THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 22 NOVEMBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014961
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 22, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
November 22, 1975
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Exempt from general
declauification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category5B( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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November 22, 1975
Table of Contents
Portugal: The all-military Revolutionary Council
has laid the groundwork for a compromise solu-
tion to the government impasse. (Page 1)
PLO-Syria-Egypt:
(Page 2)
Lebanon: Three days of fighting in the Beirut sub-
urbs threatens to draw the large Christian and
Muslim militias into sustained clashes.
(Page 4)
Spain: Juan Carlos was sworn in and proclaimed
King of Spain today. (Page 5)
Angola: Forces of the Popular Movement for the
Liberation of Angola reportedly have launched
an offensive aimed at easing pressure on the
Movement's forces in central Angola. (Page 8)
Notes: Israel-Syria; Turkey; India; Zaire-Israel
(Pages 9 and 10)
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PORTUGAL
The all-military Revolutionary Coun-
cil has laid the groundwork for a compro-
mise solution to the government impasse.
At a meeting called to discuss the government's
refusal to carry out its activities, the council:
--Criticized the government's action and in-
structed Prime Minister Azevedo to ensure the
normal functioning of the government until a
solution is found.
--Called for immediate talks with the political
parties to find a common platform which could
involve "remodeling" the government.
--Named Vasco Lourenco, a leader of the anti-
Communist Melo Antunes group, to replace ex-
treme leftist Otelo de Carvalho as commander
of the Lisbon Military Region.
--Dissolved the special "military interven-
tion force" which was set up to enforce the
authority of the government.
The replacement of Carvalho--which President
Costa Gomes apparently has postponed at least un-
til Monday--would clearly be a victory for the
anti-Communist ruling group. If Lourenco remains
as commander of the Lisbon region, the country's
four military regions will be headed by officers
loyal to the government.
The council's other decisions seemed to indi-
cate that the Antunes group--which has a majority
on the council--has backed away from strong support
of the cabinet. The cabinet is composed of Social-
ists, center-left Popular Democrats, anti-Communist
military officers, and one Communist.
The council's criticism of the government's
suspension of its activities is puzzling, since the
Antunes group--with the Socialists--reportedly in-
stigated the move./
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PLO?SYRIA?EGYPT
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LEBANON
Three days of fighting in the Beirut
suburbs threatens to draw the large Chris-
tian and Muslim militias into sustained
clashes. Renewed clashes of undetermined
severity are also occurring in the Trip-
oli-Zagharta area of northern Lebanon.
The government's 300-man "shock force" created
early in the week has begun patrolling Beirut. The
force will be of little use in halting shooting in
the suburbs, however, since it was designed primarily
to apprehend snipers and stop firefights in the
city center.
Leaders of the Christian militias doubt that
the political negotiations will result in any
compromises on important issues. Interior Min-
ister Shamun's National Liberal Party has nearly
despaired of making progress in private talks with
the Palestinians.
Officials of Pierre Jumayyil's Phalanges Party
are also increasingly pessimistic. They do not be-
lieve Lebanese leftists will negotiate seriously
and are resolved not to give in to Muslim demands.
The Phalangist militia--like the several Muslim
and leftist groups--continues to rearm in prepara-
tion for possible new fighting.
Leftist politicians are apprehensive at Kara-
mi's recent moves to by-pass the national dialogue
committee--where the left is dominant--in favor of
negotiating reforms personally with President Fran-
jiyah. Socialist leader Kamal Jumblatt, although
continuing to support Karami as prime minister,
held a press conference late this week at which he
repeated his preference for working through the
committee and reiterated his call for electoral
reform.
French mediator Couve de Murville arrived in
Beirut on Wednesday. He is engaged in a round of
consultations with all major Lebanese and Palestin-
ian political and religious leaders.
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SPAIN
Juan Carlos was sworn
in and proclaimed King of
Spain early today. He be-
comes Spain's first ruling
monarch since his grand-
father, Alfonso XIII, fled
the country in 1931.
Franco's funeral will
be held on Sunday. Another
religious ceremony and pal-
ace reception in honor of
the new King and Queen are
planned for November 26.
Personally designated and groomed by Franco,
the 37-year-old Juan Carlos in public maintained a
studiously correct deference toward the general and
Francoism. Juan Carlos was careful to give Franco,
who until the very end could always have named some-
one else as successor, no excuse for displeasure.
Privately, however, Juan Carlos has over the
past few years confided to leading Spanish reform-
ers and visiting dignitaries from Western Europe
and the US that he would like one day to liberal-
ize Spanish institutions. He has made clear that
he intends to be an active chief of state and to
resist firmly any attempts to turn him into a
figurehead.
Constitutional Power
The constitution suggests that the prime min-
ister will be the most powerful man in the new
government. Much, of course, will depend on the
personalities involved. There is enough leeway in
the law to allow a strong chief of state to exer-
cise significant power.
Under the constitution, the chief of state:
--Commands the armed forces, although the
King's command will probably be only symbolic.
--Presides over the cabinet.
--Approves and promulgates laws and provides
for their execution.
(continued)
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--Acts as final arbitrator in disputes between
high government bodies like the cabinet, the
legislature, and the judiciary.
--Dismisses prime ministers with the approval
of the 17-man advisory Council of the Realm.
--Chooses a prime minister from a slate of
three selected by the Council of the Realm.
These powers are, however, restricted by a
requirement that all official acts of the chief of
state be approved by one of four persons: the
prime minister, the president of the Parliament,
the president of the Council of the Realm, or the
minister whose office is involved in the decision.
Personal Goals
Juan Carlos has said he recognizes that Spain
needs a more representative government, and he
knows it is urgent for him to demonstrate his own
support for a more liberal system. He believes
that if the monarchy is to work in post-Franco
Spain, he must show it is an effective agent of so-
cial change and political stability.
Juan Carlos has pointed out, however, that
this cannot be done overnight and that he must take
into account what would be acceptable to the mili-
tary, which will be his main support. He has cul-
tivated his relations with the military.
There is little enthusiasm in Spain for Juan
Carlos or the monarchy, but there is a widespread
disposition to support him for lack of an alterna-
tive. If he succeeds in preserving order while
gradually opening up the political process, he
will gain more acceptance. The task will be diffi-
cult and we are far from certain that he has the
ability to deal with it.
Leaders of the leftist opposition have inti-
mated that they are disposed to give the new King
a period of grace. Any such grace period is likely
to be short, and if change does not come quickly,
the left is likely to turn against him.
(continued)
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A Good Reputation
Though quiet-mannered and rather diffident in
public, in private he has what Spaniards call "the
Borbon charm"--informal, friendly, and bluff. He
is articulate, inquisitive, and well-informed.
Juan Carlos is physically vigorous and an ac-
complished athlete. A competent linguist, he-speaks
English, Portuguese, French, and Italian, in addi-
tion to his native Spanish.
He has been married since 1962 to Princess
Sophia of Greece, the elder daughter of the late
King Paul and Queen Frederika and the sister of
deposed King Constantine II.
Since his marriage, Juan Carlos seems to have
gained confidence in himself. Sophia has provided
emotional support and seems to
be a positive influence.
Juan Carlos and Sophia have a son and two
daughters. The son will be next in line for the
crown.
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ANGOLA
Forces of the Popular Movement for
the Liberation of Angola reportedly have
advanced to within 65 miles of Luso, a
key town astride the Benguela railroad
that was captured by the National Union
for the Total Independence of Angola in
September.
The attacking force, supported by armored cars,
moved out toward Luso several days ago from Henrique
de Carvalho, the easternmost stronghold of the Pop-
ular Movement. The offensive presumably is intended
to ease pressure on the Movement's forces in central
Angola where the National Front has recently scored
important gains.
Nigerian leaders feel they can no
longer ignore the support South Africa is giving
the National Union. They also regard the Front as
little more than a puppet of Zairian President
Mobutu, who they believe wants to annex Cabinda.
Lagos' distrust of Mobutu derives partly from Zai-
rian-Nigerian competition for leadership of
Africa.
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Beirut
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NOTES
Israel is likely to interpret the fedayeen at-
tack on an Israeli settlement Thursday in the south-
ern Golan Heights as part of Syria's effort to in-
crease tension as the expiration date of the UN
forces' mandate approaches.
The terrorists, who said they were from a
Syrian-based unit of Yasir Arafat's Fatah, got back
to Syria after killing three Israelis and wounding
another. Israeli retaliation is more likely to be
in Lebanon than in Syria. The Israelis will tighten
security measures on the Golan, however, and initi-
ate more aggressive patrolling of the disengagement
line. Such activities could increase the risk of
clashes with Syrian troops along the UN buffer zone.
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(continued)
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.1\1_,JA1-,1_,./. 11 J. V./ ILL.,
Criticism of the US by Indian Prime Minister
Gandhi and other top officials, which had quieted
for some time, resumed in mid-November.
In remarks directed primarily at the US, Gandhi
spoke out several times last week against "some
countries" which, she said, have complained about
setbacks to democracy in India while working in
other countries to overthrow democratic governments
and support authoritarianism. Foreign Minister
Chavan has warned of dangers posed by "imperialists
and their agents." A leftist newspaper that sup-
ports Gandhi's Congress Party last week accused
the US ambassador in Dacca of playing a "signifi-
cant role" in the coups there.
The US embassy in New Delhi states that some
of the reasons for the renewed criticism could be
suspicion that the US was involved in recent events
in Bangladesh--or the need to claim foreign involve-
ment to justify India's possible intervention some-
time in the future; unhappiness over American crit-
icism of Gandhi's domestic policy; and the need of
some kind of jolt to reinvigorate domestic support
for the state of emergency.
Zairian President Mobutu reportedly foresees a
resumption in diplomatic relations with Israel some-
time after the first of the year.
Mobutu broke relations with Israel in October
1973, just two days before the outbreak of the Arab-
Israeli war. Since then he has become disillusioned
with the failure of the Arab states to offer Zaire
and other African countries any significant finan-
cial assistance, particularly concessions in oil
prices, in return for African support. The Central
African Republic reportedly also plans to renew
diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv sometime in the
coming months.
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Top Secret
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