THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 22 DECEMBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014985
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 22, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
December 22, 1975,
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of EO. 11652
exemption category 5B(1),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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December 22, 1975
Table of Contents
Lebanon: Syrian army Chief of Staff Shihabi's two
days of talks with Lebanese and Palestinian
leaders in Beirut and his praise for right-
wing Phalanges Party leader Jumayyil have
raised speculation that the trip was designed
to press leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt to co-
operate with Prime Minister Karami. (Page 1)
Egypt - Saudi Arabia - Lebanon: Egypt and Saudi
Arabia apparently are planning a more active
joint effort to mediate in Lebanon. (Page 3)
Angola: Forces of the National Front and the Na-
tional Union are continuing to make gains in
the central and eastern part of the country.
(Page 6)
USSR-Angola: Moscow is continuing its propaganda
campaign against the US on the Angolan issue.
(Page 7)
Notes: Argentina; Austria (Page 8)
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_
LEBANON
Syrian army Chief of Staff Shihabi's
two days of talks with Lebanese and Pal-
estinian leaders in Beirut and his praise
for right-wing Phalanges Party leader
Jumayyil have raised speculation that the
trip was designed to press leftist leader
Kamal Jumblatt to cooperate with Prime
Minister Karami.
On Friday, Jumblatt said publicly that Leba-
non is "at the beginning" of a political settle-
ment that could take two or three months to imple-
ment. Although it was ambiguous, this was his most
optimistic statement in several weeks.
Jumblatt so far has resisted the temptation
to blame Lebanese Christians directly for the
assassination of Tripoli Governor Qassim Al Imad
on Saturday. Al Imad generally shared Jumblatt's
leftist views and like Jumblatt was a member of
the Druze sect.
For the present, Druze, Muslim, and Christian
leaders are united in blaming the slaying on un-
identified individuals seeking to perpetuate the
fighting. Interior Minister Shamun claims to have
evidence that radicals who in the past have used
sniping attacks to spark a resumption of general
hostilities are now preparing a series of politi-
cal assassinations.
The Syrians may be trying to persuade Jumblatt
to endorse the terms of an agreement worked out
when Jumayyil visited Damascus early this month.
That plan reportedly provides for:
--Implementation of an effective cease-fire.
--Expansion of the cabinet to include repre-
sentatives of Jumayyil and Jumblatt.
--Agreement to minor, largely cosmetic re-
forms while President Franjiyah is in office.
--Negotiations on more fundamental reforms
after a new president is elected in August
1976.
(continued)
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Lebanese Christians probably would accept these
proposals on the theory that they would bring imme-
diate peace, and allow time to qualify or back away
from the pledge to negotiate fundamental changes in
the country's system of government.
Jumblatt and other leftists are reluctant to
give up anything in return for mere promises of re-
form. They too have suffered heavy casualties in
the fighting this year, however, and now may be con-
vinced that Franjiyah is not likely to resign or
make significant concessions before his term expires.
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EGYPT - SAUDI ARABIA - LEBANON
Egypt and Saudi Arabia apparently are
planning a more active joint effort to me-
diate in Lebanon. They are apprehensive
about the growing power and questionable
intentions of the Lebanese radicals and
the Syrians in the dispute.
The
Egyptians have been pressing the Saudis to take the
lead in negotiations since Crown Prince Fahd's visit
to Cairo early this month.
More active Saudi mediation would be welcomed
by the Lebanese. It would be tolerated by the Syr-
ians, who are still angry with the Egyptians over
the second Sinai agreement, and would work to under-
cut a direct Egyptian initiative. A Christian mem-
ber of the Lebanese cabinet told Ambassador Godley
on Friday that Fahd was the only person who could
mediate the Lebanese problem.
In late November, high-level Saudi officials
were promoting an Arab summit as offering the best
hope for ending the fighting in Lebanon. Khalid
may propose such a meeting during his talks in Da-
mascus or he may endorse the recent call by Iran
for a special meeting of the Islamic foreign min-
isters.
Cairo and Riyadh
realize that they would have
only limited ability to influence the decisions of
such a group. Damascus, which is always reluctant
to see its own influence in Lebanon diluted, has
not yet replied, but President Asad presumably
will offer his views during a visit to Tehran
scheduled for December 28.
The Lebanese government has welcomed the Ira-
nian proposal. Lebanese leaders have found in
the past that any regional meeting focused on Lebanon
(continued)
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tends to buy time by relieving domestic pressures
on them. In addition, such meetings have always
been accepted by the other Arabs as substitutes for
more dramatic remedies, such as Arab military inter-
vention in Lebanon.
Cairo and Riyadh apparently intend that their
planned diplomatic initiative should substitute for
serious consideration of any Arab military move at
this time. Leaders of both countries, however, have
at different times observed military
action might be required if the situation in Beirut
should deteriorate sharply.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud said in November
that a pan-Arab force could provide a solution if
it were invited in by the principal parties to the
Lebanese dis ute.
Some of the less radical Arab states might tac-
itly approve an Egyptian move to prevent the upset
of Lebanon's traditional governing system, but few
would be willing to risk Syrian and Palestinian con-
demnation by offering public support.
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ATLANTIC
OCEA N
166'?gue/a Ra'
7Lucusse
SOU -WEST AFRICA
(Interna -onel Territory)
STATUTE MILES
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ANGOLA
Forces of the National Front and
National Union are continuing to make
gains against the Popular Movement in
the central and eastern part of the
country.
A National Union force, which had advanced to
within 14 miles of Quibala, has beaten back a Popu-
lar Movement counterattack, reportedly led by three
Soviet-built T-34 tanks. The National Union claims
to have destroyed one of the vehicles and driven
off the rest. A separate, combined National Front -
National Union force is moving on Quibala from the
south.
National Union forces in the east have initi-
ated a drive south and east of Luso to clear out
Popular Movement troops that moved into the area
earlier this month. If the clearing action is suc-
cessful, the National Union will be able to open
a road from Luso through Lucusse to the Zambian
border. North of Luso, the Popular Movement has
fallen back to positions along the Cassai River,
and has destroyed a number of bridges to block the
National Union advance toward Henrique de Carvalho.
North of Luanda, the Popular Movement remains
bogged down some 50 miles south of Ambriz, the
National Front's headquarters. The Popular Move-
ment forces appear to be building up defensive
positions in the area and are erecting earthen by-
passes to replace destroyed bridges.
The Nigerian government, meanwhile, publicly
has announced its decision to give $20 million to
the Popular Movement. The announcement capped a
visit to Lagos by the Luanda "government's" Prime
Minister, Lopo de Nascimento.
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USSR-ANGOLA
Moscow is continuing its propaganda
campaign against the US on the issue of
Angola.
Soviet media are giving heavy play to US Con-
gressional deliberations on Angola and focusing
particular attention on US news stories expressing
concern that Washington might be drawn into another
Vietnam situation. The media predictably have ap-
plauded the Senate's decision to block US aid to
the Angolan factions opposed to the Popular Move-
ment.
Reaction in the Soviet media to your weekend
public statements on Angola has been sparse. Radio
Moscow called your remarks on Soviet policy toward
Angola "unfriendly" and avoided comment on your
references to Cuban activity.
Recent Soviet commentaries have also blasted
the Chinese for "teaming up with the most rabid
forces of international reaction" in Angola and for
allegedly providing "massive" military and finan-
cial assistance to "pro-imperialist, pro-racist
forces" operating there. For its part, Peking, in
a People's Daily article last Friday, denounced the
Soviets as "outrageous meddlers" in Angola, bent on
undermining African unity and plundering the con-
tinent's vast strategic resources.
Despite Moscow's harsh rhetoric on Angola,
there may be some flexibility in the Soviet posi-
tion. Last Friday, a Pravda article signed by
"Observer"--indicating top-level Kremlin endorse-
ment--spoke in positive terms of the UN and Organ-
ization of African Unity deliberations on Angola.
The article seemed to imply that Moscow now may
place more importance on African participation in
a negotiated solution of the conflict.
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NOTES
The rebellion of dissident Argentine air force
officers calling for the ouster of President Maria
Estela Peron is apparently all but over. Peron re-
mains in office for the moment, but her hold is ten-
uous at best.
The air force rebels failed in their repeated
attempts to enlist the support of the other serv-
ices. At no time was the position of the rebels
very strong. The move apparently surprised most
other officers
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The six terrorists who yesterday seized numer-
ous hostages, including 11 ministers, at the head-
quarters of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries in Austria are probably linked to radical
Palestinian groups.
They apparently acted in an effort to drama-
tize their opposition to any Arab accommodation
with Israel. A statement issued by the group at-
tacked the US, Iran, Egyptian President Sadat, and
Arab-Israeli negotiations. It specifically called
for renunciation of the Sinai agreement between
Israel and Egypt and denounced attempts to involve
the Palestinians in Middle East peace negotiations.
The terrorists have not yet been identified.
A spokesman for the radical Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine has denied that his group
is involved in the Vienna attack. The Palestine
Liberation Organization, headed by Yasir Arafat,
has similarly disclaimed any responsibility for the
incident.
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Top Secret
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