THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 DECEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993667
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 8, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011400070001-3
The President's Daily Brief
8 December 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(11,(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
8 December 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
On Page 1 we note that President Pompidou's visit
to the USSR next month should help his government's
campaign in the coming elections and underline Pom-
pidou's determination to play a key role in major
East-West negotiations.
Romania's independent stance in the Helsinki talks
has stirred sharp criticism from its Warsaw Pact
allies. (Page 2)
In South Vietnam, three new decrees significantly
enhance the Thieu government's power. (Page 3)
On Page 4 we discuss Philippine President Marcos'
progress in having his new constitution adopted.
He can be expected to use yesterday's attack on
his wife to justify further his extraordinary
powers.
Moscow apparently intends to respond favorably to
the West's invitation to open MBFR talks soon.
(Page 5)
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FRANCE-USSR
President Pompidou's visit to the USSR next month is
particularly well-timed for the French. Facing par-
liamentary elections next spring, the government
wants to undercut the Communist-Socialist coalition
which, after a slow start, is showing increasing
unity and popular support. By his trip Pompidou
can both counter allegations of a Gaullist "slide
toward Atlanticism" and emphasize France's carefully
cultivated "special relationship" with Moscow. For-
eign Minister Schumann has privately stated the gov-
ernment's campaign Zine: only a staunchly anti-Com-
munist government can maintain close ties with Moscow
without becoming subservient.
Coming at the outset of major East-West negotiations,
the visit also underscores Pompidou's determination
to play a key role in the process of detente. Both
Paris and Moscow will use the visit to highlight the
convergence of views on a number of issues affecting
these negotiations, such as giving priority to the
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
over Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions.
Moscow, which sees value in demonstrating the vital-
ity in the "special relationship," apparently is
willing to ?allow the French Communist Party to pay
whatever electoral price is necessary. To show
that it has not forgotten the comrades, the Kremlin
is sending senior Politburo member. Suslov to the
20th congress of the French party next week.
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ROMANIA - EASTERN EUROPE
Romania's ?strenuous efforts at Helsinki to
establish itself as an independent participant in
preparations for a Conference on Security and Co-
operation in Europe have provoked sharp criticism
from its allies. Warsaw considers that Bucharest's
breaking of ranks is unnecessary, and fears that
Moscow now may try to tighten Pact discipline.
Party leader Gierek, who has considerably improved
relations with Romania in his two years in power,
has shown his displeasure by suddenly canceling a
trip to Romania scheduled to begin on Sunday.
Despite these reactions, the Romanians
will continue pressing their own line in
order to preserve and hopefully increase
their room for maneuver as Europe moves
toward detente.
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SOUTH VIETNAM
Three new decrees announced this month have
significantly enhanced the government's power.
They extend and codify the authority given Presi-
dent Thieu by the Emergency Powers Act passed at
the time of the Communists' spring offensive and
scheduled to expire this month. Their major fea-
tures include:
--A state of alert can be invoked in all or
part of the country during a "critical situa-
tion" or "public calamity." The government
could then control the movement of people and
goods, end all strikes and demonstrations, and
ban publications or leaflets considered detri-
mental to national security.
--A state of emergency can be imposed in the
event of "TEminent upset of public order or
catastrophe." Under it officials can impose
curfews, detain or arrest any individuals con-
sidered dangerous to public order, and declare
martial law.
--A state of curfew can be ordered if there is
"clear and critical danger to the national se-
curity." The government could then transfer
all civil authority to the military.
When any of the decrees is invoked, officials
are exempt from prosecution if they kill or injure
anyone in self-defense. For the first time tough
penalties, including capital punishment, can be-im-
posed for economic crimes such as hoarding, over-
charging, or spreading rumors designed to upset the
economy.
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PHILIPPINES
President Marcos will use yesterday's at-
tack on his wife to justify further the
extraordinary powers which he employs now
under martial law and is preparing to
?continue under a new constitution. A
government spokesman has already charged
that a "rightist conspiracy" is behind
the attack. Increased arrests within the
oligarchy could result.
Marcos will submit the constitution to national
referendum next month and is busily orchestrating
public support. He has also announced the forma-
tion of a mass national front organization that he
hopes eventually will replace the traditional two-
party system.
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NOTES
Cuba-Caribbean: Cuba expects to take part
today in the signing of a joint declaration with
the four Commonwealth Caribbean states formally
agreeing to exchange diplomatic recognition.
Negotiation of this declaration
has been under way for more than a month, and at
one point Jamaica's Prime Minister Manley had
thought he would not go along.
? USSR-MBFR://
zMbscow will soon respond favorably
to the West's invitation to open discussions on
Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions early in the
new year. General Secretary Brezhnev acknowledged
during a speech in Hungary last week that consul-
tations were already under way on the matter among
Moscow's Warsaw Pact allies. These may culminate
in a formal Pact meeting later this month. Ro-
mania's insistence that it attend all stages of
the MBFR talks has
caused some complications for Moscow.
Somalia: The Soviet role in Somalia
is one of
several factors that have caused opposition to Pres-
ident Siad to reach dangerous proportions. Siad's
harsh measures against his domestic opponents, his
efforts to eradicate tribalism, and his unpopular
socialist policies are also undermining his three-
year rule, sev-
eral groups, which include members of the ruling
council and senior military and police officers,
are planning to remove him soon. Siad, on the
other hand, is no novice in the business of foiling
plots against his rule.
Pakistan:
Islamabad has ordered 18 Mirage III jet intercep-
tors to augment its inventory of 20 Mirage Ills
previously acquired from France. In addition, some-
time this month Pakistan is scheduled to receive
at least the first five of 30 Mirage 5 ground attack
aircraft ordered from Paris in 1970. Islamabad has
also reportedly arranged with Peking to acquire next
year a squadron of 12 to 16 TU-16 jet medium bombers
to supplement its small force of aging US-built
Canberra and Chinese IL-28 light bombers.
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