THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 3 APRIL 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007714
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 3, 1974

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The President's Daily Brief
April 3, 1974
3
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I 1652
exemption category 58(1).(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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L I WI
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
April 3, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The first round of elections to select a successor
to deceased French President Pompidou will be held
on April 28 or May 5, earlier than either the Gaul-
lists or their leftist rivals would have preferred.
(Page 1)
Tel Aviv gave wide publicity yesterday to its rein-
forcement of the Golan front, as Syrian and Israeli
troops continued to exchange mortar, tank, and artil-
lery fire. (Page 2)
Peking's warm reception of Khmer Communist leader
Khieu Samphan raises questions as to the future of
Sihanouk. (Page 3)
The recent campaign by Egyptian media to discredit
the Nasir regime has backfired, and Cairo is attempt-
ing to repair the damage done to President Sadat's
image among some Egyptians and other Arabs. (Page 4)
Hanoi has made reassignments to several top economic
jobs aimed at strengthening long-term economic plan-
ning in the North. (Page 5)
Notes on Cambodia, North Korea, Greece, and the
USSR - Middle East appear on Page 5.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FRANCE
The first round of elections to select a succes-
sor to deceased French President Pompidou will be
held on April 28 or May 5--earlier than either the
Gaullists or their leftist rivals would have pre-
ferred. Gaullist Jacques Chaban-Delmas and Socialist
Francois Mitterrand are the main contenders, but
there will be several other candidates.
The Communists, Socialists, and left Radicals
had hoped an election would not occur until at least
next year. They wanted more time to develop an image
of international statesman for their leader, Social-
ist Francois Mitterrand. The alliance also hoped
for time to exploit popular dissatisfaction with the
government's failure to resolve the country's eco-
nomic problems.
The leaders of the alliance are still not agreed
on how. to present their candidates. The Communists
want Mitterrand to run as the sole leftist candidate;
they fear one of their own would do poorly, exposing
the party's weakened position. Mitterrand, however,
wants his allies to field candidates So he can run
on amoderate.platform, rather than be associated
with the more extreme portions of the alliance pro-
gram. He is gambling that he will win enough votes
on the 'first round to make, the second, where he hopes
to prevail with the additional support of Communist
voters..
The governing coalition--Gaullists, Independent
Republicans, and a small centrist group--is also in
disarray. One of their, major problems is that Gis-
card d'Estaing, the leader of the Independent Repub-
licans, may choose to break coalition unity and run
in the first round.
Of the two main candidates, Jacques Chaban-
Delmas, 58, is a liberal Gaullist and a former prime
minister.. Ata party congress last November, his
Gaullist colleague's indicated, that they would sup-
port him as a successor to Pompidou. Mitterrand,
57, is the prime mover Of the leftist alliance.
Under the present system, no president has been
elected in the first round. In view of the many
likely candidates, this election probably will be no
exception. Uncommitted voters make up some 30 per-
cent of the French electorate and usually determine
the outcome.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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1. IL, NI
MIDDLE EAST
Tel Aviv gave wide publicity yesterday to its
reinforcement of the Golan front as Syrian and Israeli
troops continued to exchange mortar, tank, and artil-
lery fire. The Israeli move apparently was designed
to warn Damascus against any renewal of offensive
action and to reassure the home front of Israel's
military preparedness. Israeli air activity, how-
ever, was at a much lower level than on Monday. Syr-
ian shells yesterday struck two Israeli civilian set-
tlements, according to an Israeli spokesman, causing
some damage but no casualties. Syrian shelling of
civilian targets will heighten pressure within Israel
to strike back harder at targets in Syria.
Damascus apparently believes it must maintain
military pressure on the Golan front to support its
negotiating aims. Israel, however, views this pres-
sure as a military threat
One re-
sult of this prolonged period of growing tension has
been that the chances of miscalculation on both sides
have increased, and that a minor incident could lead
to a major outbreak of fighting.
* *
A wave of Israeli land purchases that is appar-
ently under way on the occupied Jordan West Bank
along the periphery of Jerusalem may further compli-
cate Middle East negotiations. Purchasers are both
private individuals and organized groups, such as
construction firms.?
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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CHINA-CAMBODIA
From the Khmer Communist point of view, the visit
of "deputy premier" and "defense minister" Khieu Sam-
phan to Hanoi and Peking was intended to emphasize
that the Khmer Communists are an independent force
that must be reckoned with politically before the
fighting can end in Cambodia. Peking's warm recep-
tion and the prominence accorded Samphan raise ques-
tions as to the future of Sihanouk, whose return to
power the Chinese have long proposed as part of a
solution in Cambodia.
Chou En-lai's remarks on prospects for a nego-
tiated settlement still reflect the cautious tone
that has characterized Peking's statements on Cambo-
dia over the past year. Although Chou made no spe-
cific reference to peace proposals, he implied ap-
proval of a negotiated settlement in Cambodia by cit-
ing the Paris and Vientiane cease-fire agreements as
"victories" in Indochina.
Samphan, militant as usual, denounced the US and
its "lackeys" for alleged espousal of "sham cease-
fire, sham talks, and sham peace." He contended that
the Khmer Communists wanted a "genuine peace," not
one that would allow the Phnom Penh government to
"recuperate and strengthen its forces" in order to
go on fighting.
3
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EGYPT
The recent intensive campaign by Egyptian
media to discredit the Nasir regime has backfired,
and Cairo is attempting to repair the damage done
to President Sadat's image among some Egyptians and
other Arabs. The belated attempt to back off from
the blatant criticism of Nasir that began appearing
two months ago, however, has not silenced opponents
of Sadat's policies.
Cairo may attempt a new tactic to mollify Arab,
and particularly Egyptian, critics and turn the
tables on the Soviets, who have been sniping at
Egypt's turn toward a more open society.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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NOTES
North Vietnam: Hanoi yesterday announced reas-
signments to several top economic jobs aimed at
strengthening long-term economic planning in the
North. The most important change was the appoint-
ment of the Politburo's senior economist, LeiThanh
Nghi, as Chairman of the State Planning Commission.
Vice Premier Nguyen Con apparently has been desig-
nated to oversee the development of heavy industry.
Cambodia: The situation is deteriorating at
the southwestern provincial capital of Kampot. In-
surgent forces just west of the city and around the
airstrip are posing a serious threat, despite the
government's superior troop strength and firepower.
25X1
/ According to a message inter-
cepted March 31, insurgents in the Kampot area be-
lieve they have the ability to enter the city "in
the near future."
North Korea: Military exercises involving
ground, naval, and air forces continue at a fairly
high level, largely in the southwestern and central
part of the country. Although the exercises are
not coordinated, their purpose is probably to keep
units closest to South Korea in their normal high
state of readiness.
Greece: The US Embassy in Athens has confirmed
a build-up of Greek military personnel and equipment
on the Turkish frontier. The activity appears to be
of .a contingency nature, designed to convince the
Turks that Greek claims to oil exploration rights in
the Aegean Sea must be taken seriously. The junta
in Athens may also be deliberately fanning the con-
troversy as a diversion from domestic policy prob-
lems and to foster unity within the army.
USSR - Middle East: Moscow and Damascus may
have reached a new understanding on using the Syrian
port of Latakia to support the Soviet Mediterranean
Squadron. Since the October war, Soviet diesel-
powered attack submarines and their auxiliary ships
have been making almost continuous use of this port
for replenishment and minor repair. The bulk of
support work for Soviet submarines, however, is
still being done at the Egyptian port of Alexandria.
5
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iiwaistwai '0.1wown
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Top Secret
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