THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 FEBRUARY 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007937
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 8, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
February 8, 1975
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of EO. 11652
exemption category 5%1),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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February 8, 1975
Table of Contents
Cyprus: Turkish forces on the island are on the
move, suggesting they may be taking up posi-
tions for a new military operation. (Page 1)
Australia: Prime Minister Whitlam defends the
presence of US defense and scientific in-
stallations. (Page 3)
South Vietnam: Top officials assume additional
US aid will not be forthcoming. (Page 4)
Notes: USSR; Ethiopia; South Korea (Page 5)
Annex:
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CYPRUS
Turkish forces on Cyprus are on the
move, suggesting that they may be getting
into positions for a new military opera-
tion to round out the Turkish-held por-
tion of the island. The meeting yester-
day between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot negotiators made no progress, but
the negotiators did agree to meet again
on Monday.
The reports of Turkish military movements in-
clude:
--UN observers reported three exchanges of fire
in the past two days, as Turkish forces appar-
ently tried to improve their firing positions.
--A US embassy officer saw about 1,000 Turkish
commandos in battle gear awaiting transport
near Kyrenia yesterday,
re-
connaissance aircraft were active west of
Nicosia yesterday.
--UN observers saw a group of Turkish tanks
moving southeast from Nicosia, also yesterday.
--UN observers saw up to 20 Turkish tanks
moving south form Kyrenia Thursday night0
reiterated
yesterday that the Turks today, or on Sunday at the
latest, will carry out their plan to clear the Greek
national guard out of several positions around Nic-
osia and to the west.
(continued)
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No progress was made yesterday in the meeting
between Greek Cypriot negotiator Clerides and Turk-
ish Cypriot leader Denktash on the two issues cur-
rently being debated--control of Nicosia airport
and the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their
homes in the Turkish-controlled area.
Denktash did read a statement reaffirming the
Turkish wish that the talks continue. derides,
however, took note of Denktash's earlier statement
in which he threatened to declare an independent
Turkish Cypriot state. He warned that such a move
,would cause the talks to be discontinued. Denktash
said that, but for "outside intervention," he would
now be the president of an independent Turkish Cyp-
riot republic.
Should the Turks take military action, the
Greek Cypriots may turn to such forums as the UN
Security council.
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AUSTRALIA
Prime Minister Whitlam defended
the presence of US defense and scien-
tific installations in Australia at the
Labor Party's biennial conference this
week. He said Canberra would not ex-
ercise its option to give notice later
this year of an intention to terminate
the lease
The party's left wing proposed to change the
wording of the party platform to imply that the
presence of the bases impinges on Australian sov-
ereignty and is therefore unacceptable. Whitlam
declared, however, that changes over the past year
to bring all the bases under joint administration
satisfied Australian sovereignty. Whitlam also
turned aside leftist objections to the Secrecy of
some of the installations, saying that he and other
officials with 'a need to know were fully informed
as to the functions of these bases.
While standing firm on the bases, Whitlam ac-
cepted a proposal to allow the Viet Cong's provi-
sional government ?to open an information office in
Australia. Nevertheless, he strongly opposed a
resolution put forward by Deputy Prime Minister
Cairns, the most prominent leftist in the party
and a longtime Viet Cong sympathizer, calling for
immediate diplomatic recognition of the provisional
government. Cairns' resolution was his first direct
challenge to Whitlam's foreign policy since he be-
came deputy prime minister last June.
Whitlam compromised on the Viet Cong issue
partly to avoid souring his close working relation-
ship with Cairns, to whom he has delegated primary
responsibility for dealing with Australia's eco-
nomic problems. Whitlam is also anxious to avoid
serious party wrangling in view of the possibility
of national elections later this year.
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SOUTH VIETNAM
Prime Minister Khiem
as-
sumes the US Congress will not approve
the request for $300 million in supple-
mental assistance for South Vietnam.
The Prime Minister concluded that failure
to receive this additional American sup-
port would not mean the difference be-
tween "survival and defeat," but would
keep the South Vietnamese military on
the defensive and would hurt President
Thieu "politically and psychologically."
Khiem's remarks reflect President Thieu's own
thinking on the prospects for additional US support.
Anticipating heavy fighting in the weeks ahead,
Thieu is now publicly taking a more pessimistic
line.
Regarding the presidential election slated for
October, Khiem said Thieu agrees that another one-
man election must be avoided. At the moment, many
South Vietnamese political parties are reluctant
to enter a candidate in a presidential race they
could not hope to win. Khiem reasoned that the
government might have to consider returning to the
provisions of the earlier, 1967 election law, which
did not require that a candidate be sponsored by a
political party. This could result in a large num-
ber of candidates and make a majority victory im-
possible. Khiem nevertheless was confident that
the government's candidate would win with a strong
plurality.
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NOTES
The two Soviet cosmonauts in the Salyut 4 space
station are expected to return to earth aboard their
Soyuz 17 spacecraft on Sunday. They have been in
orbit since January 10.
The Ethiopian army has not broken through the
rebel encirclement of Asmara.
Resupply convoys are stalled along main roads
leading into the city, and supplies Continue to be
brought in by air. Next week,' the ruling military
council apparently intends to announce a decision
to nationalize all agricultural land, a step that
is almost certain to provoke a violent reaction
from both peasants and landowners.
South Korean President Pak will win the refer-
endum scheduled for February 12; the referendum is
designed to validate his leadership under the au-
thoritarian 1972 constitution.
Pak apparently sees the referendum as a useful
tactic in suppressing domestic dissent. In partic-
ular, Pak wants to demonstrate to his domestic au-
dience and the US Congress that, however vocal, his
opposition has relatively little support nationally.
the President will
'follow up the vote with major changes in the struc-
ture of the government party. He may also reshuf-
fle the cabinet and make a conciliatory gesture to
the opposition. In the end, perhaps, what appears
to be a meaningless political exercise might serve
some useful purpose.
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