THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 OCTOBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014921
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: October 7, 1975

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
The President's Daily Brief
October 7, 1975
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I 1652
exemption category 5B( I ),(2)A3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
October 7, 1975
Table of Contents
USSR: Premier Kosygin and oreign Minister Gromyko
have expressed themselves recently on the sta-
tus/ of Soviet-US relations. (Page 1)
Syria: President Asad has linked progress on Golan
Heights negotiations with a demand for concur-
rent talks on the Palestinian problem. (Page 3)
Portugal: The Communists are now supporting a re-
bellious military unit against the government,
possibly foreshadowing the party's withdrawal
from the cabinet. (Page 4)
Notes: Morocco - Spanish Sahara; West Germany
; Yugoslavia-China-USSR (Pages 5 and 6)
25X1
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
Soviet Premier Kosygin and Foreign
Minister Gromyko have expressed themselves
recently on the status of relations with
the US. An article by Gromyko appeared
in the current issue of the party's the-
oretical journal Kommunist and probably
is a warm-up for the coming party con-
gress. Kosygin's remarks were made dur-
ing meetings last week with Sargent
Shriver and Guy ford Stever.
Gromyko touches most of the bases in his article
regarding relations with the US, including a favor-
able reference to General Secretary Brezhnev's coming
visit to Washington. Gromyko, however, seems to give
somewhat greater weight to negative aspects of US-
Soviet ties. He refers to the fact that trade rela-
tions are still not normal, and goes on to voice un-
certainty about whether the "circles" that determine
US policy will be able to get economic relations with
the USSR squared away. Gromyko also introduces a new
theme in claiming that US-Soviet relations are being
complicated by the "notorious" actions of the US in
"some" parts of the world.
The Soviet foreign minister says that the USSR
will continue to follow the line of improving Soviet-
US relations, but hastens to add that, as before, the
USSR will not waive its legitimate interests or those
of its allies and friends. The sharp thrust to Gro-
myko's remarks seems to be designed to tell the party
faithful that the Soviet Union is still tough and
vigilant.
Kosygin, meanwhile, told Sargent Shriver last
week that over the next five years the USSR, in addi-
tion to grain purchases, hopes to raise the level of
trade with the US to an average of $2 billion annu-
ally. Kosygin expressed willingness to conclude 5,
10, or 15 year trade agreements with the US on both
grain and oil, although he criticized as outmoded any
direct linkage between the two commodities. He said
the USSR is interested in obtaining $3 billion in
Eurodollar credits over the next five years to fi-
nance expansion of oil and gas production.
(continued)
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Kosygin also endorsed an increase in scientific
and technological exchanges, a subject to which he
returned the following day in a conversation with
Guyford Stever, who was in Moscow to help chair the
fourth session of the joint commission for scien-
tific and technical cooperation. The Soviet premier
stressed that the time had come to proceed to spe-
cific joint research and development programs. He
suggested the US and USSR select two or three large
projects to demonstrate to the public the tangible
benefits of bilateral cooperation. He assured Stever
that the Soviet government would be willing to allo-
cate the necessary resources, observing that a few
such projects would be useful in building trust between
the two nations. His proposals included joint con-
struction of advanced metallurgical plants and hos-
pitals, and joint solution of a transportation problem
in each country.
Kosygin frequently has spoken on behalf of
greater East-West economic cooperation. His reit-
eration of this theme at this time implies that the
USSR intends to continue to pursue a foreign policy
compatible with expanded scientific, technical, and
economic cooperation, despite a variety of bilateral
problems.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T009364012800010032-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SYRIA
President Asad, in another sharp at-
tack on the Sinai agreement, asserted yes-
terday that Syria would not engage in any
further negotiations for a Golan Heights
accord unless concurrent negotiations on
the Palestinian question are held with
the Palestine Liberation Organization.
This appears to represent a serious change
in Syria's negotiating position and all
but rules out any chance of the US get-
ting talks going soon between Syria and
Israel.
Syrian propaganda attacks on the Sinai accord
over the past week have been leading toward this
shift. Syrian officials
indicated that Syria was no longer in
any hurry to recover a few more kilometers on the
Heights, and needs something for the Palestinians
as well before an agreement with Israel can be po-
litically acceptable.
This is the first time, however, that Asad has
insisted in public on a direct link between Syrian-
Israeli negotiations and the Palestinian problem.
Indeed, it marks a sharp change from early last
month when the Syrians were telling US officials in
Damascus to disregard Syrian criticism of the Egyp-
tian-Israeli agreement because these attacks were
largely for domestic consumption.
It is not clear what triggered Asad's about-
face. He may have concluded from Foreign Minister
Khaddam's talks with Secretary Kissinger last week
in New York that there is no hope of rapid progress
in negotiations. Asad may, therefore, believe he
cannot ?afford to settle for what the Israelis are
willing to offer without suffering acute public em-
barrassment and strong attacks from the Iraqis and
his domestic opponents.
It is not certain what position Damascus will
now take toward the renewal of the mandate of the
UN forces on the Golan Heights, which expires on
November 30. Asad may still find some way of ra-
tionalizing an extension of the mandate in order to
allow the US more time to deal with the Palestinian
issue. In the meantime, Syria is likely to redouble
its efforts to obtain the support of other Arabs
for its negotiating position.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGAL
A Communist Party decision to sup-
port a rebellious left-wing military
unit in Lisbon could foreshadow the
party's withdrawal from the government.
The Communists apparently believe that
the political tide in Lisbon is turn-
ing against Azevedo and his Socialist-
dominated government and they want to
improve their relations with the left-
wing extremists who oppose him.
The Communists and extreme leftists have co-
operated occasionally in the past, but the leftist
fringe groups have generally sharply criticized the
Communists for their willingness to work with the
new government. Until now, the Communists have
taken a neutral position in the government's strug-
gle with the extremists in order to avoid an open
break with the newly formed Azevedo government.
Communist-controlled unions have called a strike of
250,000 steel workers for today, apparently in sup-
port of the rebellious troops.
President Costa Gomes, who returned from his
state visit to Moscow on Sunday, is apparently sup-
porting Azevedo's strong actions to reassert mili-
tary
I Azevedo has had only limited success
in his efforts to form a loyal military intervention
force that could counterbalance General Carvalho's
internal security command.
In Lisbon 10,000 demonstrators, including
about 1,000 soldiers and sailors from several left-
ist units in the capital region, responded last
night to the Communist-backed appeal to show sup-
port for the Lisbon Light Artillery Regiment's de-
fiance of the government attempts to bring it to
heel. The rebellious artillerymen have mounted
anti-tank and machine guns outside their barracks,
claiming that government leaders are trying to
"annihilate" the regiment.
Thousands also demonstrated in Porto last night
to protest the government's decision Saturday to
disband a military transportation unit there. The
demonstration in Porto--where there have been al-
most continuous disturbances since Saturday--was
preceded by a rally in support of the government
by about 5,000 people, led by the centrist Popular
Democratic Party. The Popular Democrats, along
with the Socialists, have called for another rally
in Porto today.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010032-0
309
558618 10-75
MILES
SPAIN
Madrid?
CANARY ISLANDS v
,r4Ta aya
El Aaicin
SPANISH
SAHARA
Rabat
FRANCE
Algiers
ITALY
MAURITANIA
Nouakchott