THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 AUGUST 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014883
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 23, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
August 23, 1975
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(1),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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August 23, 1975
Table of Contents
Portugal: The anti-Goncalves group seems confident
of its strength and predicts that the Prime
Minister will be removed peacefully.
(Page 1)
Portugal-Azores-Madeiras: The center-left Portu-
guese Popular Democratic Party in the Azores
has joined the separatist movement there; the
example in the Azores is encouraging a parallel
movement in the Madeira Islands. (Page 3)
Jordan-Syria: The two governments announced the
formation of a Supreme Command Council, com-
posed of King Husayn and Syrian President Asad,
in a communique capping Husayn's five-day
visit to Damascus. (Page 4)
India-Bangladesh: The coup in Bangladesh is a sig-
nificant setback for India, but New Delhi is
trying to retain good relations with President
Mushtaque's government rather than undermine
it by military intervention or other pressure.
(Page 5)
Angola: Portuguese Foreign Minister Ruivo yester-
day outlined for Ambassador Carlucci his gov-
ernment's latest initiative for bringing an end
to the fighting in Angola. (Page 7)
Notes: Turkey; Portuguese Timor (Page 9)
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PORTUGAL
Leaders of the effort to oust Prime
Minister Goncalves are working on plans
for a new government. They have in-
structed their military followers to re-
main in a "preventive status" this week-
end, but not to initiate any action.
The anti-Goncalves group seems con-
fident of its strength and predicts that
the Prime Minister will be removed peace-
fully-
Costa Gomes will be retained as president
under the plan now being formulated
The 45-year-old Fabiao has avoided the lime-
light, but he is believed to be in tune with the
views of the Antunes group. He has held a number ,
of commands in the African colonies and apparently
enjoys broad support in the military.
Since the new government
will need massive foreign economic assistance to
solve Portugal's economic problems, the Socialist
Party, which has long-standing contacts with other
European countries, is expected to play an impor-
tant role in arranging for foreign aid.
(continued)
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The center-left Popular Democratic Party
will certainly be represented in the next govern-
ment, and there are indications that the more con-
servative Social Democratic Center--excluded from
the government since Spinola's ouster--may be given
a role. There seems to be general agreement that
the Communists will be given a slot in the cabinet,
but there are differences within the anti-Goncalves
group as to which portfolio the Communists should
have.
Goncalves, meanwhile, shows no sign of giving
up. He is unlikely, however, to find enough sup-
port to change the situation. He is claiming sup-
port in the lower ranks of all three services and
may still hope to demonstrate enough backing to
raise the fear of possible civil war and thus
improve his bargaining position.
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PORTUGAL-AZORES-MADEIRAS
The center-left Portuguese Popular
Democratic Party in the Azores has joined
the separatist movement there. Popular
Democratic leaders claim the party con-
trols the Azorean Liberation Front in two
of the three Azorean administrative dis-
tricts and is trying to gain control on
the main island of Sao Miguel.
Participation of the Popular Democratic Party
in the separatist movement should bring to the Front
a degree of leadership and organizational skill it
has lacked and help dispel its image as represent-
ing the interests of only the wealthy class. The
party polled 60 percent of the popular vote in the
islands in the April election.
Party leaders told the US consul in Ponta Del-
gada that if the Communists and radical leftists
are ousted from the Lisbon government, the move for
independence will be slowed but not stopped.
The example in the Azores is encouraging a
parallel movement in the Madeira Islands, where
there is widespread dissatisfaction with Lisbon's
failure to deal with the growing economic problems
of the islands. Government inaction has led to the
formation of the Front for the Liberation of the
Madeiran Archipelago, whose goal is the peaceful
attainment of total independence from Portugal.
The group has access to arms, however, and has
taken credit for the bombing of a national radio
transmitter on Madeira.
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JORDAN-SYRIA
Jordan and Syria announced the forma-
tion of a Supreme Syrian-Jordanian Command
Council, composed of King Husayn and Syr-
ian President Asad, in a communique capping
Husayn's five-day visit to Damascus. The
communiques avoided any mention of a joint
military command. This seems designed to
relieve Israeli and US apprehension that
a military command might be established.
The command council, however, will review
plans for "coordination and integration"
between the two armed forces.
The council is to meet at least once every
three months to act on recommendations of the minis-
terial committee formed in July when Asad visited
Jordan.
The prerogatives of the command council appear
to be sufficiently broad to permit Husayn to keep
his options open and move toward closer military
cooperation at his own pace. The King sees benefits
in closer cooperation with Syria, but he will be
careful not to override the wishes of the Jordanian
army, his major power base. The army, for its part,
remains skeptical of Syrian motives, fearing that
Asad will prevail on the King to allow the fedayeen
to re-establish a presence in Jordan. The pro-
forma treatment of Palestinian aspirations in the
communique may reassure the army for the time being.
The communique lists several other areas in
which the two governments are to work together.
In addition to planning for a "unified foreign
policy," particularly with respect to Arab issues,
the command council will discuss coordination of
economic and social development plans, the formation
of joint economic companies, unification of mar-
kets, and establishment of a unified customs policy.
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INDIA-BANGLADESH
The coup in Bangladesh is a signif-
icant setback for India, but New Delhi
is trying, at least initially, to re-
tain good relations with Dacca rather
than undermine the government of Presi-
dent Mushtaque by military intervention
or other pressure. New Delhi has given
de facto recognition to the new govern-
ment.
New Delhi's primary concern lies in indica-
tions that Dacca's new foreign policy is going to
be far less favorable to India. Indian officials
assume that Dacca will normalize relations with
Pakistan and China, seek closer relations with
Washington, and loosen ties with the USSR, India's
closest ally and one of the earliest supporters of
independent Bangladesh.
Although economic and political problems be-
tween the two nations have grown since India secured
Bangladesh's independence in 1971, the late Presi-
dent Mujib regarded India as his country's closest
ally, and New Delhi was assured of considerable
leverage in Dacca. Now India is faced with the
prospect of a less friendly and possibly even
hostile neighbor--a prospect that is particularly
troubling because some of India's most politically
unstable states border on Bangladesh. New Delhi
is further concerned that Dacca may turn from secu-
larism to an emphasis on Islamic ties, a move that
the Indians fear could lead to persecution of the
Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
India so far has adopted a wait-and-see atti-
tude toward the new government. This caution is
encouraged by evidence of a power struggle in Dacca
between middle-grade officers who led the coup and
senior officers who supported the plotters but now
want to assert their own authority. We have no
indication that India is trying to support any
particular group or individual.
(continued)
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Realizing that India may be tempted to inter-
vene, Bangladesh is trying to assure New Delhi of
its desire for friendly relations. Probably in
response to India's concern, Dacca apparently has
decided against designating Bangladesh an "Islamic
Republic," even though this will disappoint the Is-
lamic countries from which Bangladesh hopes to re-
ceive economic aid.
India, too, is trying to maintain the appear-
ance of normal relations. Its high commissioner
to Dacca has returned to his post and Indian of
deny rumors of a buildup of Indian military
units near the Bangladesh frontier. On Thursday,
Prime Minister Gandhi told Ambassador Saxbe that
the number of Indian units alona the border was,
in fart bpina reduced.
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New Delhi is clearly shaken by events in
Bangladesh, despite the fact that a coup had long
been anticipated by Indian officials. This week,
Foreign Minister Chavan called off a trip to Brazil
in order to deal with the Bangladesh question. A
special session of the Indian parliament that was
to have convened last Monday has been postponed
indefinitely, probably in part because the govern-
ment does not want Communist members of parliament
to make accusations about the coup.
India's Communists have had a field day with
the coup, running many stories in leftist news-
papers accusing the CIA of direct involvement.
As long as New Delhi does not perceive a se-
rious threat from Bangladesh, the chances for In-
dian intervention will decrease. Gandhi would not
shrink from intervention if she considered it in
India's interest, but for the moment the situation
does not seem to call for such action. Her concern
will increase markedly, however, if China establishes
close relations with Dacca.
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ANGOLA
Portuguese Foreign Minister Ruivo
yesterday outlined for Ambassador Car-
lucci his government's latest initiative
for bringing an end to the fighting in
Angola. Ruivo said Portugal is attempt-
ing to renew discussions among Angola's
three liberation groups. He is doubtful
that such talks will "meet with much suc-
cess," but he hopes that the three groups
can be brought into some sort of agree-
ment that will last at least until inde-
pendence, which remains set for November
11.
Basically, the initiative calls for:
--The negotiated withdrawal of all Popular
Movement military forces from Luanda.
--The establishment of an "administrative"
government, with legislative and defense powers
in the hands of a high commissioner and with
the former ministers of the defunct transi-
tional government serving as directors general.
--Notification to the UN that the independence
agreement signed last January between Portugal
and the Angolan liberation groups is suspended.
Portuguese officials already have begun efforts
to sell their proposal to the Angolan liberation
groups and to leaders of neighboring African states.
a Portuguese military del-
egation from Lisbon visited Zambia
to enlist President Kaunda's support for the
plan. The delegation stated that similar approaches
would be made to Zaire, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The commander of the Portuguese air force in
Angola recently told the US consul there that he
has been working to bring together the leaders of
the liberation groups in order to arrange a cease-
fire. So far he has had no success.
There is only a slim chance that Angola's lib-
eration groups will agree to the Portuguese plan.
Although it offers a temporary political solution,
(continued)
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it takes away from the three groups many of the
powers they had under the transitional regime insti-
tuted last January. The Popular Movement is likely
to hold out for the territorial gains it has made.
Even if an "administrative" government should re-
place the transitional arrangement, the liberation
groups will continue to jockey for predominance and
prepare for a resumption of armed struggle after
independence.
Portuguese President Costa Gomes formally re-
quested US assistance yesterday in airlifting at
least 140,000 of the 330,000 refugees who want to
leave Angola. Lisbon has also approached the Brit-
ish and French for help.
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NOTES
The Turkish general staff yesterday established
new procedures which prohibit US air force flights
through Incirlik air base to third countries.
Such flights must now be routed through civil-
ian airports at Istanbul and Ankara. The move ap-
parently is not a new effort to press the US Congress
to lift the arms embargo, but is rather the imple-
mentation of the Turkish government's earlier deci-
sion to restrict operations at Incirlik to NATO-
related activities. Ankara appears willing to await
the result of a new vote by the US Congress on the
arms embargo before taking further action against
the bases.
President Suharto apparently hopes to get ex-
plicit Portuguese support for Indonesian interven-
tion in Timor to restore order.
Jakarta will ask Lisbon to initiate a re-
quest for Indo-
nesian assistance. The Portuguese realize they are
in no position to stop the fighting in Timor. Con-
sequently, they may well give the Indonesian ap-
proach a sympathetic hearing.
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LOA!
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Top Secret
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