NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00975A030400010116-5
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RIPPUB
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T
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15
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December 20, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 15, 2006
Sequence Number: 
116
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Publication Date: 
December 22, 1977
Content Type: 
REPORT
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r 9 1 r ApnWftff or Re lease 2007/02/ TO: NAME AND ADDRESS DATE INITIALS 2 3 4 - ACTION DIRECT REPLY PREPAR E REPLY APPROVAL DISPATCH RECOMMENDATION COMMENT FILE RETURN ^ CONCURRENCE INFORMATION _ SIGNATURE REMARKS: FROM: NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NO. DATE 0 0 0 Access to this document will be restricted to those approved for the following specific activities: NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY CABLE 0 Thursday 22 December 1977 CG NIDC 77/296C 0 w NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions AMNON& State Dept. review completed Top Secret 9% nn Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975A - 0 law law law law 1AW law 1AW 1AW 1AW )7: CIA-RDP79T00975A030f#~QQ1S f -t ul~u 4 (Security Classification) 4 1 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO30400010116-5 Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO30400010116-5 Approved For IRelease 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T0097*030400010116-5 National Intelligence Daily Cable for Thursday, 22 December 1977 25X1 The NID Cable is for t e,purpose of informing senior US officials. CONTENTS PORTUGAL: Elections Loom Nearer Page 1 COLOMBIA: Military Disturbed Page 3 USSR: Neutron Bomb Campaign Page 4 USSR: Foreign Ministry Changes Page 6 POLAND: Wyszynski Statement Page 7 AUSTRALIA-USSR: Port Call Page 8 CHILE: Referendum on UN Action Page 9 BRIEFS Page 10 USSR-Angola East Germany Australia Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T0097PA030400010116-5 Approved For R~Iease 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975IA030400010116-5 25X1 //Talks between Portugal's Socialists and Cen- ter Democrats have stalled, and the prospect of an early elec- tion Zooms larger. President Eanes will reportedly decide to- morrow, after the political parties have presented their final positions, whether to name a prime minister or to call for an election. Eanes has told the parties that there will be an early election if they do not reach an understanding that as- sures majority support for the government in the legislature. He has ruled out a minority coalition of Social Democrats and Center Democrats, a Socialist government relying on Communist support, and a nonpartisan government of technical experts.// //In order to reach the necessary agreement, either the Socialists will have to indicate a willingness to share power with one or both of the democratic opposition par- ties, or the latter will have to give the Socialists support without receiving anything substantial in return. Events of the last two months indicate that none of the parties is likely to give enough ground to produce a mutually satisfactory solu- tion.// 1//Last weekend the Socialists effectively aborted a tentative agreement to govern with the Center Demo- crats, the most conservative of Portugal's major parties, by introducing new demands. Their change of position may have been triggered partly by a fear that an arrangement with the Center Democrats would alienate the Socialists' restless left wing and open the party to a Communist attack on its leftist credentials.// /The Center Democrats would find it impossible to sell an accommodation with the Socialists to their rank and file without receiving major concessions in return. Their lead- ers, citing the national interest above narrow party concerns and feeling pressure from backers in business and industry, had Approved For Approved For Rele offered to join the Socialists in implementing stringent eco- nomic policies with or without the Social Democrats, their ri- vals for Portugal's conservative voters. The Socialists' last- minute pullout leaves the Center Democrats emptyhanded and em- barrassed.// I /Even when the possibility of a Socialist - Center Democratic arrangement was hanging over them, the Social Democrats did not budge from their position that a direct role in government was their price for cooperation. If the Social- ists do not yield, the Social Democrats are apparently content to remain in opposition until an election is held. Some observ- ers believe the Social Democrats would gain and the Socialists lose if an election were held today.// //It is not clear whether Eanes would prefer to see the results of a new election before taking a stronger hand in bringing the parties to heel. I /Relief in the form of a major disbursement 25X1 from the $750-million multilateral aid package has been held up as lenders wait for Portugal to work out an economic stabil- ization package acceptable to the International Monetary Fund. Negotiations with the Fund cannot be concluded until a new gov- ernment is established and the 1978 budget passed.// /An election in the near future could bring about some changes in the parliamentary balance even if it turns out that voters' preferences have not changed signifi- cantly since the 1976 election. If, for instance, the Center Democrats accept a Social Democratic invitation to form an electoral alliance in some districts, the two parties could in- crease their legislative representation without an increase in 25X1 their combined share of the total vote over what it was in 1976. This could lead to a majority for the right in the national as- sembly, throwing the Socialists into opposition. Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975A030*00010116-5 Approved For COLOMBIA: Military Disturbed The Zeaders of Colombia's military services are nearing the point where they may be willing to restore order unilaterally unless President Lopez takes immediate action against the increasing number of kidnappings and other crimes in the country. Military Zeaders presented Lopez with a six- point declaration on Monday that called for the government to take immediate action, regardless of how forceful it had to be, to guarantee the rights of citizens. The declaration, which is the most serious challenge Lopez has faced from the armed forces, implied that if the gov- ernment proves unwilling or incapable of preserving peace, the armed forces will. Shortly after the meeting between Lopez and the high command, soldiers armed with machineguns began patrol- ling the streets of Bogota. The forceful action by the military leadership is a result of several developments. The military is upset over re- cent retirements of several senior officers on Lopez' orders. More important, businessmen--who have been targets of the kid- nappings--and other concerned civilian groups have begun to ap- ply pressure on the armed forces to restore order to the nation. A total of 59 people have been kidnapped this year; a new spate of kidnappings occurred last weekend. Lopez may believe the armed forces have overstepped politically acceptable bounds by their action. The US Embassy in Bogota believes it is conceivable that Lopez will react im- pulsively to the military's declaration and threaten to resign or actually hand over power to the military. Lopez has gone into seclusion, reportedly to map out plans for attacking the problem; this is a tactic he frequently uses when under pres- sure. It could mean that he is more likely to compromise with the military than to capitulate to it. Approved Fc Approved For Relea USSR: Neutron Bomb Campaign Recent Soviet statements against the "neutron bomb" - appear designed to prevent US deployment of the weapon in West- ern Europe. The Soviets are also trying to play up divisiveness within NATO on the subject and to divert attention from the human rights issue at the Belgrade review conference on Euro- pean security and cooperation. If nothing else, the Soviets are at least trying to shift Western public attention away from current Soviet measures such as deployment of the SS-20 IRBM and from the Soviet military threat in Europe generally. The campaign is being conducted at nearly the same high intensity as the Soviets' first campaign against the neu- tron weapon last summer. The most notable aspect of the current effort has been the strongly worded approaches made by Soviet leaders to top West European political figures. These diplomatic initiatives appear designed to drive a wedge between the US and its NATO allies. At the same time, Soviet public comments are obviously playing upon adverse re- action to the weapon in Western Europe. The Soviets may be- lieve that even if they are unable to influence the US deci- sion on production of the weapon, they can at least agitate to stop its deployment in Western Europe. Aside from propaganda, Georgiy Arbatov, one of Mos- cow's top US-watchers, told US Ambassador Toon earlier this year that there is sincere concern in responsible Soviet cir- cles that the weapon could lower the nuclear threshold in Eu- rope. The Soviets may believe that any lowering of the nuclear threshold would reduce the political advantages they hope to derive from their superiority in tanks and infantry in Europe. I he Soviet commentary suggests that Moscow is unwill- ing to discuss the neutron weapon at the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction.: talks, as this could require a Soviet trade-off. Soviet MBFR representative Tarasov recently criticized those in the West who thought they might use cruise missiles and "neu- tron bombs" as trump cards in the MBFR negotiations. Soviet media statements also appear designed to head off an West German effort to add this weapon to the MBFR agenda. 25X1 Approved For Rele4se 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975A0304p0010116-5 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO30400010116-5 Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO30400010116-5 Approved For Relea4 USSR: Foreign Ministry Changes The USSR is about to name two new first deputies to Foreign Minister Gromyko in order to fiZZ the vacancy Zeft by Vasiliy Kuznetsov's recent appointment as First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Presidium. The two, Georgiy Korniyenko and Viktor MaZtsev, are to serve as co-equals Korniyenko has headed the Ministry's USA Department or more than a decade and is experienced in disarmament negotiations. MaZtsev, a protege of President and party chief Brezhnev, is currently Ambassador to India. Although Korniyenko would probably give up the USA Department, his appointment underscores the importance attached by the Soviets to relations with the US. Korniyenko, unlike Kuznetsov, holds no national party rank and is unlikely to at- tain any until the next party congress, due around 1981. Maltsev is not a career diplomat; he entered the for- eign service after a career in railroad administration and party work in Irkutsk. As Ambassador to Finland in the early 1970s, he headed the Soviet delegation to the preparatory meet- ing for the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and was involved in preparations for the SALT talks in Helsinki. //Korniyenko's promotion ends speculation that Deputy Minister Igor Zemskov would become a first deputy. Ear- lier this year, Zemskov had been particularly critical of the US for allegedly trying to undermine Soviet authority at home through subversive activities and manipulation of the human Approved For Release) 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO304p0010116-5 Approved For R CIA-REM 5A030400010116-5 rights issue.// Korniyenkos views toward the US appear to be far more moderate. The new appointments may also affect Ambas- sador to the US Dobrynin's reported plans. to return to Moscow as a Deputy Foreign Minister. POLAND: Wyszynski Statement tefan Cardinal Wyszynski has released to the Polish e ergy t, e text of an address he made in Rome last month defend- ing the recent warming of Church-state relations in Poland as necessary to preserve domestic stability. The release of the text is intended to answer questions raised by the faithful, especially lay intellectuals, in the wake of Wyszynski's meet- ing with party leader Gierek in late October and the obvious support given Gierek by Pope Paul when the two met on Z Decem- ber. I uIn the address, Wyszynski said that the Church has no love for the secular authorities in Poland but that at times the Church must use its moral. authority to calm passions that otherwise could rage unchecked and damage the nation. He said that "small revolutions," such as the disturbances that erupted throughout Poland in June 1976 over regime attempts to raise food prices, must be avoided. yszynski is aware that a breakdown of internal order would raise the danger of Soviet military intervention. The speech is perhaps the clearest, most direct public statement of the Church's role as preserver of the peace in Poland. It represents a further step in the Church's efforts to be recog- nized as a legitimate participant in governing the country. ]In a second part of the address, Wyszynski presented an "alternative vision" of Poland, the vision of a country that had become the breadbasket of Europe. He criticized the forced pace of industrialization, saying that this has cost more than it has been worth and has disrupted and corrupted the society. The future, he said, should be dedicated to exploiting Poland's natural advantages in agriculture. The Cardinal's "alternative vision" could indirectly a ect current discussions over Poland's economic problems. Approved Foti Approved For Relea - 400010116-5 Party leaders will not give up their ideological commitment to industrialization, but the pace at which it is being pursued has been the subject of debate. Those Poles who have criticized the country's head- long and often wasteful rush to industrialization may now be able to argue that "public sentiment" demands a different course. The long lines in front of meat stores and shortages of food and consumer goods are powerful arguments that a change of tack is needed. /A Soviet request for a port call in Australia a navy oceanographic research vessel and an accompanying submarine has sparked a sharp debate within the basically anti- Soviet government of Prime Minister Fraser. The government has been wrestling with the issue since the Soviet diplomatic note was delivered a month ago. Foreign affairs officials are in- clined to recommend permission, but defense officials are strongly opposed.// //The submarine would be the first Soviet warship to visit Australia. Two Soviet naval research ships made port calls during the Labor Party administration between 1972 and 1975.// /Defense officials are worried that a precedent would be set by allowing the submarine into an Australian port. They also believe that any hospitality shown to the Soviets would undercut Australia's opposition to New Zealand's current discussions with the Soviets about access to onshore fishing facilities in New Zealand. The defense department and the mili- tary services may also believe that permission for a port call would weaken Australian objections to Soviet maritime activi- ties in the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean.// //The Australian Foreign Ministry, on the other he view that it would be difficult from a legal standpoint to deny the Soviet request unless there are persua- sive security arguments against it. Canberra so far has stalled Approved For Releo Approved Fo by asking Moscow for details about the ships and the purpose of their proposed visit. Soviet failure to respond has given the Australians some hope that Moscow will not press the matter.// /The matter will probably required a decision by the Australian cabinet. This will not happen soon, as many sen- ior officials are away from the capital on extended summer holidays. CHILE: Referendum on UN Action Chilean President Pinochet said in a broadcast ad- dress Last night that he would submit to a national referendum the recent UN General Assembly resolution condemning his mili- tary government for human rights violations. The announcement of such an extraordinary step, fol- lowing passage of the UN resolution last Friday, is the latest sign of Pinochet's irritation over continued foreign criticism of Chile's human rights performance. The Chileans have also made strong diplomatic representations to the US over its joint sponsorship of the resolution. Pinochet believes his critics have ignored the sub- stantial progress Chile has achieved in releasing some 4,000 political prisoners--dramatically reducing the number of re- ports of illegal detentions, torture, and disappearances--and in dissolving the country's dreaded secret police. I Because the government retains the support of a ma- jority of the population, it most likely will win such a ref- erendum. The date of the voting, the first to be held in Chile since the overthrow of the Allende governor nt in September 1973, is expected to be announced shortly. Approved For Approved For Rel USSR-Angola A Soviet delegation headed by First Deputy Defense Minister Sokolov arrived in Angola yesterday. The visit follows recent higher level contacts between Moscow and Luanda. Presi- dent Neto met with President Brezhnev in Moscow last month, and Politburo member Kirilenko attended the recent congress of An- gola's ruling party. The Angolans are also hosting a senior Cuban delega- tion that reportedly is to work out details of a recent agree- ment providing for a ma-ior increase in Cuban economic aid to East Germany //East Germany is rumored to be planning to close Checkpoint Charlie between East and West Berlin from midnight to 6 a.m. daily beginning on 1 January and to make a change in the use of identity cards carried by diplomats. The rumors are unconfirmed, and it is not clear whether the East Germans would close the checkpoint to Allied diplomats and military person- nel.// Approved For Release 2007/02/07 : CIA-RDP79T0097PA030400010116-5 25X1 25X1 Approved For ReI4 /The rumor about the diplomatic identity cards, has the East Germans elimi- na-clng use o the cards when diplomats transit between the two halves of the city, and instead requiring diplomatic pass- ports with visas valid for East Germany. For the Western Allies, this could result in another test of the "flash" procedure, whereby Allied diplomatic passport holders do not hand over their passports to East German guards.// I /Either step would be another attempt to probe the "gray" areas of the Berlin question and to remove some of the remaining signs of East Berlin's separate status--a status that irritates the East Germans. The rumors could be a trial balloon to test Allied resolve. The East Germans may have chosen the holiday season because it is more difficult then for the Allies to work out a'coordinated response. F_ I 25X1 ]//William Hayden has been elected head of Austra- lia's Labor Party, which suffered a crushing defeat in the Aus- tralian parliamentary election on 10 December. Hayden, who is 44, served previously in the government as treasurer when for- mer party leader Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister. He won the top party post by eight votes over Lionel Bowen, who also held a cabinet-level position in the Whitlam government. The party's rapid decision on a replacement for Whitlam indicates a deter- mination to rebuild organizationally following the electoral debacle. Hayden has been the party's principal spokesman on and architect of economic policies. 25X1 Approved For Pr amw Aiiiiiiliiiiiiir $ep`premed For Release 2007/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00975AO30400010116-5 0 Top (Security Classification) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Top Secret 0 (Security Cl;fiM )For Release 2007/02/07 CIA-RDP79T00975AO30400010116-5