THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 9 AUGUST 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007787
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 9, 1974

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The President's Daily Brief
August 9, 1974
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Exempt from general
&claudication schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(1).(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
(
?k ?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
August 9, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
While the communists have made some recent gains in
Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces and seem to be
preparing to intensify fighting in several other
sectors of South Vietnam, the situation is less
ominous than a day ago. (Page 1)
Press reports say Greek tank and artil-
lery units are rolling into position near the Turk-
ish border. Meanwhile, on Cyprus, steps were being
taken to strengthen the Clerides government and to
remove the National Guard from politics. (Page 3)
/Israeli-Syria,
(Page 4)
Israel
(Page 6)
The Soviet minesweeping operation in the Strait of
Gubal may be extended well beyond the. projected com-
pletion date of August 15. (Page 7)
Saudi Arabia's senior advisory body. on oil matters,
the Supreme Petroleum Council, has recommended against
holding the large Saudi oil auction proposed by Oil
Minister Yamani. (Page 6)
Cairo has decided to emphasize its warnings to Trip- 25X1
oh i by withdrawing some military personnel. on loan
to the Libyan armed forces. (Page 9)
The Soviets
(Page 10)
In Portugal, moderate elements within the military
are growing impatient with leftist tactics that have
thwarted government efforts to deal with critical
problems. (Page 11)
In response to Bangkok's latest overture, the North
Vietnamese reportedly have told the Thai that they
are willing to explore mutual interests in the field
of trade and commerce. (Page 12)
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104
106
NORTH
VIETNAM
ANI
Quang Tri
Demilitarized Zone
N.
Hue.
110
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THAILAND
?14
THUA TIME ,-.r.nk
Quang Nam
j
LAOS
QUANG TIN
Quang
KONTUM
CENTRAL
MR I
Ngai
16--
14-
BINH
DINH
""HIGHLAND
.Plei
?12
?10
Gulf of
Thailand
104
CAM BO D
CHA U
DOC
AN
GIA G
Mekong
KMN ?
PHONG
MEN
GMNG
PHON
DINH
IA
KIEN
TUONG
CHUONG
THI EN
AN
XUYEN
TAY
NINH
VIN
LONG
BINH
LONG
BIN
DUONG
HAU
NGHI
CO
N HOA
VINH
MNH
BA KUTCH
BAC LIEU
MR 4
P1-WOO
LONG
EIIEN
HOA
LONG
KHANN
PHUOC
TUY
PLEIKU
OAR LAO
QUA NO
DUC
LAM DON
BINH
TU
R3
PHU
80N
TUYEN
01.1C
BINH
HIJAN
Capital Special Zone
1r1
MR 2
PHU
YEN
KPIANH
HOA
NINH
THUAN
C*
CAM
'PANH
South
China
SOUTH VIETNAMi
12-
170
'MILES ? 11.0
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAn
While the communists have made some recent gains
in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces and seem to be
preparing to intensify fighting in several other sec-
tors of the country, the situation is less ominous
than a day ago.
Indications that the North Vietnamese 308th Divi-
sion near Hanoi was preparing to move south appear to
have been incorrect. In late July, the 308th Division
did reactivate communications with its infantry regi-
ments following several months of reduced activity,
but this was only a return to a normal level of activ-
ity. This apparently means that the division has re-
turned to normal status and it is not necessarily an
indicator that it is getting ready to move south.
Moreover, none of the other five infantry divisions
in North Vietnam's strategic reserve show any signs
of moving south.
Some increase in action may occur in South Viet-
nam's two northern provinces, but the evidence is less
conclusive than earlier. A recent intercept indicates
the North Vietnamese 325th Division may be preparing
to attack around Quang Tri City. Another division,
however, the 324B, has reduced its communications.
This suggests that it may be slackening its tactical
activity. There are signs that the third division in
this area, the 304th, may be moving south. Low-level
reports indicate the 304th may move from Quang Tri to
Quang Nam Province. The 304th Division recently
changed its communications pattern in a way that sug-
gests it may move.
In southern Military Region 1, the communists
are continuing to shell government-outposts in Quang
Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, but the government has
moved in reinforcements and seems to have regained
the initiative in some areas. Government forces are
attempting to recapture lost territory and push the
North Vietnamese back.
The communists have moved large quantities of
war materiel, including long-range artillery, into the
area, and they may fight hard to hold the land that
they have taken. The shift of a fresh division from
Quang Tri Province would enable the North Vietnamese
to challenge government forces, but it probably would
not be enough for the communists to expand their hold-
ings significantly.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
The North Vietnamese have increased their attacks
in Pleiku, and the recent shift eastward of the tac-
tical headquarters for the area suggests that more
fighting is likely. Communist forces north and west
of Saigon also seem to be preparing for more aggressive
action.
These moves are consistent with a recent reliable
report on COSVN's assessment of the situation and
near-term plans. According to this report, communist
main force attacks and counterpacification activities
have dealt setbacks to the government and should be
exploited locally throughout the summer and early fall.
Government forces should be able to cope with a higher
level of fighting and prevent the communists from
making major inroads into the territory they now con-
trol.
Communist units in the South are clearly capable
of carrying out large attacks throughout much of the
country, but they probably do not have the large man-
power pool at hand needed to sustain protracted cam-
paigns in many areas. Few troops have infiltrated in
recent months. While Hanoi has a substantial number
of troops training in the North and is capable of mov-
ing them south faster than ever before, it has usually
positioned its troops on the southern battlefronts be-
fore launching its campaigns.
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MertedtrAnkara
ITALY
)(3
TURKEY
Crete
MEDITERRANEAN
ISRAELI.)
JORDA
Territory controlled
by Turkish forces
Kyrenia
Famagusta
Larnaca
massol
CYPRUS
UK Sovereign base area
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
TURKEY-GREECE-CYPRUS
The Greek defense minister told US Assistant
Secretary of State Hartman on Wednesday that Turkey
had informed his government that in the future, an
extensive area of the Aegean west and south of Tur-
key could only be overflown after notifying Turkish
air traffic control. The Greek government replied
that it would not accept this unilateral Turkish
action over what has heretofore been Greek-controlled
airspace. This indicates that the conflict might
spill over into the ongoing Greco-Turkish dispute
over control of the Aegean.
On Cyprus yesterday, the Turks continued their
efforts to consolidate positions in the western
Kyrenia Mountains, and the Cypriot National Guard
occupied two villages near Paphos. The sporadic
fighting in Nicosia intensified along the line di-
viding the Greek and Turkish communities.
Acting President Glafkos derides yesterday
formed a new eight-member cabinet composed of non-
political business and professional leaders. Cleri-
des himself holds the key ministries of foreign af-
fairs, interior, and defense. The shift strengthens
his hand against political foes on the left and
right.
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ISRAEL-SYRIA
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ISRAEL
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Soviet Mine Sweeping Operations in the Strait of Gubal
312 ri Approximate location 314 Tel Aviv-Yafog
of naval minefields
Mediterranean Sea ISRAEL
Damietta
Alexandria
Great Bitter
Lake
eSuez
\,$
EG PT '
Gulf
of
Strait of
Tiran ,
556351 8-74 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-ISRAEL
The Soviet minesweeping operation in the Strait
of Gubal may be extended well beyond the projected
completion date of August 15. Bad weather has caused
delays in the clearing operations in the main chan-
nel, and work in this area may not be completed until
September 1.
The Soviets reportedly hope to obtain Israeli
permission to clear the inner channel located in the
Israeli-controlled eastern side of the strait, lead-
ing to the oil fields in Israeli-occupied Sinai.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SAUDI ARABIA
The Supreme Petroleum Council, Saudi Arabia's
senior advisory body on oil matters, has recommended
against holding the large Saudi oil auction proposed
by Oil Minister Yamani. The King may react to the
lack of consensus among his senior advisers by equiv-
ocating. Whether the auction is held or not, Yamani
doubts that there will be much increase in Saudi pro-
duction in the foreseeable future, in view of gen-
erally high world oil stocks.
Yamani has told the US embassy that the council
wants the Saudis to hold out for the same high price
Kuwait imposed in its recent agreement with Gulf Oil
and British Petroleum, the two major producing com-
panies in Kuwait.
Yamani is still pressing for the auction, but
Prince Fahd, who chairs the council, has thrown his
weight behind its recommendation, and the King usu-
ally listens to him. Although the King shares
Yamani's view that oil prices should be lowered,
Faysal is also aware of strenuous opposition to the
Yamani proposals among other members of the Organiza-
tion of Petroleum Exporting Countries, especially
Iran, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and Algeria.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT-LIBYA
Cairo has decided to emphasize its warnings to
Tripoli by withdrawing some military personnel on loan
to the Libyan armed forces. A significant recall of
Egyptian advisers and support personnel would cause
dislocations in Tripoli's defense capabilities.
There are some suggestions that Tripoli is fa-
cilitating orderly withdrawal. This tends to con-
firm press reports that President Sadat has agreed
to return the Libyan Mirage aircraft.
The Libyan leadership announced yesterday that
it had refused to accept President Sadat's recently
publicized scathing letter, but the Tripoli media,
while denouncing the Sadat letter, have softened
their tone. The Egyptian press has continued its
shrill attacks on Libya, but is now putting greater
emphasis on Sadat's call in the letter for a new dia-
logue.
Nevertheless, a collision may be unavoidable.
Sadat is fed up with Qadhafi's meddling in Egypt's
affairs. Qadhafi, for his part, is not likely to
knuckle under to anything resembling an Egyptian
ultimatum.
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USSR
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGAL
Moderate elements within the military are grow-
ing impatient with leftist tactics that have thwarted
government efforts to deal with critical problems.
On August 5, the junta issued a stern warning to ex-
tremist groups who are trying to discredit the armed
forces.
The military believe that economic problems,
particularly as they are affected by labor, are among
the key issues that need urgent attention. The Coun-
cil of Ministers announced approval on August 4 of a
package of measures to stimulate the economy. No
mention was made, however, of the long-promised strike-
lockout law. Inability to pass labor legislation
could create additional restiveness in the armed
forces.
News reporting in Portugal is heavily manipu-
lated in favor of the left, and a new press law is
being negotiated to try to restore balanced reporting.
The growing intolerance of the authorities toward, the
left resulted in the temporary. ban imposed last week
on three Lisbon dailies.
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THAILAND-VIETNAM
Bangkok's efforts to establish a dialogue with
Hanoi appear to have had some result. In response
to Bangkok's latest overture, the North Vietnamese
reportedly have told the Thai that they are willing
to explore mutual interests in the field of trade
and commerce. Hanoi has indicated that such dis-
cussions can best be handled in Hong Kong by the
North Vietnamese trade mission and the Thai consul
general.
Deputy Foreign Minister Chatchai, the prime
mover in the Thai government for closer ties with
North Vietnam, has directed an intermediary to go
to Hanoi to determine the kind of trade and finan-
cial arrangements the North Vietnamese have in mind.
The Thai do not expect rapid progress in improving
relations with the North Vietnamese. Chatchai views
Hanoi's limited response, however, as a vindication
of his persistent pursuit of rapprochement.
There is no evidence that Hanoi is reconsider-
ing its stringent opposition to the Sanya govern-
ment; North Vietnamese propaganda continues to be
harsh and unfavorable. Hanoi is probably willing,
however, to explore the possibility that broader
trade relations with Bangkok could provide some
help in meeting North Vietnam's serious economic
problems.
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Top Secret
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