THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 27 NOVEMBER 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993996
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 27, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
27 November 1973
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declassified only on approval of
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
27 November 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Tensions have eased on the Middle East fronts, as
Arab leaders have turned toward their summit meet
ing. Egypt and Syria have strongly affirmed their
commitment to try: for a negotiated settlement, and
they are being permitted to set the tone of the con-
ference. The most serious problem under discussion
is the dispute between Jordan and the fedayeen over
representation of Palestinian interests. (Page 1)
General Ioannidis, mastermind of the Greek coup, is
continuing to consolidate his control behind the
screen of the weak government he has created. The
new group--with less talent--faces the same problems
as the old one: civil order, political freedom,
responsible government, and economic stability'.
(Page 3)
Soviet/
/ (Page 4)
The Arabs have thrown a small bone to Japan, but
will not substantially increase their supply of oil
unless the Japanese become more pro-Arab. (Page 5)
North Korea
I (Page 6)
The Burmese Army is in a serious fight with Chinese-
backed Communist insurgents. (Page 7)
There are notes on
an
extensive shakeup of South Vietnam's government and
military leaders. (Page 8)
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ARAB STATES - ISRAEL
Last night's opening session of the Arab summit
in Algiers featured Algeria's President Boumediene,
who called for continuing the battle against Israel
until the occupied territories are evacuated and the
rights of the Palestinians secured. Indications are
that the final communique will be more moderate than
Boumediene's speech or the proposals for a tougher
oil embargo and renewed hostilities debated by the
foreign ministers in their preparatory meetings.
Presidents Sadat, Asad, and Boumediene and King
Faysal met privately early yesterday, suggesting that
they will manage the conference. According to press
reports, Egypt and Syria have strongly affirmed their
commitment to try for a negotiated settlement, and
they are being permitted to set the tone of the con-
ference. Those favoring a more militant position
reportedly have decided to sit back and wait for the
collapse of diplomatic efforts before taking further
action.
The most serious problem facing the conferees
is resolution of the Jordanian-fedayeen dispute over
the representation of Palestinian interests. King
Husayn refuses to allow the Palestine Liberation
Organization to represent the Palestinian people at
a peace conference and apparently has some support
from other rulers. One reason for this support may
be the guarded reception that Palestinian leaders
received in Moscow last week. Moscow is taking a
cautious approach to the complex Palestinian issue
until the Palestinians themselves and the Arab gov-
ernments come up with a unified policy.
(continued)
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The Egyptians and Israelis met at Kilometer 101
again yesterday to discuss disengagement, and again
reached no agreement. UN sources have indicated
that Israel's General Yariv had no new instructions
for yesterday's meeting except to turn down Egypt's
proposed force level for its troops on the east
bank.
Prior to yesterday's session, Egypt's General
Gamasy had indicated to UN officials that "at the
appropriate time" Cairo would be willing to have
the Israeli main force at a distance 35 kilometers
or less from the east bank and would be prepared
to reduce further its own main force strength.
Both Egyptian and UN officials, however, are con-
cerned by what appear to be deliberate stalling
tactics by the Israelis and by General Yariv's
tendency to throw out ideas without prior instruc-
tions from Tel Aviv.
Cairo and Tel Aviv reported minor cease-fire
violations yesterday.
A Red Cross official and contacts of the US
Interests Section in Cairo have reported that the
Egyptian Third Army is being resupplied by sea.
There is no other information to corroborate these
reports.
In Israel, Trade and Industry Minister Haim
Bar-Lev hinted last night that Egypt has lifted its
blockade of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Bar-Lev,
when questioned on the blockade at a public meeting,
replied that the land, sea, and air cease-fire was
being fully observed.
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GREECE
Athens began returning to normal yesterday.
Tanks and troops were withdrawn, the curfew was
lifted, and all schools except those of higher
learning were open. Prime Minister Androutsopoulos
is scheduled to present a policy statement on
Wednesday.
Brigadier General Dimitrios Ioannidis, who
masterminded the coup, continues to consolidate his
control from behind the screen of a weak government.
Ioannidis has said that he wants to return to the
reformist principles of the 1967 coup.
The new cabinet, which apparently was picked
by Ioannidis, is unimpressive. Neither Prime Minis-
ter Androutsopoulos nor the relatively unknown Gen-
eral Gizikis, who is now President, are likely to
provide inspiring leadership. Indeed, Gizikis may
be holding the presidency temporarily until a prom-
inent figure, possibly Ioannidis himself, agrees to
take the position.
Ioannidis and other rightist officers who ousted
Papadopoulos have long been concerned that Papadopoulos
would displace them and expose Greece to leftist-
inspired political chaos, which is how they have
viewed last week's student-worker demonstrations.
Ioannidis and his supporters seized upon the demon-
strations as confirmation of their belief that Greece
was not ready for elections and as justification for
their move to oust Papadopoulos.
The government has declared the constitution
unworkable because it gives the president so much
power that civilian politicians are unwilling to
cooperate; it has promised to begin drafting anew
constitution. In a further gesture of conciliation,
the government released the three politicians who had
been placed under house arrest last week because of
their opposition to the Papadopoulos government.
Ioannidis has warned the press, however, that it must
practice "self-censorship" and that the new govern-
ment will not-tolerate criticism.
The government received its first international
setback yesterday, when a representative of the Com-
mon Market Executive Commission officially said that
Greece's associate membership could only be developed
further when democratic institutions were re-established.
The new government faces the same problems as the
old one--questions of order, political freedom, and
economic stability and growth. It has less resources
and talent than the previous government, however, and
its prospects for successfully coming to grips with
Greece's problems are not bright.
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USSR
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JAPAN - ARAB OIL
In response to Tokyo's pro-Arab statement on
November 22, the Arabs have exempted Japan from a
scheduled 5-percent cutback in oil shipments next
month. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has told
US officials that Japan will receive the same
treatment as most of the European Community states,
but still has not gained the status of a "friendly"
nation. Press reports on the Arab oil ministers'
meeting in Vienna on November 24 indicate that Japan
will have to take a much stronger pro-Arab stand by
the end of December or face a greater than 5-percent
cut in oil supplies in January.
? The Arabs' carrot and stick approach may well
succeed. Unless the Japanese can get more oil from
the Arabs, they face substantial losses in industrial
output during the first quarter of 1974.
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NORTH KOREA
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BURMA
The Burmese Army has ended its offensive against
Communist insurgents in the northern part of Shan
State in order to concentrate on the deteriorating
situation in the Kengtung area.
The army had seized positions close to the Chi-
nese border in the first half of November in order
to serve notice on the insurgents and their Chinese
mentors that Rangoon has not ceded this territory
even though the Communists now control it. Although
army morale was raised by the operation, Burmese
military leaders now believe that the relatively
weak opposition was because the bulk of Communist
forces had been moved south. The army is consequently
sending all available troops to check Communist ad-
vances around Kengtung, claiming that it never in-
tended to hold its gains in the north.
The situation near. Kengtung is serious, with
units of a Communist force of some 5,000 operating
as close as 15 miles to the regional administrative
center. Although it is not clear that the Communist
objective is to take Kengtung, the insurgents do
hope to cut the town's road link to the rest of Burma.
Heavy rains and local shortages of ammunition have
complicated the government's effort,
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NOTES
USSR:
South Vietnam: In the past month Saigon has
undertaken the most extensive shakeup in recent years
at the intermediate level of the government and mili-
tary hierarchy. One military region commander, five
new division commanders, several military region staff
officers, and six new province chiefs have been ap-
pointed. At least two more changes in province chiefs
are being considered. President Thieu clearly is
disappointed with the performance of officials in
several areas, particularly by their lack of aggres-
siveness. Most of the changes, for example, have
taken place in the key region north of Saigon where
the government has been unable to recapture signifi-
cant territory or reduce the Communist threat. Other
changes, such as those in the delta and in the high-
lands, have been the result of failures to block
Communist land grabs since the cease-fire.
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