
sibility that its opponents are drawing aid and comfort from
within Wheelus Air Force Base, has further restricted access
to the base. All vehicles are now being inspected, and entry
permits issued to private citizens, American and foreign, have
been suspended,
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BRAZIL
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