THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 OCTOBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014932
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: October 20, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
October 20, 1975
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declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 511(1),(2).(3)
declassified only on aPProxal of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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October 20, 1975
Table of Contents
Lebanon: Sniper fire and kidnapings continued in
Beirut over the weekend, and fighting intensi-
fied last night. (Page 1)
Syria: The Syrians may be attempting to stimulate
apprehension about their military intentions.
(Page 2)
Egypt: President Sadat's speech to the opening ses-
sion of the Egyptian People's Assembly Saturday
night was unique among his recent public pro-
nouncements for its lack of polemics. (Page 4)
USSR-France: Both the French and the Soviets made
determined attempts to present an appearance
of cordiality and accomplishment at the end of
President Giscard's visit to the USSR, but
they could not entirely dispel a sense of
strain. (Page 5)
West Germany:/
/ (Page 6)
Portugal: One of the most militant and most heavily
armed leftist groups has announced that it will
ignore the government's order for all armed
militias to turn in their weapons. (Page 7)
Japan-US: The Japanese are widely interpreting the
Emperor's recent visit to the US as opening an
era of "good feelings? in US-Japanese relations.
(Page 8)
Note: Spain (Page 9)
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LEBANON
Sniper fire and kidnapings continued
in Beirut over the weekend, and fighting
intensified last night.
The US embassy reports that the increase in
violence had not seriously dampened the economic re-
surgence in the capital that began late last week.
Most shops and banks were open on Saturday and most
roads were passable.
The meeting of the political reform subcommit-
tee of the national dialogue committee on Saturday
reportedly was marred by deep differences between
leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt and Phalangist leader
Pierre Jumayyil. Jumayyil is continuing to insist
that security must be restored before reform can be
discussed. The subcommittee is scheduled to meet
again today.
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SYRIA
The Syrians may be attempting to
stimulate apprehension about their mili-
tary intentions.
On Friday, a local news service correspondent
in Damascus told a US embassy official that Israeli
allegations that Syria is evacuating civilians from
the Golan Heights were accurate. The correspondent
also reported that Syria intends to conduct a 48-
hour operation to occupy a piece of Israeli-control-
led territory so that Secretary Kissinger will have
to return to Damascus to negotiate a comprehensive
settlement.
The possibility of a limited Syrian military
action cannot be discounted. Ambassador Murphy com-
ments that a quick thrust into the Golan may be an
option under consideration by the Syrian government.
It is also possible that the story was planted as
part of a Syrian effort to increase pressure on the
US and Israel to refocus a diplomatic effort on the
Golan front.
Meanwhile, President Asad has continued his
verbal assault on the second Sinai disengagement
agreement in a lengthy interview published on Satur-
day in a Kuwaiti newspaper. Reiterating his oppo-
sition to further peace negotiations about the
Golan Heights unless the Palestine Liberation Or-
ganization takes part, the Syrian leader said he
had been offered an opportunity to engage in talks
similar to those in which Egyptian President Sadat
had participated. Asad said he had refused because
the talks were aimed at isolating the Palestinian
problem.
Asad criticized Egypt's anti-Soviet stance as
an attempt to obscure the Palestinian issue by of-
fering Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states the
choice between Egypt and communism. He denied that
Syria and the Palestinians were "chessmen in the
hands of the Soviets" and said Syria had rejected
Moscow's offer of a treaty of peace and friendship.
(continued)
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Asad did not reveal Syrian intentions regard-
ing the renewal of the mandate of the UN force on
the Golan Heights, which expires on November 30.
He noted, however, that the existence of the observer
force was no barrier to Syrian military action. Re-
calling that Syria had insisted that the force be
called an observer rather than an emergency force
like the one in the Sinai, Asad declared that, "when
we decide to wage war, these observers will not be
an obstacle.
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EGYPT
President Sadat's speech to the
opening session of the Egyptian People's
Assembly Saturday night was unique among
his recent public pronouncements for its
Zack of polemics.
In a relatively short address devoted chiefly
to domestic affairs, Sadat avoided any mention of
Syria, spoke matter-of-factly of what Egypt has done
and will continue to do for the Palestinians, and
made only oblique references to the Soviets. All
had come in for heavy criticism in Sadat's recent
speeches.
Sadat briefly mentioned his objection to an
escalation of US arms deliveries to Israel, "es-
pecially with regard to the type of weapon," an ap-
parent reference to the Pershing missile. The
Egyptian leader warned that escalation on one side
is incompatible with the role currently being played
by the US in the Middle East and will be met by es-
calation on Egypt's side. These remarks were made
as much to please his Arab audience as to signal the
US that he will seek arms for Egypt when he visits
Washington next week.
On the subject of Lebanon, Sadat said that a
catastrophe there now could be even worse than the
"Palestine catastrophe in 1948." Although he did
not elaborate, Sadat seemed to be saying that con-
tinued strife in Lebanon could ultimately impadt on
broader Arab-Israeli issues and result in the loss
of all the Arabs have gained in recent years. In a
reference that could have been directed equally at
Arabs, Israelis, and the superpowers, he urged that
all outside powers keep hands off Lebanon.
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USSR-FRANCE
Both the French and the Soviets
made determined attempts to present an
appearance of cordiality and accomplish-
ment at the end of President Giscard's
visit to the USSR, but they could not
entirely dispel a sense of strain.
The two leaders signed a brief formal communi-
que' and a longer declaration of friendship. They
stressed the importance of summit meetings and agreed
to hold them on a "periodic basis," which may go a
short distance toward formalizing the annual exchange
that now exists. The French endorsed the Soviet pro-
posal to convene a world disarmament conference,
which they probably regarded as a painless gesture.
The declaration, however, makes no mention of the
European force reduction talks, which the French
have refused to join.
Some mystery remains about the abrupt change in
Giscard's schedule, in which the Soviets postponed
his scheduled talks with Brezhnev and related minis-
terial meetings from Wednesday to Friday and substi-
tuted tourist activities that had been planned for
Friday. A short and probably nonsubstantive meeting
between the two leaders that was supposed to have
taken place on Saturday was canceled.
Brezhnev told newsmen that he had a cold that
necessitated the scheduling switch. At the airport
sendoff for Giscard(
/the Soviet leader's over-
all mood was jovial. On Friday night, French Foreign
Minister Sauvagnargues was anxious to put to rest
rumors of "blow-ups" or "snubs" and attributed the
postponement entirely to Brezhnev's cold.
Despite these denials, some hints of disagree-
ment remain. At a news conference, Giscard said that
there was a "difference" but not a "contradiction"
between the two leaders' positions. Such differ-
ences are genuine but long-standing, and it is un-
likely that the two leaders would have permitted
them to disrupt a relationship in which much depends
on appearances.
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WEST GERMANY
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PORTUGAL
One of the most militant and most
heavily armed groups on the extreme left
has announced that it will ignore the
government's directive of last Friday
giving all armed militias eight days to
turn in their weapons.
The spokesman for the group--the Revolutionary
Party of the Protelariat - Revolutionary Brigades--
said the government lacks the strength to enforce
its directive and that if there is a showdown the
government will lose. The leader of the group,
Isobel do Carmo, reportedly has close ties with
security forces chief Otelo de Carvalho.
So far, this is the only public reaction to
the government's new directive. Other leftist
groups, including those supported by the Communist
Party, are likely to resist the directive. This,
of course, will be one more serious challenge to
a government already beset with continuing military
indiscipline and a deteriorating economy.
Conservatives, meanwhile, staged a successful
mass rally in Porto on Saturday. Leaders of the
Social Democratic Center told a crowd of some
15,000 that they are ready to support the present
government if it can maintain public order and re-
store military discipline.
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JAPAN-US
The Japanese are widely interpreting
the Emperor's recently concluded visit to
the US as opening an era of "good feelings"
in US-Japanese relations. The visit con-
tributed significantly to popular support
for continued cooperation with the US and
reconfirmed at the highest level the fun-
damental strength of the bilateral rela-
tionship.
Prior to the visit, many Japanese had grave
doubts about the image the Emperor would project and
about how well he would be received. The reception
and US media coverage, however, greatly exceeded even
the most optimistic Japanese expectations. As far as
most Japanese are concerned, the visit removed any
lingering doubts that Americans still harbor hostile
feelings toward Japan as a result of World War II.
The timing of the imperial visit contributed to
its success. The present absence of major problems
between the two countries, Secretary Kissinger's
widely publicized speech on the importance of US-
Japanese relations, and Secretary Schlesinger's
well-received visit have served to focus Japanese
public attention on the strength of the bilateral
relationship.
In addition, recent efforts by Japan's opposi-
tion parties, except for the Communists, to open
avenues of communications with the US have received
broad coverage in the Japanese media. The Japan
Socialist Party, the major opposition party, recently
sent a delegation to the US to exchange views with
US officials--the first such visit in 18 years.
Some of the present euphoria will eventually
subside.,/
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NOTE
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