THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 AUGUST 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992807
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 16, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009800130001-5
The President's Daily Brief
16 August 1971
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A0098001-30001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009800130001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
16 August 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
There has been some easing of the tension between
Jordan and Syria, but any early reconciliation still
seems unlikely. (Page 1)
On Page 2, we discuss developments in the UK-Malta
negotiations
Chile. (Page 3)
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JORDAN SYRIA
Both Syrian and Jordanian forces remain in a
high state of readiness, but tensions'have-eased
somewhat in the absence of any new border clashes
since Friday, and both governments appear more con-
ciliatory. Neither has expelled theother's diplo-
mats despite the break. in relations. The Jordanian
press has continued, to put the blame for the border
incidents onthe fedayeen and has made nomention-
of Syrian-air attacks againstJordanian.armor4' For
part, the Syrians have reopened the border to
non-Jordanian vehicles and passengers, and President
Asad. did not even mention the fighting in a speech
on Saturday.
In contrast to the conciliatory Jordanian atti-
tude toward Syria, King Husayn was adamant in re-
jecting proposals put forth last week by Saudi Ara-
bian:Foreign MinisterSaggaf and Egyptian President
Sadat's personal. emissary Khuli, who have been try-
ing: to mediate between the Jordanian Government and
the fedayeen. Husayn countered these proposals,
which aimed at, a. reconciliation under the earlier
Cairo-Amman agreements, with a call for ending eco-
nomic and political pressures on Jordan, and for .a
ban on secret fedayeen organizations-and-on terror-
ist. and infiltration- activity in
reports from Damascus, where Saqqaf
and Khuli went on 13 August to meet with
fedayeen leader Yasir Arafat, indicate
that the fedayeen refuse to accept Husayn's
terms and will agree only to the original
Saqqaf-Khuli proposals. The Jordanian at-
titude toward the fedayeen will make it
difficult for the Syrians to take any early
steps to re-establish relations and could
force Asad to adopt an even harder line
toward Jordan as he tries to keep some
credit with the fedayeen.
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MALTA-UK
Prime Minister Mintoff has now firmly rejected
the second of the British proposals made last week
on the amounts of aid and cash London and certain
NATO allies are prepared to offer. The British have
agreed, under pressure from some NATO members who
think London is taking too hard a line, to consider
sending Mintoff a still more conciliatory message;
details are to be worked out in a North Atlantic
Council meeting early this week. London also ap-
pears willing for the first time to agree to present
Mintoff a firm figure on the emergency financial aid
he claims is so vital.
There have been signs that Mintoff intends
to keep the negotiations alive. He did
not carry out his threat to oust British
troops on 13 August if no agreement had
been reached, and he has now given London
until the 18th to reply. He also told
the German ambassador on Friday that he
would accept an offer from Bonn or Wash-
ington of an interest-free, "no-strings-
attached" loan of $4.8 million.
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NOTES
USSR-Chile-China/
Ireland/
Bahrain: Bahrain's? ending of its protectorate
relationship with Britain and assumption of full in-
dependence on Saturday have been greeted calmly by
its neighbors. Iran sent a message of congratula-
tions that amounted to virtual recognition, while
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also sent their congratula-
tions. A statement by Sheikh Isa that Bahrain's
independence would not affect its "readiness -to
accede" to some federation of the Persian Gulf amir-
ates apparently reassured Kuwait and Saudi Arabia,
who strongly favor eventual federation of all the
amirates. Qatar is expected to follow Bahrain's
lead shortly and will probably also receive prompt
recognition by its neighbors.
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