THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 AUGUST 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014880
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 20, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
August 20, 1975
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 511( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
August 20, 1975
? Table of Contents
Portugal: The Communist counteroffensive in north-
ern Portugal appears to have stalled, and the
failure of yesterday's general strike in the
Lisbon area will be seen as another defeat
for Prime Minister Goncalves. (Page 1)
Angola: The Popular Movement's announcement that
It is establishing "people's defense committees"
will force Portugal to either recognize the
Movement as the only effective political organ-
ization in Angola, or back up its own claim
to sovereignty. (Page 3)
Notes: Syria-Egypt-Israel; Thailand; Laos; Indo-
nesia-Portugal-Timor; Spain; Bangladesh
(Pages 4, 5, and 6)
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PORTUGAL
The Communist counteroffensive that
began last week when party leader Cunhal
exhorted party militants to return to
areas in northern Portugal appears to
have stalled. The Communists canceled
a rally scheduled for Porto last night
after another effort, in Alcobaca, ran
into stiff resistance.
The decision to call off the Porto rally was
doubtless influenced by continuing attacks on party
offices in the north. Party leaders have been made
cautious by the growing tendency of internal secu-
rity troops--especially in the north--to act on
their own. In a town near Porto, a party member
recently was killed by gunfire from security forces.
In the recent disorders, troops in three north-
ern towns are reported to have placed themselves on
alert without notifying the military region head-
quarters. Troops in the north have been pressing
for the removal of the regional commander, General
Corvacho, considered to be a Communist sympathizer
and an ally of Prime Minister Goncalves. According
to a communiqug released yesterday by the northern
regional headquarters, Corvacho has been temporarily
relieved of his command.
Communist control of labor is also eroding.
The party made a concerted effort to show its mus-
cle by calling for a half-hour general strike yes-
terday, then modified the call by limiting it to
the Lisbon area. The impact of the strike was mini-
mal. Its primary effect was to feed anti-Communist
sentiment in Lisbon, and this will be seen as another
defeat for Prime Minister Goncalves.
Former president Spinola, who is living in
exile in Rio de Janeiro,has added his voice to the
anti-Goncalves chorus in an open letter to Presi-
dent Costa Gomes. Costa Gomes released the docu-
ment yesterday. In fact, Spinola's letter may add
force to the periodic warnings from Goncalves that
Portugal is in danger of returning to fascism.
This danger is of such an overriding concern for
the members of the Armed Forces Movement that many
(continued)
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will continue to hesitate to take action against
Goncalves or; if he is finally ousted, they will
seek to make sure that a new government does not
provide an opening to the right.
On August 19, Pravda published an
authoritative "Observer" article on the
situation in Portugal. Like other recent
coverage the general tone of the article
is defensive and pessimistic.
As the distress of the Portuguese Communists
has deepened, the Soviets' seeming confidence about
the course of events in Portugal has given way to
increasing criticism of outside meddling. Pravda
charges that the leaders of the Portuguese Social-
ists are providing a rallying point for reaction-
aries by attacking the Communists. The tone is less
strident, however, than when Moscow was denouncing
the Socialists immediately after they had left the
government. In fact, Pravda again calls for "con-
certed action" by the Armed Forces Movement, the
Communists, the Socialists, and other progressive
forces. This theme is now at least nominally in
accord with Portuguese Communist leader Cunhal's
recent expressions. Pravda offers no practical ad-
vice and provides no clues about what, if any action
the Soviets might take to support the Portuguese
Communists.
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ANGOLA
The Popular Movement's announcement
yesterday that it is going to establish
paramilitary "people's defense committees"
can only be seen as a move to force Por-
tugal into recognizing the Movement as
the only effective political organization
in Angola, or backing up its own claim to
sovereignty by suppressing the committees.
The Popular Movement says that the committees
will be composed primarily of the thousands of ci-
vilians in Luanda who were armed by the Movement
during the existence of the transitional govern-
ment. The Portuguese acting high commissioner,
who said only last week that he was assuming ad-
ministrative control of the territory, will prob-
ably seek Lisbon's advice before he acts. Any
delay on his part, however, will only strengthen
the Popular Movement's control of Luanda and allow
similar committees to form in other areas where
the Movement has military dominance.
Meanwhile, the battles for Lobito and Benguela
are continuing. So far, the National Union, with
some assistance from the National Front and mate-
riel from Zaire, is putting up a stiff fight in
Lobito. Both the National Front and the National
Union now apparently recognize that they have run
out of political options and have no choice but
to escalate the fighting.
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NOTES
Syrian President Asad views the prospect of a
second-stage Sinai disengagement accord between
Egypt and Israel with more equanimity than he did
last March, according to our ambassador.
Damascus' increased confidence in recent months
about the negotiating process in general apparently
is partly due to an improvement in its relationship
with Cairo. As a result, the Syrians now express
greater certainty that Sadat will tie a new Sinai
agreement to subsequent negotiations on the Golan
Heights. Damascus is also reported to have more
confidence in US intentions to be helpful in ob-
taining a Golan agreement. Despite their more re-
laxed attitude, however, the Syrians remain skeptical
that Israel will soon be ready to offer acceptable
proposals for a further pullback on the Golan Heights.
Damascus is aware that the Israelis perceive little,
if any, room for maneuver on a further Golan accord
and is taking at face value the continuing rigid
Israeli public statements on this issue.
Bangkok has expressed an interest in retaining
a limited US military presence in Thailand after
the US troop withdrawal is completed next March.
Foreign Minister Chatchai, a leading proponent
of withdrawal, told Ambassador Whitehouse on Monday
that once combat forces are gone, other units and
activities could stay, provided they came under the
jurisdiction of the US military advisory group rather
than the US military assistance command which he
described as a "combat command." Chatchai made
clear that Thailand's main concern is to be in a
position to affirm publicly that no US combat forces
remain on Thai soil. He added that if the US air
force wanted to keep some "utility" planes in Thai-
land, "that would be fine." He implied that the
government was prepared, in the course of "some
future eventuality," to grant the US re-entry rights
to the vacated air bases.
(continued)
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The Lao communists may be planning to use the
demonstraTiOns in Vientiane to rid the government
of additional non-communist personalities.
The police have
been rounding up young people judged hooligans be-
cause of long hair and flamboyant Western attire.
Meanwhile, on Monday the communists completed their
takeover of Luang Prabang. The old administration
was abolished and new "revolutionary" officials
appointed.
(continued)
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Spanish General Franco's meetings with Prince
Juan Car os this week have sparked speculation that
Franco has decided to turn over his powers to the
Prince.
The speculation stems from the unexpected na-
ture of Juan Carlos' sudden visit to Franco's vaca-
tion retreat. The General customarily meets with
his cabinet several times during the summer, but
this is the first time the Prince has been invited.
Government officials say that the talks will last
for three days, but refuse to disclose any details.
A full cabinet meeting is scheduled for Friday.
Frictions have surfaced in Bangladesh between
junior army officers who Zed last week's coup and
senior officers of the armed forces.
Senior officers, who supported the plotters
after the coup began, appeared by late Monday to
have reasserted their authority. Most coup leaders
reluctantly agreed to obey orders and return to
their units, but the main leaders--majors Farook,
Raschid, and Dalim--still seem recalcitrant. This
could be a serious development and senior officers
are moving cautiously lest an incident develop that
might plunge the country into civil war and give
India an excuse to intervene./
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