THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 22 SEPTEMBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014909
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 22, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
September 22, 1975
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010020-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010020-3
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption categoix5811),(25.(3)
declassified only on ti0Prov., of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010020-3
'Th
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
September 22, 1975
Table of Contents
Portugal: The new government is expected to con-
centrate on establishing a pro-Western foreign
policy, trying to retard further economic de-
terioration, and planning for new elections in
February. (Page 1)
Lebanon: Fighting slackened considerably yesterday
as the truce announced Saturday night slowly
took hold. (Page 2)
Note: Angola (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGAL
The new government, according to the
US embassy in Lisbon, is expected to con-
centrate on establishing a pro-Western
foreign policy, trying to retard further
economic deterioration, and planning for
local, national assembly, and presidential
elections. Socialist leader Soares has
told an embassy officer that Prime Minis-
ter Azevedo has promised to hold all of
these elections in February. The govern-
ment will also work to reduce Communist
influence in the media and in labor or-
ganizations.
Foreign Minister Antunes--who formerly favored
ties with the Third World--now apparently sees a
need for strong relations with Western Europe. He
and Foreign Trade Minister Campinos, a Socialist,
are expected to make approaches shortly toward ar-
ranging economic assistance programs for Portugal
from Western Europe and the US.
The new economic team--dominated by Socialists--
will try to regain control over the economy and
repair the damage done by the radical initiatives
of the Goncalves regime. The government is unlikely
to rescind the nationalization and agrarian reform
measures already in effect, but it will attempt to
consolidate and organize the companies and lands
that now belong to the government.
The Communists' reluctant acceptance of the
new cabinet is not shared by extreme left-wing or-
ganizations. These groups have been critical of
all governments since the military coup, but their
distrust of a Socialist-dominated cabinet may now
lead to a wave of terrorist activity.
Right-wing exile groups probably pose a more
serious threat to the new government. One of them,
the Portuguese Liberation Army, has claimed respon-
sibility for the bombing yesterday of a navy build-
ing where Prime Minister Azevedo was staying. The
group is based in Spain and connected
with former president Spinola.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LEBANON
Fighting in Lebanon slackened consid-
erably yesterday as the truce announced
Saturday night slowly took hold. Scattered
skirmishing and sporadic sniper fire con-
tinue in certain suburbs of Beirut, how-
ever, preventing the reopening of some
major roads out of the city. A dusk-to-
dawn curfew remains in effect.
The truce reportedly is part of a two-stage
agreement hammered out Saturday by Lebanese and
Palestinian leaders in discussions with Syrian
Foreign Minister Khaddam and Chief of Staff Shihabi.
The second stage provides that all parties to the
conflict participate in "national reconciliation"
talks that will include discussions on expansion
of the cabinet, social and political demands of
Lebanese leftists, and possibly Lebanese-Palestinian
relations.
Khaddam and Shihabi, who are being given most
of the credit for the reduced fighting, continued
their discussions yesterday with the Palestinians
and Lebanese political and religious leaders, pre-
sumably in an effort to firm up the truce agreement.
The US embassy in Beirut reports there is consider-
able skepticism that any real progress can be made
in reconciliation talks, given the intractable
issues involved.
Possibly playing a role in convincing all sides
to cool things off is the fear in Lebanon of more
substantial outside intervention. The embassy re-
ports that Khaddam's offer to provide Syrian forces
to patrol Beirut brought home to the Lebanese the
gravity of their unstable internal situation. Fur-
ther unnerving the Lebanese was the warning over
the weekend from Israeli Foreign Minister Allon that
Syria should not assume it has a free hand to in-
tervene. Allon's warning--and his threat that if
Damascus should intervene Tel Aviv might feel con-
strained to follow suit--have received extensive
coverage in the Beirut press.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
A combined force of the National Front for
the Liberation of Angola and Zairian troops re-
captured Caxito this weekend.
The Front was driven from Caxito in a major
setback two weeks ago by the Popular Movement for
the Liberation of Angola. Even if the Front main-
tains control of Caxito, it will have to put much
more military pressure on the Popular Movement to
make credible its claim to be a major military and
political force in Angola.
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Top Secret
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