THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 26 SEPTEMBER 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977007
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 26, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007500230001-9
The President's Daily Brief
26 September 1969
19
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312
I?I Israeli-controlled areas following :
June 1967 hostilities
Mediterranean Sea
Cairo
Port Said
Ismailia Suez
Canal
Suez
Haifaj
ISRAEL
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316
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Beirut
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SYRIA
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GOLAN HEIGHTS
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Tel Aviv- I / WEST z
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Dead
GAZA STRIP Sea
//
SINAI /
PENINSULA /
1/ Ell' Aqaba
UNITED
RAB
REPUBLIC
(E C Y P T)
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MILES
32
Hurghada. p
Qina
ASWAN
HIGH DAM 36
Sharm ash-
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ORDAN
Red
Sea
SAUDI
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ARABIA
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93478 1-69
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MIDDLE EAST
Israeli air strikes are doing little to discourage the
Egyptians from their military actions. Artillery duels along
the Suez Canal happen nearly every day, and Egypt has carried
out a number of cross-canal commando raids to mine roads. One
of the mines killed two Israelis and wounded six others Tues-
day, prompting a heavy Israeli air strike in reprisal.
The chief of the US mission in Cairo, Donald Bergus, has
made an extensive review of the situation in Egypt as he sees
it. Among the points he makes are the following:
--Despite his many reverses, Nasir is probably here to
stay. To most Egyptians, he continues to personify their most
important aspiration--dignity.
--The nature of Nasir's regime is changing. Most of the
small coterie of loyal associates who worked closely with Nasir
for many years are now out of the picture. Their eclipse, com-
bined with the sorry state of Nasir's grass roots party, leaves
the military as the only effective self-perpetuating body in
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Egypt. Relations between Nasir and the military are therefore
of crucial importance.
--Even though a coup cannot be completely ruled out, there
are a number of factors working against this possibility, most
importantly, Soviet influence in the military establishment.
--The Soviets and Nasir are locked in a relationship which,
while at times painful to both, is likely to persist because of
its mutual benefits. For the Russians., their position in Egypt
has permitted them after 300 years of effort to become a full-
fledged member of the board of directors of the Middle East.
The Soviets doubtless have long-term aspirations for exclusi-
vity in the area, but for some time they probably will be ready
to co-exist with the US and other Western powers on the basis
of the mutual recognition of the legitimacy of each other's in-
terests.
--For official Egyptians, the Soviets have been a welcome
sheet anchor--providing essential military and economic support
at not too much cost to Egyptian independence. The Egyptians
of course would prefer a situation where the US also tried to
play a more active diplomatic and economic role in Egypt.
--Nasir is under no illusions as to his military capabil-
ity or the time needed to improve Egypt's position. He would
prefer a political settlement, but he doubts it will come to
pass. He believes Israel has no interest in a settlement as
long as he leads Egypt.
--In light of these factors, Nasir has taken the classic
Egyptian pose of standing pat, talking big, punishing the
enemy as much as possible and taking the counterblows stoically.
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--Two developments, if they were to occur, might lead
Nasir to alter his course: a decline in Soviet support for
"active defense," and a conviction that a peace commensurate
with Egyptian dignity might be attainable.
LIBYA
The US presence at Wheelus Air Base may be jeopardized
by two recent incidents. Libya's foreign minister has al-
ready said that the smuggling of a Libyan Jewish citizen to
Malta by a US school teacher may be a "dangerous case of
espionage" organized by Israel from within the base, and has
asked that the American involved in the incident be returned
for trial.
As far as we know, the Revolutionary Council has ?not
learned that another Libyan
was smuggled Out by
the Wheelus Office of Special Investigations on 3 September.
'5oxi
a business associate of the notorious Shalhi fam- 50X1
ily, probably fled the country to avoid arrest on charges of
corruption during the reign of King Idris.
Ambassador Palmer, who was not informed of the operation
until 24 September, and Col. James, CO of Wheelus, are check-
ing on the possibility that other Libyans may have used Wheelus
as an escape route.
The US Embassy has agreed to a Libyan request for full
customs and immigration control at the base. Soldiers inspected
the cargo of an American military plane that arrived at Wheelus
yesterday.
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VIETNAM
Foreign Minister Dinesh Singh says he now favors raising
New Delhi's consular relations with Hanoi to a higher level.
He clearly was swayed by his discussions in Hanoi at the time
of Ho's funeral. According to Singh, Hanoi sees closer rela-
tions with New Delhi as an important counterpoise in its at-
tempts to maintain independence of Peking.
New Delhi is not likely to take any action until after
Singh's visit to the United Nations next week, where the for-
eign minister plans to discuss the subject with Secretary
Rogers. The matter is still a vexing one for India. Since
his return from Hanoi, Singh has said he views the North
a "government
uation in the
in authority" in contrast
South. Without a similar
sulate in Saigon, however,
as
to the uncertain sit-
upgrading of its con-
India's long-standing neutrality
between North and South--particularly in
man--would be compromised.
its role as ICC chair-
Politburo member Truong Chinh gave the keynote speech at
the session of the national assembly which put an official
stamp of approval on the selection of a new president and vice
president on 23 September. It is the most significant policy
statement from Hanoi since Ho Chi Minh's death.
Truong Chinh's statement reaffirmed the priorities which
he laid out on behalf of the politburo more than a year ago.
He again implied that the war in the South must not impinge
on the regime's objective of "building socialism" in North
Vietnam. The war itself took a secondary place in his
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presentation, even though he argued that strengthening the
North is the best way to be able to persevere with the strug-
gle in the South.
COMMUNIST CHINA
EUROPE
The West German Bundesbank's clampdown on dealings in its
own currency has blunted the heavy flow of speculative capital
to West Germany. It has also considerably reduced speculative
pressure throughout European markets on other currencies--nota-
bly the French franc, sterling, and, to a lesser extent, the
5
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dollar. Before the West German action, they were being sold
off in heavy volume by purchasers of marks who anticipated a
revaluation following Sunday's election in West Germany.
Western
remain quiet
the opening
Tuesday.
European foreign exchange markets probably will
today, but another burst of activity may follow
of the West German foreign exchange markets on
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
The central committee met yesterday and apparently will
meet again today. There is still no word on decisions reached,
but all signs continue to indicate that many of the party's re-
formist elements will be purged from the committee and perhaps
from the party.
BOLIVIA
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/just about everybody
in Bolivia expects General Ovando to take over the country to-
day. We know that he can; we don't know whether he will.
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Top Secret
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