THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 29 AUGUST 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014888
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 29, 1975

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010068-2
The President's Daily Brief
August 29, 1975
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Exempt from general
declassification uhedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category. 5E1(I ),12),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010068-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
August 29, 1975
Table of Contents
Portugal: Communist leader Cunhal has urged that
military and civilian leaders meet for a last-
ditch effort to avoid civil war. The danger
of an armed showdown is real enough, but
Cunhal's main purpose in calling for talks
is to avoid the onus for any fighting.
(Page 1)
China: Peking is spreading the word inside China
that your trip there is unlikely to result in
improved bilateral relations. (Page 2)
Notes: Greece-NATO; India (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGAL
Communist Party leader Alvaro Cunhal
appealed last night for a last-ditch ef-
fort to avert civil war. Cunhal told a
hastily assembled press conference there
was a growing feeling in the country that
a recourse to force was inevitable and
that the only way to avoid it was to find
a common political solution immediately.
He said his party is ready to meet with
virtually all political and military
factions to seek such a solution.
Cunhal is obviously concerned about Goncalves'
staying power as prime minister, but he may also
be maneuvering to avoid the onus for an armed show-
down should one occur. In addition to a limited
number of military units that might support Gon-
calves in such a showdown, the Communists and al-
lied leftists reportedly have 15,000 armed men,
although this figure may have been deliberately
circulated by the Communists to frighten their op-
ponents.
Costa Gomes' hesitancy about removing Goncalves
has been attributed to the threat
posed by these armed militants. There are again
signs, however, that Costa Gomes now intends to take
a tougher stand. On Wednesday, he warned the news
media about adding to the present political tension.
The same evening, he cut short a speech to a pro-
Goncalves demonstration because of harassment from
the crowd.
Pro-Antunes military groups may also be losing
patience with Goncalves and the Communists. On
Tuesday one Antunes supporter, the commander of
the Southern Military Region, asked his units for
the latest reports on troop strengths. Yesterday,
units in the Central Military Region, which have
been on maneuvers since last week, were setting up
roadblocks outside Coimbra, along the most direct
route for Communist reinforcements from Porto to
Lisbon.
As the crisis drags on, Cunhal's warning of
civil war takes on added credibility.
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CHINA
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Peking is spreading the word inside
China that your trip there is unlikely
to result in improved bilateral relations.
This effort apparently is designed to re-
duce popular expectations about your trip
and to prepare the country to accept the
status quo at least for the time being.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010068-2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Greek
NATO
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's political po-
sition remains strong as India enters its third
month under a state of emergency.
The Prime Minister is encountering little re-
sistance to her increasingly authoritarian rule,
and her hand has been strengthened since June by
encouraging short-term economic prospects. India
appears headed toward its best economic year since
1970-71. Ample summer rainfall promises an un-
usually good harvest this fall. The government's
success in cooling inflationary pressures has low-
ered prices considerably. Gandhi seems to be lean-
ing more toward conservative political advisers and
trying to play down her long-standing ties with the
pro-Soviet left. She has also indicated an interest
in improved relations with the US; last Sunday she
unexpectedly accepted a dinner invitation from the
US embassy.
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Top Seeret
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