THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 NOVEMBER 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993993
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 23, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
23 November 1973
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Exempt [torn general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 58(1),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
23 November 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Given Israeli concerns about a second surprise
attack, the possibility of preemptive action by Is-
raeli forces is high. (Page 1)
President Tito appears to have made a major step to-
ward a Yugoslav-Soviet rapprochement at the expense
of ties with the US and Romania. (Page 3)
(Page 4)
In Laos, the Communists have finally agreed to hold
today the first formal session of the joint commis-
sion to implement the peace agreement. (Page 5)
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ARAB STATES - ISRAEL
UN observers have reported a strengthening of Syrian
positions near Sasa.
The UN observers may have seen some of these units
being redeployed or perhaps reinforced.
Egyptian and Israeli representatives are to
meet again today at Kilometer 101 to continue discus-
sions on disengagement of forces. The chief Egyptian
representative yesterday told reporters that each
side had presented two alternative proposals. Dif-
ferences remain, he added, but "we are still trying."
Cairo domestic radio, meanwhile, broadcast a report
on the meeting, citing the UN commander's comment
that the talks were "beneficial." After publicly
forecasting earlier that Thursday's talks were to
have been "decisive," Egypt's mild treatment of the
inconclusive meeting could be a mask for hostile in-
tentions.
(continued)
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Because of the political and military setbacks
that the Israeli Government would incur as a result
of a second Arab surprise attack, the possibility
of an Israeli preemptive attack is high.
Israel and Egypt nevertheless have completed
the exchange of prisoners, and an official Egyptian
spokesman has expressed hope that an Arab-Israeli
peace conference would begin "within the next few
weeks." Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam has said
his government would attend a peace conference "if
it is convened in accordance with our concept."
When asked whether he expects further military ac-
tion, however, Khaddam would not rule it out, say-
ing.it was part of the battle, which also has com-
plementary political and economic facets.
Syrian President Asad plans to visit Cairo to-
day for talks with President Sadat. The Egyptian
press reports he will then fly to Algiers for the
Arab summit, which begins Monday. Syrian and Egyp-
tian leaders appear confident that Sadat's position
on the cease-fire and negotiations will prevail at
the conference. Iraq and Libya are the only states
not represented, and a low-level Libyan delegation
may yet appear. Egypt's semi-official paper, Al
Ahram, has called on all Arab governments to attend
as a demonstration of solidarity.
Meanwhile, the Organization of African Unity
adopted a resolution simultaneously hailing Egypt's
"October war of liberation" and condemning Israel
for its "act of aggression on October 6." The reso-
lution called on Israel to withdraw from all occu-
pied Arab territories and urged that African states
continue to withhold diplomatic relations from Tel
Aviv until it does so.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
YUGOSLAVIA-USSR ROMANIA
President Tito's exceptionally friendly talks
with Brezhnev in Kiev last week appear to have been
a major step toward a new rapprochement with the
Soviets. The warm language of the communique pub-
lished after the meetings significantly exceeds any-
thing produced earlier. Moreover, this time, the
communique failed to list long-standing Yugoslav
requirements on the right of socialist states to
differ and on the obligations of the USSR to respect
Yugoslav sovereignty.
The document twice referred to "trust" and
mutual understanding. Although Tito has said pri-
vately that he trusts Brezhnev, he has never before
used the word in a formal document.
It is quite likely that the "trust" between the
two is based in large part on Tito's militant support
of the Arabs and his solid support for Soviet policy
in the Middle East. From the Soviet standpoint,
Tito's position has also had the welcome effect of
estranging Belgrade from Washington.
Part of the "trust" must also result from Yugo-
slav pressure on the Romanians to support Moscow's
policy in the Middle East and to abandon their at-
tempts to play an independent role in the area.
Tito's new closeness to the USSR has provoked
criticism and concern at home. Public uncertainty
is such that rumors alleging a US-Soviet agreement
to partition Yugoslavia have been officially denied
and blamed on the US and its allies. So far, however,
no public explanations of Tito's turn back to the
East have been made.
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ARGENTINA
A number of sources in Buenos Aires report
that Peron has been brought home from the hospital
and is resting comfortably after his heart attack,
The chain of succession to President Peron
is murkier
His wife, as vice presi-
dent, remains next in line, but she has little pros-
pect of governing. The President of the Senate,
who would be next in line, is holding that post
only in an acting capacity, and according to our
embassy's interpretation of the constitution, is
not, therefore, a potential successor. The line
passes thus to Raul Lastiri, president of the lower
house and one of the men who held the presidency
during the transition from military, rule.
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NOTE
Laos: The Communists have finally agreed to
hold today the first formal session of the joint
commission to implement the peace agreement. The
commission's convocation comes two months after the
signing of the protocol to the February peace ac-
cords, and is an important step toward formation
of a coalition government.
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Top Secret
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