THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 APRIL 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015070
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 1, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
April 1, 1976
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category,513(12.(2),(3)
declassified onlY on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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April 1, 1976
Table of Contents
Lebanon: Leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt is still
defying Syria's demand for a cease-fire de-
spite signs that the leftists' drive may be
losing momentum. (Page 1)
(Page 3)
Greece-Turkey: The Caramanlis government, in re-
acting to the new US-Turkish agreement, seems
inclined to avoid moves that might hurt
Greece's chance to receive additional military
assistance or that might strengthen support
for the agreement in the US Congress. (Page 4)
USSR-Africa: Moscow is trying to lull apprehension
in the West about future Soviet and Cuban ac-
tions in southern Africa without forgoing any
of its options. (Page 5)
Notes: USSR; Thailand (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
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BEIRUT
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7.
Golan
Heights
Damascus
SYRIA
1111,e1:1;:ii
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559542 4-76
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LEBANON
Leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt is
still defying Syria's demand for a
cease-fire despite signs that the
leftists' drive may be losing momen-
tum. Jumblatt now seems bent as much
on preventing the resumption of Syrian
mediation as on securing President
Franjiyah's resignation.
After meeting again yesterday with PLO chair-
man Yasir Arafat, Jumblatt appealed to leftist sym-
pathizers in the Syrian government to persuade
President Asad to lift the embargo on arms for the
Lebanese leftists. He also rebuked Damascus for
introducing regular troops into Lebanon.
Jumblatt apparently fears that the Syrians in-
tend to thwart the leftists' efforts to obtain con-
cessions from the Christians not contained in the
political settlement worked out by Franjiyah and
Asad in mid-February.
The Syrians seem resigned to waiting a while
longer to see whether Arafat can change Jumblatt's
mind. There were no indications yesterday of unu-
sual activity by Syrian forces and the likelihood
(continued)
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of open Syrian intervention appears to be fading.
The British and French have now weighed in along
with the US in cautioning the Syrians not to inter-
vene.
In the fighting, meanwhile, the Christians
slightly improved their position yesterday, espe-
cially in the mountains east of Beirut. Their
forces reportedly recaptured parts of Kahhalah and
repulsed a leftist counterattack. They also retook
the village of Al Mutayn. In Beirut, the battle-
lines are static.
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GREECE-TURKEY
The Caramanlis government seems in-
clined--in reacting to the new US-Turkish
Defense Cooperation Agreement--to avoid
any moves that might hurt Greece's chances
Lo receive military assistance comparable
to that provided for Turkey under the ac-
cord. Neither does Athens want to take any
action that might backfire and lead to ad-
ditional support for the agreement in the
US Congress.
In an exchange with a US embassy official on
Tuesday, Caramanlis described the agreement as a
"big mistake." Foreign Minister Bitsios and Coor-
dination Minister Papaligouras, who were also pres-
ent, said Greece would respond by requesting addi-
tional military assistance as well as some type of
US guarantee against any possible Turkish aggres-
sion.
Neither Caramanlis nor his ministers have
tried to make the presence of US bases in Greece
dependent on increased military aid. Caramanlis
will probably refrain from raising the ante in the
base negotiations--which have been going smoothly
and are nearing completion--until he has a better
idea of the prospects for additional US assistance
and guarantees and of the likelihood of Congres-
sional ratification of the agreement with Turkey.
The shrill criticism of the Turkish agreement
by the Greek press and opposition could, however,
produce another groundswell of anti-Americanism
that might force Caramanlis to take a harder line
in the negotiations.
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USSR-AFRICA
Moscow evidently is trying to calm
apprehension in the West about future
Soviet and Cuban actions in southern Af-
rica without forgoing any of its options.
The most visible move was to act as an inter-
mediary with Angola in arranging for the withdrawal
of South African troops from Angolan territory.
The arrangement provided some substance for Foreign
Minister Gromyko's effort last week in London to
convey the impression that the USSR was not seeking
a confrontation with the West over Namibia or Rho-
desia.
This tone of moderation also has characterized
the Soviet media coverage of the South African with-
drawal, which has been generally low key. Despite
the reassuring words, however, there are few signs
that the Soviets are urging the Cubans to reduce
their presence in Angola any time soon. Indeed,
Soviet press treatment of a recent speech by Popu-
lar Movement leader Neto highlighted Neto's rejec-
tion of suggestions that he reduce his dependence
on Soviet and Cuban support.
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ATLANTIC OCEAN
PORTUGAL
Gulf of Cadiz
FRANCE
FEDERAL
REPUBLIC
OF
GERMANY
CZECH.
USSR
ITALY
YUGOSLAVIA
BLACK SEA
SPAIN
Corsica
Balearic
Islands
ALBANIA
ardanaties
TURKEY
Sardinia
Strait of
(171Z Basin
GREEE?
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
Crete
MALTA
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
CYPRUS
artus
SYRIA
amass
OR DAN
ALGERIA
559541 4-76
150
NAUTICAL MILES
LIBYA
?Alexand
Ca NO*
EGYPT
RED
SEA
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_ _ _ _ _
NOTES
The Soviets are beginning to concentrate the
ships of their Mediterranean Squadron in the eastern
part of the sea, but there are no indications that
large-scale reinforcement of the squadron is immi-
nent.
The Sverdlov-class cruiser and Kashin destroyer
that moved to the eastern Mediterranean last week
left Tartus, Syria, late on Tuesday and yesterday
afternoon began surveillance of the US naval contin-
gency force located southeast of Crete. A Kashin
destroyer, previously located off Tunis, was east
of Malta yesterday afternoon, and a Kresta I cruiser
passed eastward through the Strait of Sicily yester-
day morning. The movement of these units leaves
the Soviets with no major surface warships in the
Mediterranean west of Sicily.
Thai voters go to the polls this Sunday for
the country's second general election in little
over a year.
With 39 political parties competing for 279
seats in the lower house of the National Assembly,
there is a strong prospect that the next government
will be another weak coalition. Thailand's senior
military leaders doubt that a satisfactorily strong
government will emerge from the election, but they
are assuming a wait-and-see attitude before commit-
ting themselves to any course of action.
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Top Secret
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