THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 31 AUGUST 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993918
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 31, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
The President's Daily Brief
31 August 1973
To
45
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of ED. 11652
exemption category 5B(1).(2).(31
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
31 August 1973
- PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The new men at the top of the Chinese party appear
to be people with whom Chou En-lai can work. (Page 1)
There is tenuous evidence that the Soviets may have
shipped "Scud" tactical ballistic missiles to Egypt
or Syria. (Page 3)
Israel
(Page 5)
Another Soviet submarine has joined the flotilla al-
ready in Cuba. (Page 6)
25X1
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
THE NEW POLITBURO OF THE 10th CENTRAL COMMITTEE
*Mao Tse-Tung, Chairman
*Wang Hung-wen Number-three man of Shanghai and the fastest rising member of China's present leader-
ship; a Cultural Revolution activist and a probable protege of Chang Chun-chiao, he may
have moderated his once-radical political position.
t Wei Kuo-ching Boss of Kwangsi Province who came down hard on rampaging Red Guards during the
Cultural Revolution.
*Yeh Chien-ying A military man and de facto defense minister.
Liu Po-cheng Retired marshal; an honorary elder.
Chiang Ching Mao's wife and leader of radical elements during the Cultural Revolution.
*Chu Te Retired marshal and early builder of the army; an honorary elder.
Hsu Shih-yu Kiangsu party boss and commander of Nanking Military Region.
tHua Kuo-feng Hunan party boss now residing in Peking and active in national politics since the Cultural
Revolution; little is known of his political views.
Chi Teng-kuei From Honan Province; rose to prominence during the Cultural Revolution.
tWu Teh Peking party boss and former head of Kirin Province.
Wang Tung-hsing Mao's former bodyguard; director of the central office of the Central Committee.
Chen Yung-kuei Boss of Tachai Commune, China's national agricultural model.
Chen Hsi-lien Liaoning party boss and commander of Shenyeng Military Region.
Li Hsien-nien Finance minister and long-time associate of Chou En-lai.
*Li Te-sheng A military man, head of the General Political Department of People's Liberation Army,
and Anhwei Province party boss.
*Chang Chun-chiao
*Chou En-lai
Party boss of Shanghai and possibly party secretary general; generally believed to be one
of the more powerful members of the Politburo who may have moderated his former
radical views.
Premier.
Yao Wen-yuan Number-two man in Shanghai and a prominent leader of radical forces during the Cultural
Revolution.
*Kang Sheng Former head of the security apparatus who was criticized for radical excesses during the
Cultural Revolution; believed to be in poor health.
*Tung Pi-wu
An honorary elder who is acting President of the People's Republic of China.
ALTERNATES TO THE POLITBURO
fWu Kuei-hsien A female worker
t Su Chen-hua Deputy commander of the navy
?
Ni Chih-fu A worker
t Saifudin Head of Sinkiang Province and, as a Uighur, one of the highest ranking minority cadre in
China
* Member of Standing Committee of Politburo t New member of Politburo
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHINA
The new party Politburo, elected yesterday, is
a fairly balanced mix of party regulars, Cultural
Revolution ideologues, military men, and elder states-
men. It is the same size as its predecessor--21
full members and four alternates.
All of the recently active members were re-
elected, and none of the party officials rehabili-
tated earlier this year regained Politburo member-
ship. There are nine newcomers, including four pro-
vincial party chiefs--all civilians--a deputy com-
mander of the navy, three workers, and one "model
peasant." Two of the newcomers are from ethnic mi-
nority groups.
The Central Committee elected five vice
chairmen of the party, and it seems likely
that this group would become a collective
leadership in the immediate aftermath of
Mao's death. Chou En-Zai is foremost
among this group. An important role over
the longer term will be played by the two
younger vice chairmen, Wang Hung-wen, a
party official from Shanghai in his mid-
30s, and Li Te-sheng, a military man who
rose to prominence during the Cultural
Revolution. Both appear to have radical
backgrounds, but both?particularly Wang--
may have moderated their views in order
to fit in.
The Politburo's powerful Standing Commit-
tee--which conducts the party's day-to-day
business--consists of Mao, the five vice
chairmen, two honorary elders, and Shanghai
party boss Chang Chun-chiao, probably one
of the most powerful members of the top
leadership. Chang was not named a party
vice chairman, but this may mean only that
he was given the post of party secretary
general, which because of its administra-
tive function centers a great deal of
power in the hands of one individual.
The elevation of the two elder statesmen
to the Standing Committee was probably de-
signed to deny these positions to Madame
Mao and her protege Yao Wen-yuan, two
ardent leftists who have clearly been
downgraded.
(continued)
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Although the top echelons of the party--
the vice chairmen and the Standing Commit-
tee?include several former leftists, these
appear to be people with whom Chou En-lai
can work. Chou was probably strengthened
by the addition to the Politburo of moder-
ate provincial leaders and by the election
to the Central Committee of several gov-
ernment officials who are close to him.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Soviet Scud-B Tactical Missile on Transporter-Erector-Launcher Vehicle
Initial operational capability 1961
Maximum range 160 nm
Accuracy 0.3 nm CEP
? Guidance Inertial
Warhead 2,000 lb (HE, CW, Nuclear)
554565 8-73 CIA
Declassified in Pa-rt - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T009364011700030014-0
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-EGYPT-SYRIA
The "Scud" is a tactical ballistic missile
that can deliver a 2,000-pound nuclear or
conventional warhead to a range of about
160 nautical miles. It is roughly compara-
ble to the Jericho missile system the Is-
raelis are developing. Nikolayev is a
major port for the shipment of military
goods to the Middle East.
two freight-
ers of the same class departed the Black Sea, one
bound for Cuba and the other for the Egyptian and
Syrian ports of Alexandria and Latakia. Since then
another Soviet freighter has visited Latakia and
Alexandria, carrying as deck cargo five tractor
trucks of the type used as a prime mover for the
Scud transporter trailer, but not uniaue to that
weapons system.
There has been no reporting from any other
source indicating that Scud equipment has
been sent to Egypt or Syria. All collec-
tion systems have been alerted. Two at-
tempts to photograph Nikolayev in early
August to ascertain whether the equipment
was still there were balked by clouds.
Acquisition of such a weapon would give
Syria the capability to hit most of Israel
and would make all of Sinai a target for
Egypt. The Scud is not capable of pin-
point accuracy, however, and without a
nuclear warhead it is not effective against
small targets.
(continued)
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in P--rt - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T-00936A-011700030014-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR-Cuba: A Soviet F-class diesel attack sub-
marine, which had entered the Caribbean undetected,
Also 25X1
present were a nuclear-powered cruise missile sub-
marine and a guided-missile cruiser and destroyer
which had entered the port on All the 25X1
Soviet ships except the F-class submarine had de-
parted Cienfuegos by the morning of They 25X1
will probably participate in exercises with Cuban
naval units for the next month.
Argentina: Some Peronists reportedly plan to
use a massive labor rally today in Buenos Aires to
call for the immediate designation of Peron as pres-
ident. While Peron still seems committed to the
elections planned for September 23, the meandering
course he has pursued in recent months makes it dif-
ficult to discount the possibility of a sudden shift.
Pakistan: A preliminary estimate of flood dam-
age by the US Embassy in Islamabad indicates that
more than 10 percent of the wheat harvested last
spring and roughly 15 percent of the current rice
crop have been destroyed. Some 100,000 tons of
maize and other minor food crops, as well as 120,000
tons of sugar and 40,000 tons of cottonseed oil
have been lost. The government will have to import
wheat and will not be able to export much rice this
year. Cotton, a major foreign currency earner, has
also suffered, and its export has been banned. Gov-
ernment relief efforts have been reasonably effec-
tive, but in the long term stability depends on the
government's importing adequate food and keeping
prices within reasonable bounds.
Nonaligned Conference: The meeting, opening
Sunday in Algiers, will probably pass a resolution
condemning Israeli "aggression" and the US for its
Middle East policy, and calling for more support of
the Arab cause. Egypt is expected to take the lead
in lobbying for votes.i
6
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0
/
,
Top Secret
,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030014-0