THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 MAY 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007965
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 24, 1974

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The President's Daily Brief
May 24, 1974
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I I652
exemption category 513(1),(2),(3/
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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.1. ...Iv N
? THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
May 24,1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Vietnam
South
/ (Page 1)
In a departure from past practice, the Soviets yes-
terday publicized their response to China's latest
attempt to assert its claim to the large island at
the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri rivers opposite
Khabarovsk. The Kremlin may hope that Peking will
take publication of the issue as a warning not to
challenge Moscow on this sensitive point. (Page 3)
West European exasperation with the stalemated Euro-
pean security conference in Geneva has reached a new
high, and the EC Nine may advise the Soviets that the
conference will be adjourned if Moscow does not make
concessions. (Page 4)
Some of the fighting between Iraqi government forces
and Kurdish rebels has been heavy, but Baghdad still
does not seem eager to launch a full-scale offensive.
(Page 5)
Notes on the Middle East, Israel, China-Pakistan, and
Thailand appear on Page 6.
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rutc. i.L11i 1-1(EJI1JEIN 1 U1N L, I
NORTH VIETNAM - SOUTH VIETNAM
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Sino-Soviet Border: Apisputed Area
ts.
Vladivostok
Boundary shown on
Chinese maps \
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oundary shown
Russian Maps
555909 5-74.
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.i. .I. .L 11 _I_
USSR-CHINA
In a departure from past practice, the Soviets
yesterday publicized their response to China's latest
attempt to assert its claim to the large island at the
confluence of the Amur and Ussuri rivers. The island,
occupied by the Soviets, lies just off Khabarovsk and
has long been one of the most sensitive spots on the
Sino-Soviet border.
The Soviet statement was given to the Chinese
charge yesterday. Outwardly conciliatory, the mes-
sage reasserts repeatedly Moscow's contention that
the waters north of the island are "Soviet inland
waterways." It says that the Soviets would look fa-
vorably on Chinese requests to use those waters, as
long as the Chinese take the matter up beforehand with
frontier officials or through diplomatic channels.
Not surprisingly, the Chinese have repeatedly
refused to do this, since such a step would give of
recognition to Moscow's de facto ownership of
the island. China, in fact, appears to have a good
legal case. According to international regulations
normally applicable to such disputes, the riverine
border would follow the main navigation channel,which,
in this case, runs north of the island.
Peking has never pushed the matter to direct con-
frontation, but the Soviets were extremely worried
this time last year that a Chinese ship was about to
try to force the issue. The Kremlin was anxious then,
as it is now, to head off a Sino-Soviet incident prior
to a summit with the US.
The Soviets may hope that Peking will take their
publication of the matter as a warning not to chal-
lenge Moscow on this sensitive point. They may also
hope to derive some propaganda mileage from contrast-
ing Moscow's ostensibly conciliatory stance with
China's adamant refusal to return the crew of the
Soviet helicopter which landed in China on March 14.
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CSCE
West European exasperation with the stalemated
European security conference in Geneva has reached
a new high, and the EC Nine are considering telling
the Soviets that the conference will be adjourned if
Moscow does not make concessions. An adjournment
could come in July and last for an indefinite period
of time.
While most of the Nine had earlier favored hold-
ing a final session this Summer and might have been
amenable to a summit-level meeting-, as the Soviets
wish, the Nine now think that the results to date are
top meager to justify holding 4 concluding session.
The other members of NATO share the pessimism of the
Nine. At 4 recent meeting of NATO's politiCal commit-
tee, most Of the Allies thought that the timing and
level of representation for the final stage of the
conference should not be discussed. Instead, they
recommended that the results achieved thus 'far should
be scrutinized to determine whether a final session
of the conference should be held.
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555911 5-74 CIA
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_I_ .1_ LL..d 1_ J.. V L,.JLLd'L,.L Y I kJi '4 1,, 1_
IRAQ
Clashes between Iraqi government forces and
Kurdish rebels are occurring daily in widely scat-
tered parts of northern Iraq. Some of the fighting
has been heavy, but Baghdad still does not appear
eager to launch a full-scale offensive that would,
in effect, concede the failure of its plans for
Kurdish autonomy.
The government is resorting more frequently to
heavy aerial and artillery bombardment, rather than
close combat. The rebels are retaliating with com-
mando raids, ambushes, and an increasing use of land
mines, one of their most effective tactics.
At least 60 percent of the Iraqi army is now in
the north for possible use against the rebellion. The
substantial movement of men and materiel this deploy-
ment has involved in recent months has resulted in
logistics problems, which the Kurds are compounding
with their continuing campaign of sabotage. The rebels
have hit oil installations and cut several key rail
lines recently.
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NOTES
Israel-Syria-Lebanon: Fighting was again at a
low level on the Golan front yesterday, with only oc-
casional exchanges of artillery and tank fire. Is-
raeli air activity was higher than on Wednesday, but
it was limited to reconnaissance missions and defen-
sive patrols, primarily over southern Lebanon and the
Golan Heights. On at least two occasions, Israeli
aircraft--at least one of which may have been a pilot-
less drone--flew over Syrian territory.
Israel: The Labor Alignment and the two small
liberal parties, the Independent Liberal Party and
the Citizens Rights Movement, yesterday signed a
formal agreement to form a coalition government.
Prime Minister-designate Rabin undoubtedly will ask
President Katzir to grant him more time to form a
cabinet, which is likely to have numerous holdovers
from Mrs. Meir's government. Defense Minister Dayan
is expected to leave the government. Deputy Prime
Minister Allon and Information Minister Peres a're
vying for the defense portfolio. Peres appears to
have the inside track. Foreign Minister Eban will
probably stay on to provide the appearance of con-
tinuity.
China-Pakistan: China has agreed to provide 60
MIG-19 jet fighters to Pakistan during this year and
the next. Islamabad already has 125 of these rela-
tively unsophisticated and comparatively inexpensive
planes. China is building them at a rate of about 10
to 15 per month, and the large commitment to Pakistan
indicates that Peking will continue to produce the
plane for some time. The Chinese have over 1,700
MIG-19s in their awn air force and have exported them
to North Vietnam, North Korea, Albania, and Tanzania.
Thailand: Prime Minister Sanya has responded
to the urging of the National Assembly and will stay
on. He is likely to make several changes in his
cabinet, but none that would portend any significant
departure in Thailand's foreign or domestic policies.
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Top Secret
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