THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 MARCH 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014743
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 12, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
March 12, 1975
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 5B(I ).(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
March 12, 1975
Table of Contents
Portugal: The attempt of rightist officers yester-
day to oust radical members of the Armed Forces
Movement could lead to an abrupt shift to the
left. (Page 1)
Egypt-Israel:
(Page 3)
Cambodia: Flights of DC-8 aircraft into Pochentong
airport were reportedly resumed this morning
after being interrupted yesterday by artillery
and rocket attacks. (Page 5)
South Vietnam: Communist attacks are spreading.
(Page 6)
Notes: Ethiopia; Kenya (Page 7)
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PORTUGAL
Radicals in the Armed Forces Movement
and extreme leftist political groups are
moving rapidly to exploit the unsuccessful
coup attempt staged by rightist officers
yesterday.
The abortive uprising apparently included only
units from Tancos air base--some 60 miles northeast
of Lisbon--and some units of the national guard.
The move, led by rightist officers, was poorly organ-
ized, and the attack on the headquarters of an artil-
lery unit near Lisbon airport failed to attract ad-
ditional support.
Within three hours of the first shot, Armed
Forces Movement spokesmen began announcing on Lisbon
radio that the situation was under control. Some of
their early statements indicated that the Movement
was prepared to capitalize on the episode, saying
that now the "revolution" can move ahead without
impediments.
In a speech to the nation last night, President
Costa Gomes denounced the coup attempt as a "reac-
tionary adventure" and linked the plotters to eco-
nomic sabotage and, by implication, to the political
unrest that was manifested in the violence in Setubal
last weekend.
Costa Gomes also provided a list of 26 officers,
headed by conservative former president Spinola, who
were allegedly involved in the attempt. General
Spinola is reported to have fled to Spain and to
have asked for asylum in Brazil.
rightist exiles there planned
to cross into Portugal to support the uprising.
Large crowds of leftist demonstrators roamed
the streets of Lisbon and some of Portugal's other
major cities last night in response to broadcast
appeals to show their support for the Armed Forces
Movement. In Lisbon and Oporto the offices of the
conservative and moderate political parties were
ransacked.
(continued)
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Large crowds also conducted orderly demonstra-
tions in front of the US embassy in Lisbon where,
after some early uncertainty, security forces pro-
vided adequate protection.
A sharp turn to the left by the government
could become evident soon. The rightist attempt to
dislodge radical leaders might also be used to jus-
tify postponement of the election scheduled for
April 12.
In any event, moderate officers and civilian
politicians who were beginning to reassert them-
selves are likely now to draw back from any criti-
cism of the Movement's leadership for fear of being
attacked as reactionaries.
2
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EGYPT-ISRAEL
(continued)
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CAMBODIA
US charter airlines flying DC-8 air-
craft halted flights to Pochentong air-
port at mid-afternoon yesterday, following
intensified communist artillery and rocket
attacks. According to press reports, the
flights resumed this morning.
Airlift operations by the smaller C-130 air-
craft--which have been delivering all ammunition
and some fuel--apparently had not been interrupted.
The operation to retake the town of Tuol Leap
and push the communists out of rocket and artillery
range of the airport made little progress yesterday
for the sixth straight day. Ambassador Dean met
with President Lon Nol yesterday and received prom-
ises that increased efforts would be made to retake
Tuol Leap. It may be several days, however, before
any new plans materialize.
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104
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SOUTH VIETNAM
The communists' dry-season campaign
is beginning to spread southward. Strong
pressure continues on government positions
in the central highlands and northern prov-
inces.
Tri Tam, a town in western Binh Duong Prov-
ince, has been hit by infantry, armor, and artil-
lery and is reported in communist hands early this
morning. Sporadic fighting around Tay Ninh City is
expected to become more intense. Communist mili-
tary activity in the delta increased substantially
yesterday, and heavy attacks are expected there
soon. In addition to widespread shellings, a num-
ber of ground attacks have occurred, particularly
around the provincial capital of Moc Hoa and near
Ba Tri in Kien Hoa Province.
Fighting continues at Ban Me Thuot in the cen-
tral highlands. Three South Vietnamese ranger bat-
talions have reinforced the defenders, but the sit-
uation is precarious. The major land routes into
the city are still cut, and both airfields are now
in communist hands. South Vietnamese officers be-
lieve that units from the North Vietnamese 10th and
320th divisions, as well as an independent regiment,
are involved, and that Ban Me Thuot is the main
communist target in Military Region 2.
Communist forces control some high ground
along Route 14 leading into Kontum. Local command-
ers are not expecting strong attacks against the
city, but many civilian residents are leaving for
the relative safety of Pleiku City.
The heaviest fighting in the northern prov-
inces is taking place to the west and south of Hue.
In Quang Tri Province, where two district capitals
were lost on Monday, government forces are regroup-
ing in anticipation of further attacks.
6
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NOTES
Ethiopian government forces and rebels con-
tinue to engage in scattered clashes.
A sizable government force is continuing sweep
operations about ten miles north of Asmara, and
fighting, with air support for government troops,
has been reported in western Eritrea. In Shoa
Province, where Addis Ababa is located, dissidents
from the Galla tribe reportedly staged raids re-
cently along each of the three main roads leading
west and north from the capital. The Sudanese
seem confident that the government and the Eritreans
will eventually accept President Numayri's propo-
sal for peace talks. A Sudanese foreign ministry
official told the US ambassador yesterday that both
sides had shown some interest in exploring Numayrits
offer.
The murder of J. M. Kariuki, an outspoken
critic of Kenya's President Jomo Kenyatta, will
sharply increase political tension, already high
because of a series of still-unresolved bombings
in Nairobi that resulted in 27 deaths.
Kariuki was a leading figure among the Nyeri
clan of the Kikuyu tribe. The Nyeri resent the fact
that Kenyatta's Kiambu clan has received greater
benefits from the political system. Kariuki's mur-
der may lead to disorder and violence, because mem-
bers of other tribes considered him a champion of
the ordinary Kenyan.
7
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Top Secret
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