THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 APRIL 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007731
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 24, 1974

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010065-2
The President's Daily Brief
April 24 1974
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category SB( 1),(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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THE PRESIDEAT'S DAILY BRIEF
April 24, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Israeli air strikes on the Golan front yesterday were
?
an attempt to prevent Syria from completing a road to
the top of the ridge line on Mount Hermon, according
to Tel Aviv. (Page 1)
The EC foreign ministers seem to have improved the
atmosphere in the community at their informal meet-
ing in West Germany last weekend. (Page 2)
The turmoil in Ethiopia is not only straining the
regime's ability to govern but is also posing prob-
lems for moderate reformists in the military. (Page 3)
Thai Assembly Speaker Khukrit Pramot, a well-known
publisher and confidant of King Phumiphon, is emerg-
ing as the most likely successor to Prime Minister
Sanya. (Page 4)
Notes on the USSR,
Venezuela-Cuba,
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Leb non
Qatana ?
Israeli-claimed
Battle Line
,Bantyas
Israel/
Battle me
Israel
Al Qunaytirah
-?atts Sanamayn
Israeli 1'.7
Cease-Fire L
, HEIGHTS
Sy ian
Ba e Line
555733 4-74 CIA
Jordan
0 5 10 15 Kilometers.
0 5 10 15 Miles
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ISRAEL-SYRIA
Fighting on the Golan front remained at a moder-
ate level yesterday. Israeli military authorities
have said that the Israeli air strikes yesterday
were aimed at preventing Syria from completing a
road to the top of the ridge line on Mount Hermon.
The road would enable Syrian armor and artillery
to move to the mountain's summit. Israel has al-
ready completed such a road.
According to several news stories from Beirut,
Syria is using "multi-headed" surface-to-air missiles
recently received from the USSR. Although the system
was not further identified, the stories may refer to
an armored reconnaissance vehicle carrying four SA-7
launchers. This weapon has been reported present in
Syria, but has not been firmly identified there.
Both Damascus and Tel Aviv have troops on the
Lebanese side of Mount Hermon. Israel now occupies
most of the dominant peaks on the mountain--includ-
ing the main one. The Syrians on the Lebanese side
of the mountain have the shoulder-fired SA-7 surface-
to-air missile with them, but no Syrian SA-6 sites
are known to be there. No Israeli SAM sites are on
the Lebanese side of Mount Hermon.
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EC
The EC foreign ministers seem to have improved
the atmosphere in the community at their informal
meeting in West Germany last weekend. They decided
to resume work on a report on European union due by
the end of 1975, and they agreed that political con-
sultations with the US should not be formalized.
The informal nature of the session apparently
fostered frank discussions among the eight ministers
present--the caretaker Belgian Government was not rep-
resented. This frankness was most obvious, perhaps,
in the dialogue on European union. Foreign Minister
Callaghan said he was not opposed to the goal of union
by 1980, but added he still was not sure what the con-
cept meant.
A consensus of sorts emerged that national states
and borders would be retained but that, above the na-
tional level, there would be a "federal or confederal
level entailing both integration and intergovernmental
cooperation." A European government with independent
powers would have a parliament composed of a house
of states and a house of the peoples. These ideas
are similar to those put forth earlier by the French.
On consultations with the US, the French seem
to have given way somewhat on their previous insist-
ence that the Nine could consult only after unanimous
agreement among themselves. A senior British official
yesterday cautioned that this new attitude is still
tentative and could be reversed if the US were to
press for an explicit commitment on consultation.
No extensive discussions were held on the EC
proposal to offer wide-ranging cooperation to the
Arabs, reportedly because the Arab oil embargo is
still in force against Denmark and the Netherlands.
The proposal had stalled earlier over the question
of consultation with the US. On the evening of
April 21, however, West German Chancellor Brandt in
Algiers characterized his talks there as the begin-
ning of a European-Arab dialogue". EC leaders still
have not decided on the form and specific content of
the dialogue.
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ETHIOPIA
The turmoil in Ethiopia is not only straining
the regime's ability to govern but, is also posing
problems for moderate reformists in the military.
Agitation by civilian groups seeking redress of
grievances may force military leaders to adopt
drastic measures that they would prefer to avoid.
The government may have adopted a firmer position
yesterday; according to late, unconfirmed press
reports, it has banned unauthorized demonstrations,
ordered the prosecution of striking government em-
ployees, and directed the armed forces and police
to take "all necessary steps" to maintain law and
order.
Declaring a state of emergency would restore
partial calm and ease the pressure on the govern-
ment. The military, however, would be left with
the responsibility of enforcing the measure, put-
ting it in the position of cracking down on civil-
ians whose interests it claims to champion.
An outright takeover would likewise leave
moderate military leaders with the problem of re-
storing order without resorting to severe repres-
sion. In addition, they would have to assume the
day-to-day administration of the government. If
a moderate military government failed, a takeover
by radicals in the military or a counterrevolt by
the nobles and landowners could result. The mod-
erates prefer to avoid such eventualities by keep-
ing the civilian government in power.
Prime Minister Endalkatchew's government,
meanwhile, can disclaim any responsibility for the
turmoil unleashed by the military's revolt. Its
efforts to cope with strikes, demonstrations, and
rural unrest give an excuse for not moving ahead
with the political and social reforms sought by
the military.
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THAILAND
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NOTES
USSR: The Soviets have stepped up the pace of
flight-testing for their TU-144 Charger supersonic
transport.
Soviets have said that the TU-144 will be in commer-
cial service in 1975. If no major problems develop,
they will probably meet this goal.
Venezuela-Cuba: The re-establishment of dip-
lomatic relations with the Castro regime is regarded
as a certainty in Venezuela, with only the timing
and details yet to be worked out. In early April
an emissary of Venezuelan President Carlos Andres
Perez is reported to have spent six days in Havana
for conversations with Fidel Castro and Carlos
Rafael Rodriguez, the Cuban deputy prime minister
for foreign relations.
Last week, a leading Venezuelan politician
told newsmen that resumption of ties with Cuba seems
imminent.
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Top Secret
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