THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 3 MAY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992667
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 3, 1971

- -
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
The President's Daily Brief
3 May 1971
14
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
Declassified in Part --Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
3 May 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Cambodia
(Pagel) 50X1
Politburo standing committee members Chen Po7-La and
Kang Sheng were notable absentees at the large May
'Day turnout in Peking. (Page 2)
50X1
50X1
Egyptian President Sadat has dismissed Vice Presi-
dent Ali Sabri. (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDO9T00936A009500260001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
50X1
50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
Declassified in Part --Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
COMMUNIST CHINA
Politburo standing committee members Chen Po-ta and
Kang Sheng were the most notable absentees at the
large May Day turnout in Peking. Chen, Mao Tse-
tung's long-time personal secretary, and Kang, the
regime's top security specialist, played leading
roles in Mao's sweeping purges of the oZd Communist
Party apparatus.
Peking tried lamely to explain away the absences
by announcing that some leaders were unable to be
present because of "work or sickness," a device the
Chinese have never resorted to in the past to ac-
count for the absence of important leaders. Although
it is possible that Chen and Kang are actually sick,
there are no convincing reports that this is the
case. As we noted in The President's Daily Brief
of 19 March, both men have been out of sight for
some time, and there have been persistent rumors
in Peking that they were severely criticized at a
major party gathering last fall. Their failure to
participate in the May Day activities is further
evidence that they have suffered a political set-
back.
The third major politburo figure who failed to ap-
pear was Hsieh Fu-chih, who came under fire from
leftist elements in Peking Last year. Although
Hsieh was chosen head of the Peking municipal party
committee on 19 March, he did not deliver, the cus-
tomary address at the municipal congress and may
not have even been present at the meeting. Thus,
although it would appear that Hsieh has undergone
a political resurrection of sorts, his continued
absence from public view suggests that his polit-
ical status has not yet been totally resolved.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY .
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
?
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT
President Sadat issued a decree yesterday re-
moving Vi.ce President Sabri from his post. There is
no information as to whether Sabri retains his posi-
tion as a member of the higher executive committee
of the Arab Socialist Union (ASU) , Egypt's nominal
political party.
Sabri 's dismissal appears to have been
prompted by a direct challenge to Presi-
dent Sadat's authority on the conditions
for Egypt's entry into the Federation of
Arab Republics. Sadat and Sabri clashed
over the issue a week ago at a meeting of
the central committee of the ASU. This
forced Sadat to secure approval from the
other two members of the federation, Libya
and Syria, for modifications in arrange-
ments for the new political entity. Sa-
bri 's pointed criticism of Sadat 's han-
dling of the federation question was but
the latest of his maneuvers to achieve a
greater voice in policymaking. He has
also exploited his position as a one-time
Nasir favorite to undercut Sadat's com-
mitment to seeking a negotiated settlement
with the Israelis.
Sadat's decisive move against his most
prominent critic reinforces our impression
that he is increasingly confident of his
ability to manipulate the instruments of
power. The public support Sadat received
last week from the powerful minister of
interior, Sharawi Goma, for his role in
laying the groundwork for the three-state
federation may have encouraged Sadat in
his move against Sabri. Even if Sabri
holds on to his position in the ASU, he
has almost certainly been eclipsed as an
influential contributor to the formulation
of policy.
In view of Sabri 's prominent identifica-
tion with the Soviet Union, Moscow may
find his removal embarrassing, particu-
larly since it coincides so closely with
Secretary Rogers' impending visit to Cairo.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Yugoslavia: Tito claims that unanimity was
achieved at last week's party presidium at his is-
land retreat on Brioni, but the equivocal nature of
some of his remarks leaves the impression that many
basic issues were only papered over. The party
leaders called for strict discipline to overcome
regional chauvinism, and Tito, in a gesture of sol-
idarity, sailed from Brioni with Croatian leaders
whose independent views on constitutional reforms
were presumably a major focus of the meeting. Nev-
ertheless, the signs point to more friction ahead.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009500260001-4