THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 30 JUNE 1975

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0006014837
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
11
Document Creation Date: 
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 30, 1975
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 The President's Daily Brief June 30, 1975 5 --'1"'"Se.c_.get25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Exempt from general declassification schedule of EC/. 11652 exemption category, 5a( declassified onIV on approval of the Director of Central Intelligence V Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Part-- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY June 30, 1975 Table: of Contents Lebanon:. Prime Minister-designate Rashid Karami hopes he can announce the composition of a new cabinet tonight. (Page 1) India: Opposition efforts to proceed with the civil disobedience campaign this week are not likely to amount to much. (Page 3) Notes: China - South Korea; Laos (Page 5) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 MEDITERRANEAN SEA Sidon Beir SYR IA A. Nan r / BUHARAT if I Af Tripoli LEBANON Nab, Ibrahim 1.1(drif Tyre / ! Golan Heights 0 20 Miles IS AEL ?Baalbek Damascus SYRIA 558130 6-75 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 F\OR THE PRESIDENT ONLY LEBANON Prime Minister-designate Rashid Karami announced yesterday that he has reached agreement with Lebanon's political leaders on a new cabinet and hopes he can announce its compo- sition tonight. Karami issued his statement after an unplanned six- hour meeting with President Franji- yah. Lebanese army units reportedly began guarding important installations in Beirut late yesterday. Until now, Karami has opposed any use of the army to end the current fighting. He may have decided that he had to acquiesce in some--perhaps only token--army involvement in return for political concessions by Franjiyah. Karami and Franjiyah were pushed toward a com- promise by the continued deterioration of the security situation in Beirut. Over the weekend, fighting spread from the suburbs toward the main tourist and commercial areas. All roads leading into the city were closed yesterday morning, and the police appealed to residents of all areas to remain indoors. Violence has also spread outside Beirut. Armed leftist and Muslim groups have effectively shut down the southern port cities of Tyre and Sidon; there have been several bombings in the northern port of Tripoli; and government buildings have been occupied in the eastern town of Baalbek. Lebanese security forces have had little suc- cess in checking violence or in their more limited effort to destroy the stronghold of radical leftists and fedayeen in Beirut. Government forces have been reluctant to leave the relative security of their armored vehicles to flush out snipers, pre- ferring instead to dislodge them with heavy weapons. This procedure has caused considerable property damage, increased civilian casualties, and disaffec- tion within the ranks of the security services. These results are exactly what the radicals want, and probably played a part in prompting Franjiyah and Karami to paper over their differences. (continued) 1 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Palestinian leaders were still meeting in stra- tegy sessions with Lebanese officials yesterday morning, and Palestinian forces were continuing to participate with the Lebanese forces in joint security patrols of the embattled areas. If the major fedayeen groups stay out of the fighting, despite the provocation they will see in any army involvement, and if Karami is able to announce the formation of a government today, the security situation should improve dramatically. Fighting diminished sharply even when the unpopular military cabinet was announced late last month. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 a Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY INDIA Major opposition parties say they will proceed with their civil disobedi- ence campaign this week. Participation is likely to be poor, however, because of the fear of arrest and the knowledge that, as long as the state of emergency remains in effect, those arrested can- not appeal to the courts for release. Well over 1,000 persons have been ar- rested since Thursday, and opposition leaders who are still at large have prob- ably gone underground. There were some minor outbreaks of violence but no serious disturbances over the weekend. As press censorship becomes more efficient, it will be difficult to ascertain the situation in the country- side, though rural areas are traditionally less vol- atile than the cities. Members of the cabinet are now taking more visible roles in administering the emergency regu- lations. A special committee consisting of the ministers of agriculture, defense, interior, and law has been formed to review the situation on a daily basis. A government spokesman yesterday de- nied press reports that the chief justice of the Supreme Court--an appointee of Prime Minister Gandhi--had resigned. Ruling Congress Party members of parliament were sent to their districts during the weekend to explain the government's actions and to help organ- ize support for Mrs. Gandhi. They will convene in New Delhi on Tuesday to report on their findings. The educated classes probably are inclined not to believe Mrs. Gandhi's argument that Indian de- mocracy was imperiled by extremists. Students, in particular, are likely to discount her conspiracy rationale and will probably try to organize resist- ance. The majority of the population, however, is probably ambivalent about Mrs. Gandhi's actions and will look for results from her promise on Fri- day to introduce economic measures soon to allevi- ate the hardships of the poor. (continued) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Pa-rt - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-R6P79T00936A012700010017-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY In a follow-up to this promise, Mrs. Gandhi yesterday ordered price controls on essential com- modities. This is to retard the seasonal round of price increases that normally begin at this time of year When the monsoons set in and food stocks begin to run low. The program is not likely to be very effective, since it depends solely on local leaders to assure that shopkeepers comply. No formal price administration machinery has been set up. If the situation remains calm in July, Mrs. Gandhi reportedly plans to reconvene parliament in early August to ratify the emergency proclamation. The constitution requires parliamentary approval within two months of the proclamation. 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 100 Miles Mongolia Peking Po Hai Paengnyong4lo North Korea Sea of Japan Yellow Sea Western Air Defense Zone South Korea Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 Declassified in Pat - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY NOTES A mixed group of Lao communist troops, police, students, and other civilian demonstrators are still occupying three American installations in Vientiane that they seized Saturday morning. No Americans are at any of these installations. Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma told the US charge that he has instructed the communist minis- ter of economy, Soth Phetrasy, not to permit a large anti-US demonstration at the embassy today. Since Soth takes his orders from Lao communist authorities in almost all instances, there is no assurance against further harassment. Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphanouvong returned to Vientiane on Saturday from a three-week strategy session of the Lao Communist Party Central Committee in Sam Neua. 5 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8 / Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010017-8