ATTACHED IS A CIA ASSESSMENT OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PORTUGAL

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
LOC-HAK-52-1-9-3
Release Decision: 
RIFLIM
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
January 11, 2017
Document Release Date: 
September 26, 2012
Sequence Number: 
9
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 30, 1974
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
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PDF icon LOC-HAK-52-1-9-3.pdf46.83 KB
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/09/26: LOC-HAK-52-1-9-3 ? MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON SECRET September 30, 1974 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER Attached is a CIA assessment of the latest developments in Portugal (Tab A). In my opinion, this assessment is very wide of the mark. It is reassuring in tone, tends to minimize the extent of the threat from the left, and is in general the sort of assessment which one might expect of the New York Times. Events in Portugal over the weekend seem clearly to demonstrate that the situation there is moving inexorably in a leftist direction, with the Communists and Left Socialists in a controlling position. This was precisely the fear expressed by Spinola when he met with President Nixon last June in the Azores. There is every reason to believe that the moderate forces in Portugal have suffered a severe setback and that the position of extremists elements has been substantially enhanced. The Communists and Socialists appear to be the only organized political forces in Portugal. In sum, I consider the situation to be very grave (General Walters, CIA Deputy Director, who returned recently from a visit to Portugal, agrees with my views and is very concerned at the thrust of the CIA assessment. He did not, however, wish to overrule unilaterally the views of his estimators.) An assessment which I consider much closer to the mark, but which still may underestimate the implications of Spin?la's ouster, is at Tab B. MORI/CDF C00754532 SECRET No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/09/26 : LOC-HAK-52-1-9-3