THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 15 JANUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977246
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 15, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
The President's Daily Brief
15 January 1970
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
15 January 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
With federal troops now in control of nearly all of
the Biafran enclave, the prospect of any significant
military counteraction by the Ibos has almost disap-
peared. (Page 1)
On Page 2
Sino-Soviet
North
Vietnam. (Page 4)
Germany. (Page 5)
In Brandt's state of the nation speech yesterday,
he sought to exploit this growing isolation of the
East Germans. (Page 6)
A recent Pravda editorial reflects indecision among
Soviet leaders on how to rescue the economy from
the difficulties they admit are plaguing it. (Page 7)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
50X1
50X1
WX1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NIGERIA
Federal troops now control nearly, all of the
Biafran enclave, and. the prospect of any significant
military counteraction by. the Ibos has about. disap-
peared.
? Ojukwu, helped perhaps by his French and Portu-
guese backers, has generated a good many conflicting
rumors about his whereabouts and intentions. The
most persistent of these, that he is in Portugal,
was denied yesterday by the Portuguese themselves.
Even if Ojukwu got substantial suppor.t
from outside he would probably ind it
im Ossible to rekindle the war
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
COMMUNIST CHINA - USSR
(continued)
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NORTH VIETNAM
4
50X1
50X1
50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
HUNGARY-GERMANY
5
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
WEST GERMANY
Chancellor Brandt; injas state of .the nation
speech yesterday, gave the Warsaw Pact states--minus:
East Germany--good marks for having "understood the
good will of the federal government, even t#ough
with:some reservations." In a seeming bid to these':
states to put pressure onPankow,-he stressed that
they had beeh-morerflexible than East.. Germany.
Brandt said that the East Germans' draft treaty
is unacceptable, and that recognition of East Ger-
many "is for us out of the question." Germany, he
insisted, is one natiOn. Brandt did, nevertheless;
admit: the validity of the principles of international
law for-East-West German relations, giving as. exam-
pies equal treatment, respect for territorial integ-
rity,,and thepeaceful settlement, of disputes. He
invited Pankow to enter talks on the renunciation-
of force and other matters.
The Chancellor broke West German precedent by
making clear that the reunification of Germany is a
remote goal. He came close to recognizing, de facto,
the status quo,. To head off criticism from opposi-
tion Christian Democrats, Brandt reconfirmed a num-
ber of long-standing German positions, among them
loyalty to NATO, support for West European unity,
and four power responsibility for Berlin.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
An editorial in Pravda on 13 January gives a
somber account of the economy in discussing the
plenum and last month's session of the Supreme._So-
viet.. Pravda notes the slow growth in labor produc-
tivity and lists ministries that failed to fulfill
their tasks. It,reports the plenum's criticism of
the development of agriculture,, and it traces the
problems of the food supply in majorcities to de-
clines in livestock.
Soviet leaders' efforts to deal with current
economic problems and formulate a new five-year plan
seem to be marked by indecision. On the five-year
plan, which is to start next year, the editorial
said only that the December plenum of the Central
Committee examined "certain important problems." A
planning official recently admitted that the govern-
ment has still not decided what areas to emphasize
during the new plan period.
One cause of the difficulties, according to.
Pravda, is the fact that the USSR has attained a
new economic stage, with "new requirements." De-
velopment, which formerly depended on quantitative
factors, now is keyed to efficiency, Pravda says.
Pravda seems to have diagnosed the prob-
lem succinctly, but offers no cure for
economic ins. Its skimpy reference to
economic reform indicates the party is
not prepared to risk much reforming to
achieve efficiency. In fact, the State
Planning Committee's journal recently at-
tacked the "market, socialism" of Ota Sik,
the Czechoslovak economist. Such state-
ments'in that prestigious journal' are
ample evidence of official opposition to
a new, liberal direction in economics.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
IRAN - SAUDI ARABIA
The Shah appears to be edging close to a com-
mitment to come to King Faysal's aid if Saudi Arabia
is attacked. He told Ambassador MacArthur as much
last Sunday, adding that Iran's own security needs
dictate a favorable response to Faysal's request
for support. To help advance this policy? the Shah
is asking the US to lease or sell him aerial tankers
so that Iranian fighter aircraft or ground support
crews need not be stationed in Saudi Arabia itself.
A firm commitment to Faysal would cer-
tainly not be a surprising step for the
Shah to take. He has for some time been
obsessed with the future security of the
Persian Gulf, and in recent months has
been especially worried about the stabil-
ity of the Saudi monarchy.
Iran has also proposed a mutual defense
arrangement between Iran, Saudi Arabia,
and other moderate principalities on the
Gulf as a bar to radical Arab and Soviet
influence once the British pull out in
1971.
The Iranians clearly think they should
fill the shoes of the British as "pro-
tectors" of the Gulf. We can expect in-
creasing pressure from the Shah to make
available military equipment he thinks
necessary to play this role.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JAPAN
Prime Minister Sato, formally elected to a
third term yesterday, has put together a new cabinet
that reflects his increased strength and confidence
resulting from the recent conservative electoral
victory. He retained key members of his winning
team, and most of the new appointees are party vet-
erans who have served in previous cabinets.
The most controversial appointment is the new
agricultural and forestry minister, who was forced
to quit the same post in 1968 because of public out-
cry over an injudicious remark that Japanese nuclear
rearmament might have some merit. The new director
of the Japan Defense Agency, Nakasone, is a leader
of the party's "new right" wing. He also advocates
a more independent defense posture for Japan.
The new cabinet lineup does not indicate
any immediate shifts in domestic or for-
eign policy, although a number of the new
appointees are relatively nationalistic.
Nor does it offer any evidence to support
pre-election speculation that Sato might
step down, having achieved his major goal
of Okinawan reversion. The impressive
electoral performance of Sato's party
last month doubtless will encourage him
to stay in office.
9
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900120001-7