THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 MAY 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015117
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 24, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
May 24, 1976
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 513(1),(2),(3)
declassified onhi on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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May 24, 1976
Table of Contents
Lebanon: The de facto cease-fire that settled over much of the
country last week held through the weekend. (Page 1)
USSR - West Germany: Moscow has issued a formal government
statement criticizing "certain forces" that have been
critical of "detente." (Page 2)
USSR-Jordan:
(Page 3)
Notes: Rhodesia; Syria; Sudan-Ethiopia (Pages 4 and 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LEBANON: The de facto
cease-fire that settled
,over much of the coun-
try last week held
through the weekend.
There were several incidents in
Beirut and the eastern city of
Zahlah, but both Christians and
Muslims seem prepared to give pres-
ident-elect Sarkis more time to
work out a new truce proposal.
Sarkis believes the current grace
period may last only another 10
days.
The main problem holding up imple-
mentation of a formal cease-fire
apparently involves the selection
of individuals to participate in
"roundtable" settlement talks.
Leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt
wants to ensure that his leftist
coalition has a numerical edge at
the negotiating table. He also
wants to exclude his long-standing
opponent on the Christian side,
Phalanges Party leader Pierre Ju-
mayyil. This kind of maneuvering
could delay the proceedings and
result in new violence.
French President Giscard's offer
to send French troops to Lebanon
has elicited a predictably mixed
reaction from the Lebanese. Jum-
blatt and Prime Minister Rashid
Karami flatly rejected the pro-
posal, and the Christians generally
have reacted favorably. The French
have made clear their willingness
from the beginning of the trouble
to act as mediators. The opposi-
tion of Jumblatt and Karami, how-
ever, and, more important, Syria's
reluctance to share its guardian
role in Lebanon rule out serious
consideration of Giscard's offer
at this time.
Syria's policy in Lebanon was
sharply criticized by Egypt this
weekend in what may have been an
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USSR - WEST GERMANY:
The USSR on Saturday
issued an unusual, for-
mal government state-
ment condemning "cer-
tain forces" in West
Germany that have been
critical of "detente."
effort by Cairo to scuttle Saudi-
and Kuwaiti-sponsored attempts to
reconcile Syrian and Egyptian dif-
ferences. The Egyptian comments
were made just before President
Sadat met with Saudi and Kuwaiti
officials who have been attempting
to reschedule the reconciliation
meeting between Cairo and Damascus.
Although specific references were
limited to West German - Soviet
issues, the scope of the document
was broad enough to constitute a
rebuttal of all Western critics
of a relaxation of international
tensions. It rejected as false
the contentions that Moscow alone
is benefiting from a relaxation
of tension and that the USSR has
embarked on expansionism and ide-
ological colonialism. The docu-
ment said that the USSR's military
buildup is not exceeding its defen-
sive needs.
It also attacked attempts to use
"detente" to seek changes in So-
viet domestic policy and indicated
that a relaxation of tension does
not preclude Soviet support for
"liberation" movements.
The statement reminded West Germans
that recent years have seen a sharp
growth in bilateral trade with the
USSR and that better relations with
Moscow have enabled Bonn to improve
its ties with Eastern Europe. It
concluded by calling on West Ger-
man critics of "detente" to define
their country's alternatives.
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USSR-JORDAN:
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Rhodesia
Lilonow
usaka
Zambia
Southwest
Africa (Nam' .la'
Mozambique
Channel
Botswana
Road
Railroad
South'Inca
200 LES
559808 5-76
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An insurgent attack
this weekend on one of
Rhodesia's two major
road links with South
Africa is further evi-
dence of efforts by
the guerrillas to step
up their activities.
UN Secretary General
Waldheim plans to visit
Syria this week to urge
Damascus to agree to
extend the mandate of
the UN peacekeeping
force in the Golan
Heights.
NOTES
The incident follows a similar at-
tack late last month on the other
main road to the border. In the
latest incident, two cars were dam-
aged on the road that runs from
Bulawayo, Rhodesia's second largest
city, to Beitbridge, the main bor-
der crossing point. Armed convoys
now will be used to protect civil-
ian traffic on this road as well
as on the other main road.
In recent weeks, primarily because
of its preoccupation with events
in Lebanon, Damascus has seemed to
be seeking a face-saving device to
justify renewing the mandate rather
than cause another full-scale Coun-
cil debate on Middle East issues.
Waldheim reportedly is justifying
his trip as providing the means
for the Syrians to "save face."
He may be promoting the visit, how-
ever, to emphasize his continued
desire for personal involvement in
Middle East negotiations.
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?20
?10
LIBYA
CHAD
ASWAN HIGH DA
EGYPT
Lake
Nasser
t? 40
/SAUDI
ARABIA
3RD CATARACT
Port Sudan
Sea
201
TH CATARACT
SUDAN
6TH CATARACT
Addis Ababa
RAL
CAN
PUBLIC
CEN
AFR
Lake
Rudolf
Congo
ZAIRE
0 200 MILES
20 0 200 KILOMETERS
559811 5-76
A
Victoria
Nairobi*
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Sudan is taking defen-
sive measures as its
fears heighten that
Ethiopia's offensive
against Eritrean rebels
will lead to fighting
between the two coun-
tries.
According to the Sudanese military
attache in Addis Ababa, conflict
between the two countries is likely
because of Khartoum's support for
the Eritrean rebels. Intercepted
Ethiopian military messages indi-
cate that the Sudanese military
buildup in the border area is con-
tinuing. We continue to believe
that Ethiopia will try to avoid
violating Sudanese territory, but
there still could be some incidents.
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Top Secret
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