THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 NOVEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993635
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 20, 1972

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The President's Daily Brief
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20 November 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I 1652
exemption category 56(1 )d2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300180001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300180001-2
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
20 November 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Chancellor Brandt led his coalition to a strong
victory in West Germany's parliamentary elections.
(Page 1)
In Argentina, the government is attempting to main-
tain its political advantage over Peron. (Page 2)
The conference of Arab foreign ministers accomplished
nothing to alleviate the disarray among Arab states'.
(Page 3)
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WEST GERMANY
Chancellor Brandt led his Coalition to a strong
victory in yesterday's parliamentary elections,
largely on the basis of his Ostpolitik. According
to official results,.Brandt's Social Democrats won
45.9 percent of the vote and 230 seats in parliament.
For the first time in the history of the Federal Re-
public, the Social Democrats are the strongest sin-
gle party in the lower house, and thus will select
the president of the Bundestag as well as chairmen
of committees. They will also have a majority mem-
bership:on committees, an advantage not enjoyed in
the past. Brandt's coalition partners-, the Free
Democrats won 8...4 percent of the vote and 42 seats.
The Christian. Democrats will continue to ton- -
trOl the upper house, where they will be able to de-
lay legislation. However', the Christian Democrats
and their Bavarian allies, the Christian Socialist
Union,- gained only 44..8 percent of the vote, and 224
seats, their worst showing since 1949.
Brandt's first major move will be to bring
the recently initialed treaty with East
Germany into effect. In a victory speech
yesterday, the Chancellor repeated a cam-
paign pledge to visit East Berlin before
Christmas to sign the accord. Ratifica-
tion of the treaty and application for
membership in the United Nations should
come shortly after that. For their part,
the East Germans quickly indicated their
pleasure about the results of the election
and its favorable impact on the treaty.
Several governments, particularly the
Nordic states, are likely' to recognize
East Germany in the immediate future.
Finland, 'long in the forefront of this
movement, announced yesterday that it has
decided in principle to recognize both
Germanies.
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ARGENTINA
Some elements of the government and the armed
forces are concerned that President Lanusse, in
yielding to Peron's demand for freedom of action,
has allowed the former dictator to gain the upper
hand. /
? Moreover, the decision to permit Peron to address
a mass rally reflects Lanusse's belief that Peron,
? at 77, cannot live up to the myth that has developed
during his 17 years in exile.
? Lanusse is also taking steps to block Peron'
effort to put together a political coalition.
Peron, meanwhile, has been cautiously
seeking to muster strength for his coming
public appearances and political talks.
The crowds surrounding his mansion in a
Buenos Aires suburb attest to his con-
tinuing popularity, but unless he ends
his seclusion soon government charges
that he is avoiding the public will be-
gin to have a telling effect. He may
move slowly with political negotiations,
however, in the hope that the military's
doubts about Lanusse's handling of the
affair will grow and undercut the gov-
ernment's position.
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NOTES
Arab States: The Arab foreign ministers' con-
ference in Kuwait, which ended Saturday, did nothing
to alleviate the disarray among Arab states. The
participants were not able to agree even on a joint
communique, much less make any progress on such is-
sues as Jordan's long-standing quarrel with the feda-
yeen. The Jordanians refused to go along with the
terrorists demand that they be allowed to operate
everywhere, including Jordan. Efforts by some min-
isters to promote an Arab summit meeting also appar-
ently got nowhere.
Jordan:-
Honduras:
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