THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 MARCH 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015063
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 24, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
March 24, 1976
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 58( 11,(2),(3)
declassified ?MY on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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March 24, 1976
Table of Contents
Argentina: The long-expected armed forces coup
against President Peron took place early this
morning. (Page 1)
Lebanon: Syria has persuaded the Phalangists and
some Muslim leaders to agree to a cease-fire,
but leftist leader Jumblatt has not accepted
the agreement. (Page 2)
USSR: The Soviets are telling their domestic audi-
ence of Washington's dissatisfaction with some
of Moscow's foreign policy moves and the ad-
verse effect on Soviet-US relations. (Page 4)
Portugal: The Revolutionary Council met yesterday
to discuss postponing legislative elections,
now scheduled for April 25. (Page 5)
USSR: The Soviet Union continues to grapple with
the problems posed by the independent-minded
Western Communist parties. (Page 6)
Notes: China-Laos; Egypt; Rhodesia (Pages 7 and 8)
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ARGENTINA
The armed forces early this morning
put the finishing touches on their long-
expected coup against President Maria
Estela Peron, who is now under detention.
A junta composed of the three service
chiefs and probably led by army commander
in chief General Jorge Rafael VideZa is
to assume executive authority.
The armed forces moved methodically to estab-
lish their control, deploying troops along major
roads and occupying provincial cities. Late last
night troops were patrolling the streets of Buenos
Aires. Most Argentines had long since come to re-
gard Peron's ouster as inevitable, and the US em-
bassy reported last night that civilian activity
in the capital was normal indicating no great con-
cern over the coup.
The new government inherits a deteriorated
economy, widespread terrorist violence, and monu-
mental political divisions. There are significant
differences within the military over how to solve
these problems.
The bulk of the officers seem to favor a mar-
ket economy that can attract foreign investment,
but some apparently advocate more nationalist eco-
nomic policies. Videla and those close to him are
thought to favor relatively limited restrictions
on political activity. The very magnitude of the
nation's problems, however, could strengthen the
arguments of those officers who believe that far
stricter controls on national life are needed.
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Beirut and Vicinity
As
Sub ayla
Ad Dubayyah
Mediterranean Sea
Antilyas
Beirut
..Ar Rabiyah
lanai 4:3
Shatiwan
??
Juda
Ydati
Brummana
Babdat
furiyah
Nab,
Al
Hadat
en fiat
As
Shuwayf
.Khaldah
Alayh
Bhamdun
Aramun
Say sur
MEDITERRANEAN
Tripoli
.Zagharta
Lebanon
.Zahla
Kafr
Matta
Syria
Damascus
0 MILES 20
Dayr al Qamar
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LEBANON
Syrian mediators reportedly per-
suaded the Christian PhaZangists and
leaders of some Muslim forces to agree
to a cease-fire late yesterday, but left-
ist leader Kamal Jumblatt apparently has
not accepted the agreement. The Syrians
suspect that Jumblatt is trying to under-
mine their peace effort, and Damascus
may decide it must send more Syrian
troops into Lebanon.
The US defense attache in Damascus believes
the Syrians may be making contingency preparations
to intervene in Lebanon on a large scale. He feels
that an intervention force might involve any one of
Syria's five regular divisions or a task force of
units from several divisions. Damascus also might
use "defense" companies that are organized and
equipped along regular military lines, but the
attache considers this less likely.
Some 2,000-3,000 Syrian regulars are already
in Lebanon, integrated into units of the Palestine
Liberation Army and the Saiqa fedayeen. These
forces are restraining rebel Muslim army troops led
by Lieutenant Khatib at Khaldah, south of Beirut,
and forces headed by Jumblatt in the Alayh area east
of the capital.
We have no indication of unusual Israeli mili-
tary activity. Tel Aviv continues to monitor the
situation in Lebanon closely, and we believe that
any large-scale Syrian move into Lebanon could cause
an Israeli reaction.
The proposed constitutional amendment provid-
ing for the election of a new president--the key
proposal in the Syrian peace plan--was sent to the
Lebanese parliament yesterday. Ambiguity in the
bill over the timing of the transfer of power from
(continued)
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President Franjiyah to a newly elected president has
prompted calls for a revision of the amendment. Ac-
cording to press reports, the parliament will try to
convene tomorrow for final deliberation on the bill.
Leftist forces regained most of the hotel dis-
trict yesterday, but fighting elsewhere in the cap-
ital appears to have subsided. The presidential
palace at Babda came under artillery fire briefly.
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USSR
The Soviets are telling their do-
mestic audience of Washington's dis-
satisfaction with some of Moscow's
foreign policy moves and the adverse
effect on Soviet-US relations. At the
same time, Moscow continues to profess
faith in the health and prospects of
"detente."
Pravda carried a story on March 19 on US post-
ponement of several meetings related to cooperative
endeavors; Washington's displeasure over events in
Angola was given as the reason. By way of response,
the Soviets have quoted Senator Mansfield's state-
ment that "threats" will not advance US interests,
and they have reiterated their position that "de-
tente" does not inhibit Soviet support of "progres-
sive" forces in the world.
The Soviets have now altered their initial
line on your decision not to use the word "de-
tente." Although Moscow at first assured the So-
viet public that this change was not important, it
is now criticizing the concept of "peace through
strength." A lead editorial in last week's New
Times asked whether the phrase is not a throwback
to cold war policies.
Moscow continues to publicize "evidence" that
the majority in the US favor improved relations
with the USSR. It portrays "anti-Soviet" senti-
ment in the US as a temporary election phenomenon
which is proving unpopular with the voters and is
destined to subside.
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PORTUGAL
Portugal's Revolutionary Council met
yesterday to discuss postponing legisla-
tive elections, now scheduled for April
25. Most Council members were said to
believe that at least a brief delay is
justified.
The inability of the constituent assembly to
complete the draft constitution on time and admin-
istrative difficulties have been cited as reasons
for postponement. The election of the constituent
assembly last year was delayed for two weeks, al-
legedly for technical reasons.
Less politically minded officers--the so-
called "operationals"--are willing to accept a de-
lay of only about two weeks and reportedly have
convinced nearly half of the Council members to
support their position. The "operationals" be-
lieve a long delay would bring protests from moder-
ate political parties and would call into question
the military's real intentions as to its political
role.
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USSR
The Soviet Union continues to grap-
ple with the problems posed by the inde-
pendent-minded Western Communist parties.
Publicly, the Soviets and their East European
allies are continuing to stress ideological ortho-
doxy, particularly the concept of proletarian in-
ternationalism which has become a catchword for
Soviet primacy in the world movement and a baro-
meter of pro-Sovietism among foreign parties.
By stating their positions sternly, the So-
viets may hope to draw the reins somewhat tighter
on the foreign parties, making them think twice
before undertaking further acts of defiance and
perhaps reminding their leaders that the USSR still
has some supporters within the ranks of their par-
ties. More important, the Soviets are determined
to stifle any expectations among their own people
or in Eastern Europe that the restlessness of some
Western parties will lead to liberalization in the
East.
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Names and boundary representation
are not necessarily auth ritative
Gulf
of
Tonkin
559505 3-76, CIA
Cambodia
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NOTES
China's red carpet treatment of a top-level
Lao delegation to Peking was probably more impor-
tant than substantive exchanges during the visit.
Chinese concern over Vientiane's friendly rela-
tionship with the Soviet Union and Vietnam as well
as Lao sensitivity on this subject limited the
likelihood of any significant accomplishment.
The visit did produce a new economic coopera-
tion agreement providing for an "interest free"
Chinese loan to Laos. This agreement presumably
does not affect the status of the 18,000-man Chi-
nese road building and security force that remains
in northwestern Laos. Part of this force is con-
structing a road linking Luang Prabang with the
road net built during the past eight years by the
Chinese in northwest Laos.
President Sadat apparently is trying to reas-
sure the Egyptian military and to head off any ef-
forts by Soviet or Arab propagandists to stir up
unrest over the country's military and economic
problems.
Sadat has been touring cities in the canal
area since March 16--two days after he announced
abrogation of the Soviet-Egyptian friendship
treaty--reviewing the progress of reconstruction
and talking to military groups. In the course of
his talks, he has charged that the price for Soviet
arms has been a restriction on Egyptian political
independence. He said his move toward economic
liberalization and his efforts to diversify the
sources of Egypt's arms will permit Cairo to secure
"the most sophisticated weapons in the world." He
implied that the task of rebuilding the military
will be a lengthy process.
(continued)
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The four African presidents who have been
backing the black nationalists in Rhodesia are
meeting today to consider the consequences of the
breakdown in negotiations between Prime Minister
Ian Smith and nationalist leader Joshua Nkomo.
Zambian President Kaunda is hosting a confer-
ence in Lusaka with presidents Nyerere of Tanzania,
Machel of Mozambique, and Khama of Botswana to
which rival Rhodesian nationalists have also been
invited. The four presidents will again attempt
to bring about a reconciliation between Nkomo,
who gained control of the nationalist organiza-
tional structure inside Rhodesia last September,
and the exiled nationalists who have been prepar-
ing an all-out military effort against Smith. The
presidents may hope that a reunification of the
rival nationalist groups will lend impetus to their
efforts to build a unified liberation army.
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Top Secret
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