THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 15 JUNE 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007984
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: June 15, 1974

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79f 00936A012100010041-7
25X1
The President's Daily Brief
F725X1
7
June 15 1974
5
-"-?-?-17.6r_se.?.z2
1 ?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Exempt from general
declassification sshedule of Ea 11652
exemption category 58( 11.(21.(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF'
June 151 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
General Secretary Brezhnev, in the last of the So-
viet leadership's series of Supreme Soviet candidacy
speeches, said the improvement of US-Soviet relations
can and must continue. (Page 1)
There were few surprises in the pecking order of the
campaign speeches for the Supreme Soviet this year.
(Page 2)
Ifedayeen
Syr-
(Page 3)
The Israeli press and public have reacted to Presi-
dent Nixon's rousing reception in Egypt with appre-
hension. (Page 4)
(Page 5)
Italian President Leone is convinced that relatively
slight differences separate the coalition parties on
key economic issues. (Page 6)
Notes on North Yemen, USSR-Israel,
and Thailand appear on Page 7.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
25X1
25X1
25X1
A
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
General Secretary Brezhnev yesterday ended the
Soviet leadership's series of Supreme Soviet candidacy
speeches with a measured appraisal of US-Soviet rela-
tions. Referring to the coming summit, he acknowl-
edged pessimistic forecasts in the West, but said
the improvement of bilateral relations can and must
continue.
Ruling out hasty decisions on questions not yet
ripe for solution, Brezhnev seemingly cautioned against
high expectations for the summit. The Soviet leader
said US-Soviet relations must proceed on a stable basis,
"not dependent on considerations of expediency." He
said the most important and complex problems are those
in the field of arms limitation, which have become the
subject of heated debate. Brezhnev presumably was re-
ferring to debate in the US, but. did not make this
explicit.
In apparent response to Western charges that the
USSR is aggravating the arms race with its current
missile modernization programs, Brezhnev claimed that
historically the arms race has been forced upon the
Soviet Union. Praising the strategic arms agreements
of 1972 and 1973, he called for further agreements to
prevent the continuation of the arms spiral. Specif-
ically, Brezhnev expressed willingness to limit under-
ground nuclear tests "down to their full termination
according to a coordinated timetable." Pending a halt
to the arms race, Brezhnev assured his listeners that
Soviet defenses would be maintained "at the appropriate
level."
In reference to other issues, Brezhnev placed
some emphasis on successfully completing the European
security conference, with the participation of "top
leaders" at its concluding stage. He strongly implied
that Moscow would not meet Western demands for freer
movement of peoples and ideas. The Soviet party boss
did express willingness to take partial measures to-
ward arms limitation in Europe, and hinted that one
such step on force reductions might be in the offing.
Brezhnev said prospects had improved for eliminat-
ing the hotbed of war in the Middle East, but cautioned
that only the combined efforts of participants at the
Geneva conference could finally resolve remaining
problems. He voiced continued support for this task.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
There were few surprises in the pecking order
of the campaign speeches for the Supreme Soviet this
year. These speeches are not meant to attract votes
but to establish individual political platforms and
to draw support for them.
In the matter of rankings, last is first, and
pride of place again went to General Secretary Brezh-
nev. Podgorny and Kosygin also held onto their rank-
ing as numbers two and three respectively. Kirileno,
however, made his speech the same day as. did Suslov,
in contrast to a much earlier delivery during the
last Supreme Soviet election in 1970. Party secre-
tary for agriculture Kulakov delivered his speech a
week later than did Minister of Agriculture Polyan-,
sky, an indication of who is the top agriculture of-
ficial. Party secretary for cadres Kapitonov moved
up and could be in line for promotion to candidate
Politburo member.
Candidate Politburo member Ponomarev delivered
his speech ten days later than other candidate mem-
bers and on the same day as full Politburo member
Foreign Minister Gromyko. The pairing of the two
suggests that they are considered equals. Ponomarev
has assumed broader responsibilities in the foreign
affairs field, from relations with nonruling commu-
nist parties to relations with countries in which
communist parties are active.
The three top leaders were also set apart from
the others by having their speeches televised live
nationwide. Extensive summaries of the speeches of
the other 23 members of the Politburo and Secretariat
appeared in the central press and were carried by
Tass in English and Russian. Full texts of most were
carried in the local papers of their constituencies.
These full texts revealed some differences--which
are under study--in the way individual leaders treated
some major subjects. The central press summaries
smoothed out these differences, however, and empha-
sized two themes: support for detente and the pri-
macy of Brezhnev.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
?.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP791f00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SYRIA-FEDAYEEN
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL
The Israeli press and public have reacted to
President Nixon's rousing reception in Egypt with
apprehension. Many Israelis suspect Israel may
have to pay for the new US standing with the Arabs
in the form of additional territorial and diplo-
matic concessions when the Middle East negotiations
are resumed.
The conservative press predictably has warned
that the warm welcome accorded the President in
Cairo should turn on a red warning light in Israel.
Israel, it claims, will now have to mobilize all
its powers of steadfastness in future dealings with
the US concerning negotiations with the Arabs.
Prime Minister Rabin, speaking at an Israeli
university's graduation exercises on June 12, ex-
pressed the hope that Washington will realize that
its improved relations with Syria and Egypt should
not be made at the expense of its intimate and tra-
ditional friendship with Israel. Rabin speculated
that as a result of the improvement in Arab-US ties,
differences of opinion between Israel and the US
are quite possible. Rabin added, however, that he
prefers the verbal arguments and the political
struggle to military conflict.
On balance, the government has taken a posi-
tive view of the President's Middle East trip. It
has sought to offset the Israeli public's concern
over the reliability of the US commitment to Is-
rael by showering the local press with glowing
summaries of US-Israeli relations under President
Nixon's administration.
Government officials are particularly playing
up assurances they claim Israel received from Sec-
retary Kissinger that the US will agree to a large
long-term economic and military aid program for
Israel. Government sources, the press claims, have
said that such an aid program may be announced
during the President's visit to Israel.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
25X1
.7`
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
IRAQ-USSR
25X1
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ITALY
President Leone is convinced that relatively
? slight differences separate the coalition parties on
key economic issues. He believes sufficient room
exists for negotiation, and that the Christian Demo-
cratic and Socialist parties may become more amenable
to compromise if the ?issues are debated publicly.
Leone is prepared to instruct Prime Minister Rumor
to submit the issues to parliamentary debate if the
Prime Minister reports that he cannot resolve the
differences between the Christian Democrats and the
Socialists.
Meanwhile, organized labor may have given polit-
ical leaders a short breathing spell. The labor fed-
eration, which represents all of Italy's unions, has
reaffirmed its support for the Socialist position but
has voted a temporary moratorium on politically mo-
tivated strikes. The Communist-dominated unions are
following a policy calculated to convey a responsible
image and. thus support Communist leader Berlinguer's
campaign for more formal consultations between the
Communists and the government. The top Communist
labor leader, for example, aided Christian Democratic
labor leaders in their effort to beat back a Socialist
attempt to pinresponsibility for the.current crisis
on the Christian Democratic Party.
Rumor will probably convoke a meeting of the
center-left party leaders this weekend to get nego-
tiations started and to prepare for a possible Com-
munist attempt to force a debate on the crisis when
parliament convenes on Monday. Rumor is not likely
to make much progress toward resolving the dispute,
however, before next week's regional council elections
in Sardinia.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
(
556032 6-74
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
North Yemen: The Command Council under Colonel
Hamdi appears to be in control of the capital. It
has yet, however, to receivepledges of support from
powerful tribal elements in the north that on Thurs-
day threatened to occupy Sana. Should clashes with
the tribes develop, they could trigger intervention
by the Saudis in support of the tribes. South Yemen
also might be tempted in this situation to initiate
military moves along the border.
USSR-Israel: Soviet journalists are telling
their American colleagues in MOSCOW that the USSR
is on the verge of re-establishing relations with
Israel. Our Moscow embassy reports that, although
there is no direct-evidence to support these rumors,
recent shifts in Soviet public treatment of the Mid-
dle East are consistent with .a possible move toward
Tel Aviv. Having taken the line that the US is seek-
ing to regularize relations with the Arab wOrld, the
Soviets could assert that Moscow should do no less
with.Israel. Possibly with this in mind, Soviet
party boss Brezhnev in his election speech yesterday
said that progress toward a Middle East settlement
"will create the conditions-for the development of
our relations with all countries" in the area.
Pakistan-France--China:
25X1
Thailand: A nationwide radio appeal by Prime
Minister Sanya, which was backed by prominent labor
leaders, has restored a measure of calm to the
streets of Bangkok following a tense week of labor
protests. While the Sanya government seems to have
weathered its first serious domestic challenge since
forming a new cabinet two weeks ago, the demonstra-
tions marked the emergence of a student-worker alli-
ance that is sure to try again.
7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012100010041-7