THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 19 JUNE 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014828
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: June 19, 1975

m,111,
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The President's Daily Brief
June 19, 1975
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010008-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010008-8
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 511(I1,121.13)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
r
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
June 19, 1975
Table of Contents
Zaire: President Mobutu's motives for indirectly
charging the US with involvement in a coup
attempt and for declaring Ambassador Hinton
persona non grata remain a mystery. (Page 1)
Portugal: Tension rose a few more degrees yester-
day, probably strengthening the arguments of
radical military officers who want to abolish
political parties and close down the Constitu-
ent Assembly. (Page 2)
Western Europe: The decision to buy the F-16 has
revived European discussions on establishing
common armament policies and promoting multi-
national projects. (Page 3)
India: Prime Minister Gandhi's survival in office
depends on the Supreme Court's verdict on the
appeal she reportedly will file on Friday.
(Page 5)
Thailand: The tempo of insurgency has declined
sharply over the past six months. (Page 6)
Notes: China-Cambodia; EC - Arab States; West
Germany; USSR (Pages 7 and 8)
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ZAIRE
Zaire yesterday declared Ambassador
Hinton persona non grata. President
Mobutu's motives remain a mystery.
The action followed several days of virulent
anti-US propaganda in the government-controlled
media, including an attack on Secretary Kissinger,
and a speech yesterday by Mobutu to a large audience
of pro-government demonstrators in Kinshasa. Mobutu
indirectly charged the US with involvement in an at-
tempted coup by Zairian military officers; several
were recently arrested on what seem to be trumped-
up charges.
The Zairian foreign minister, when informing
the ambassador that he had to leave, said that
Mobutu's evidence was based on a document, written
by a Zairian officer on how to carry out a coup,
and on the confessions of the plotters. The foreign
minister also referred to US military cargo flights
and the probability that they had carried in high-
powered rifles allegedly supplied to the plotters.
Mobutu has had occasional fits of pique with
the US, some real and some feigned, on a variety of
issues, but never before has he gone to such an
extreme. He is, however, not likely to break re-
lations.
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PORTUGAL
Tension rose a few more degrees yes-
terday, as troops were used to break up
two demonstrations. The level of vio-
lence, the need to use troops, and the
continuing trouble over the Socialist
newspaper Republica will strengthen the
argument of radical military officers
who want to abolish political parties
and close down the Constituent Assembly.
These officers have apparently been stalemated
in discussions of these matters by the Revolution-
ary Council, which has now been meeting in secret
for six straight days.
Last night, troops fired into the air to dis-
perse some 2,000 supporters of the leftist workers
who, earlier this month, took over the Catholic-
owned radio station. The demonstrators attacked
supporters of Catholic control of the radio station
and trapped them inside the headquarters of the
Portuguese Catholic Church. Portuguese Catholic
bishops had earlier issued a statement demanding
the reopening of the radio station and criticizing
the Armed Forces Movement for "creating a climate
of personal insecurity, intimidation, and anxiety
about the future."
Earlier in the day, troops had dispersed a
crowd of angry Socialists who had tried to storm
the offices of their newspaper; security forces had
allowed -Communist printers to enter the building
before Socialist editors. arrived. Republica's
editor was finally allowed to enter the building,
where-he.began negotiating with the Communist
printers. At the end of the workday, the printers
surrendered the building to security forces, who
said.Republica would reopen this morning.
The Socialists have not explicitly repeated
their threat to resign from the government if the
newspaper is not returned to them, perhaps because
they now fear the military will call their bluff.
Socialist leader Mario Soares did say in an inter-
view last night that the Republica affair had
reached an "impasse that might lead to a serious
political crisis." Soares expressed solidarity
with the Catholic Church in its struggle to retain
control of its radio station.
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WESTERN EUROPE
The decision to buy the F-16 has
revived European discussions on estab-
lishing common armament policies and
promoting multinational projects.
A central question facing the European arma-
ment industry is whether France, and to a lesser
degree the UK, will decide to go it alone in world
aircraft markets, seek closer cooperation with the
US in the design and production of high-technology
products, or join with their EC partners in long-
range joint programs.
The EC Commission since 1970 has periodically
taken up the problems of the European aerospace
industry. Last month, the Commission presented a
bleak report which concluded that unless the Nine
moved quickly to adopt common policies, they would
have to acquiesce to continued US dominance of the
international market for aircraft. The EC Council
will meet in October to discuss civil aviation prob-
lems. In the meantime', it is giving urgent atten-
tion to preparing recommendations on cost-cutting
and streamlining of the industrial system.
The continued viability of the European air-
craft industry depends on the ability of the Commu-
nity to:
--Concentrate production in one or two air-
craft construction combines.
--Secure the commitment of EC governments to
coordinate military requirements for new air-
craft types and concentrate civil aircraft
production on the short- and medium-haul mar-
ket.
--Develop specific types of aircraft on the
"European" level.
--Buy only "European" production of certain
types of aircraft over the long run.
(continued)
3
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--Obtain a commitment by European airlines to
undertake a long-term conversion to aircraft
produced in Europe.
--Enhance the probability of sales to the non-
European market.
The controversy over selecting the F-16 versus
the Mirage comes at a time when the Nine are dis-
cussing aspects of defense policy. European arms
procurement is taken up in a NATO forum?the Euro-
group, in which ?France does not participate--and
defense matters have scarcely been touched by the
EC in the past. The Rome Treaty, in fact, expli-
citly excludes armament production and the arms
trade from Common Market jurisdiction.
Nevertheless, there has been a tendency among
Europeans recently to view production of military
hardware in the EC context. Last month, for example,
the EC Commissioner responsible for industrial
matters suggested the creation of an ad hoc group
that he felt could become a European agency for
military purchases. The Dutch defense minister also
argued last December for a "Europeanization" of the
arms industry that would entail a revision of the
treaty provision.
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INDIA
Prime Minister Gandhi's survival in
office depends on the Supreme Court's
verdict on the appeal she reportedly will
file on Friday.
Mrs. Gandhi was convicted last week by a court
in her home state of using government officials for
campaign purposes. This is a relatively minor of-
fense, but is tailor-made for the anti-corruption
drive launched last year by a loose coalition of
conservative opposition parties.
The Prime Minister, of course, hopes the Su-
preme Court will automatically extend the stay
granted by the state court without prohibiting her
from participating in parliamentary sessions. She
has appeared determined to remain in office and re-
ceived a vote of confidence yesterday from her rul-
ing Congress Party.
Mrs. Gandhi might come to the conclusion, how-
ever, that stepping aside temporarily would be a
politically wise move, if she can find a pliable
stand-in and if she feels confident of a favorable
ruling by the Supreme Court. Her resignation would
undermine some of the opposition's arguments and
could win public sympathy.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND
The tempo of the fighting between
the government and the insurgents in
Thailand has declined sharply over the
past six months, according to an assess-
ment by the US mission. Possible ex-
planations for the slowdown are:
--A reduction in government coun-
terinsurgency operations.
--The insurgents' intention to
wait and see how the new politi-
cal process affects them.
--A decision by the insurgents to
concentrate their efforts on build-
ing their political base in the
villages.
The dramatic decline in government casualty
figures over the past nine months emphasizes the
increased reluctance of the Thai army to engage in-
surgents in combat. The generals are reacting in
part from anger over press and student charges that
the army is guilty of having committed "atrocities"
against innocent villagers some two years ago. The
military also hope inactivity on the government side
will force Prime Minister Khukrit to formulate a
national counterinsurgency policy.
The insurgents, for their part, are not taking
advantage of government passivity to raise the level
of their military activities. They may be avoiding
contact with government forces so that they can con-
centrate on improving their political base at the
village level, where they appear to have suffered
defections. the boost
in morale following communist victories in Indochina
proved short-lived.
There has been no indication, however, of a
slowdown in external support.
recently recruited members of the Commu- 25X1
nist Party of Thailand will be sent to North Viet-
nam and China for training this year. 25X1
limited numbers of North 25X1
Vietnamese army advisers are being assigned to work
with Thai insurgents near the Lao border in north-
eastern Thailand. Arms training for Thai insurgents
is conducted in north-
25X1
25X1
"ern Laos.
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NOTES
China's role in Cambodia is continuing to grow.
In terms of personnel, in fact, the total Chi-
nese presence may exceed that of the US mission at
the height of the war. Intercepted Cambodian mes-
sages have reflected the involvement of Chinese ad-
visers in nearly every facet of economic reconstruc-
tion, ranging from the repair of factories, roads,
and airstrips to the initiation of pilot projects
for growing cotton. Last month, the Cambodians
broadcast a commentary lauding the Chinese and de-
scribing them as Cambodia's "most loyal and closest
comrades in arms." Since then, however, none of
the innumerable Cambodian descriptions of economic
reconstruction has made even oblique reference to
any outside assistance. The Chinese have given
broad media coverage to postwar reconstruction in
Cambodia, but have not yet publicly acknowledged
their considerable participation in these activities.
The first meeting of the EC-Arab experts in
Cairo Last week apparently opens the way for eco-
nomic cooperation in several broad areas.
The participants skirted the three topics of
oil, Israel, and the Palestinians, which have im-
peded discussions for the past year and a half;
they agreed to hold a second meeting in late July.
25X1
There is evidently no EC consensus as yet, 25X1
however, on actually moving quickly.
(continued)
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Willy Brandt, who is still chairman of the
West German Social Democratic Party, will travel to
the Soviet Union on July 2 for a week's visit with
Soviet leaders.
Although his trip will be largely ceremonial
25X1
/the agenda will be pros-
pects for concluding the European security conference,
Berlin, inter-German relations, bilateral coopera-
tion in the energy field, and the dialogue between
the European Community and the Soviet-dominated
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. Moscow's
interest in seeing the former chancellor reflects
the Soviets' long-standing desire to increase party-
to-party contacts and to express their regard for
Brandt, whom they regard as West Germany's chief
proponent of detente.
Drought in parts of the USSR's spring grain
area has reduced the estimate of this year's crop
to 215 million metric tons, 5 million tons less
than our earlier forecast.
At 215 million tons, however, the grain crop
still would exceed estimated Soviet requirements of
about 210 million tons. The Soviets may purchase
about 5 million tons of grain for delivery in fis-
cal 1976 to cover shortfalls in corn for the live-
stock program and in high-quality milling wheat.
The Soviets have not bought any grain so far this
year, but deliveries continue under old contracts.
We estimate that grain imports in fiscal 1975 will
total 6.5 million tons.
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