THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 OCTOBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014924
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: October 10, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
October 10, 1975
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of ED. 11652
exemption category 513(1 )2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
October 10, 1975
Table of Contents
USSR-Syria: During his visit to Moscow, President
Asad and the Soviets will probably direct their
primary attention toward the next round of
diplomacy. (Page 1)
Lebanon: Fighting in Beirut reportedly has eased
this morning following announcement that a
new cease-fire has gone into effect. (Page 2)
Portugal: The cabinet issued a tough statement
last night warning that the government would
act against any group using violence. It en-
dorsed the recent actions of the anti-Commu-
nist political parties and indirectly condemned
the Communists. (Page 3)
Morocco - Spanish Sahara: King Hassan has reiter-
ated a promise he made in August to wait for
the advisory opinion by the International Court
of Justice before resorting to force in Span-
ish Sahara. (Page 4)
Angola: The three nationalist groups are moving
toward a fresh round of fighting aimed at im-
proving their respective military positions
before independence on November 11. (Page 5)
Norwa
/ (Page 7)
Notes: Panama; Argentina; Poland (Pages 10 and 11)
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USSR-SYRIA
Syrian President Asad arrived in
Moscow yesterday on what is billed as
a brief visit. One purpose of the trip
is to demonstrate Syrian-Soviet soli-
darity in opposition to Sinai II. Asad
and the Soviets will probably direct
their primary attention, however, to-
ward the next round of diplomacy.
The Soviets will want to explore Syria's at-
titude toward new talks, since Damascus, unlike Mos-
cow, has been cool to the idea of reconvening the
Geneva conference. The Soviets are sure to stress
that they want a substantial role in any Syrian-
Israeli talks. The presence of Defense Minister
Talas in Asad's party indicates that the question
of military assistance will also be raised.
The Soviets are likely to give the Syrians
strong assurances of support. The presence of party
boss Brezhnev and other top Soviet leaders at the
airport to greet Asad indicates the importance Mos-
cow attaches to the visit as a symbol of its con-
tinued role in the Middle East.
The Lebanese situation will probably be touched
on in the discussions. Moscow has applauded Syrian
efforts to mediate the conflict there.
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LEBANON
Fighting in Beirut, which surged
again last night, is reported to have
eased this morning following announce-
ment that a new cease-fire has gone
into effect. The new agreement re-
portedly was worked out during Leba-
nese Prime Minister Karami's visit to
Syria yesterday. Karami returned to
Beirut last night. Fedayeen leader
Yasir Arafat is also back in Beirut
Yesterday, Kuwait called for an Arab foreign
ministers' meeting to discuss the Lebanese situa-
tion. Initial Arab response has been generally
favorable. Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia have agreed,
and the Sudanese ambassador in Lebanon is expected
to recommend that his government approve.
The extremists at opposing ends of the Leba-
nese political spectrum can be expected to object
to the use of a joint Arab military force to stop
the fighting. The Phalangists will fear that any
compromise reached after an Arab force imposed a
truce would be at the expense of the Christians.
For their part, Lebanese leftists and "rejection-
ist" fedayeen, who hope that continued strife will
ultimately result in a government favorable to
their interests, will fear that a joint Arab truce
force could prevent them from achieving this goal.
Tel Aviv is not likely to take a relaxed view
of outside Arab military intervention. Foreign
Minister Allon declared, barely two weeks ago, that
Israel would not intervene in Lebanon as long as
the conflict is limited to the Lebanese. Israel
would begin by urging the US and others to intercede
with Beirut to call off such a plan.
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PORTUGAL
The cabinet issued a tough state-
ment last night warning that the gov-
ernment would act against any group
using violence. It endorsed the recent
actions of the anti-Communist political
parties and indirectly condemned the
Communists for supporting the continu-
ing wave of military, political, and
labor agitation.
The statement called for a joint meeting between
the government and the Armed Forces Revolutionary
Council to map out measures to guarantee stability.
This will be no easy task. The mutiny of leftist
soldiers has polarized political and military fac-
tions, and the room for compromise is becoming pro-
gressively more narrow. The danger of widespread
violence is growing.
Leftist soldiers occupying the artillery post
in Porto and loyalist forces there are at a stand-
off. The regional commander, General Veloso, backed
away again yesterday from using force to quell the
mutiny. He probably has enough loyal troops to do
so, but not without bloodshed.
Some pro-government military units appear to be
preparing for a showdown.
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MOROCCO - SPANISH SAHARA
King Hassan has reiterated a prom-
ise he made in August to wait for the
advisory opinion by the International
Court of Justice before resorting to
force in Spanish Sahara.
In remarks to the diplomatic corps in Rabat on
Wednesday, Hassan said that once the court's opinion
is known, he will decide what course Morocco will
take. The court's decision may be released soon.
Hassan added that he expected support from
other Arab states in return for Moroccan assistance
during the 1973 war and during subsequent peace
negotiations. He also appealed to African states,
reminding them that territorial integrity and na-
tional liberation were important concepts in their
past.
Hassan's remarks have somewhat eased tension
over Spanish Sahara. If the court's opinion should
be ambiguous or unfavorable to Morocco, however,
Hassan probably will initiate some form of military
action.
In a parallel speech to the UN General As-
sembly, Moroccan Foreign Minister Laraki also ap-
pealed for international support. He argued that
the assembly, in recommending proposals for the
decolonization of Spanish Sahara, must respect the
"fundamental law" of the territorial integrity of
Morocco and Mauritania. He reaffirmed Morocco's
claim to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla
in northern Morocco and called on Spain to negotiate
their return, drawing a parallel between his coun-
try's claim to the enclaves and Spain's to Gibral-
tar. Morocco may be hinting that it will support
Spain on Gibraltar in return for an overall settle-
ment on the Sahara and the northern enclaves.
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?8-
2 -
MBIA
?16 -
SOU -WEST AFRICA
(intern tional Territory)
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16
558639 10-75
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ANGOLA
Angola's three nationalist groups
are moving toward a fresh round of fight-
ing aimed at improving their respective
military positions before independence
on November 11. Each group apparently
is being hampered by operational problems.
The immediate strategy of the Soviet-backed
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, which
controls Launda and other important points, is to
drive the National Union for the Total Independence
of Angola from its headquarters in Nova Lisboa.
Control of Nova Lisboa would give the Popular Move-
ment a major foothold in Angola's densely populated
central highlands and damage the National Union's
control of the area. A Popular Movement force is
already moving on the city.
The two Portuguese battalions stationed in
Nova Lisboa were withdrawn on October 4, upon the
termination there of the refugee airlift. The
troops abandoned most of their equipment to the Na-
tional Union and the National Front for the Libera-
tion of Angola. The equipment included small arms
and ammunition, fuel and light vehicles./
The Portuguese army has now withdrawn from all
its posts in the interior of Angola except for the
one at Sa da Bandeira. That post will probably be
evacuated within the next two weeks.
The National Union recently began an advance
on Angola's major port of Lobito, which it lost to
the Popular Movement last August.
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(continued)
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Portuguese military authorities in Luanda ex-
pect that the northern-based National Front will
begin a drive against the capital soon. Since it
recaptured the important junction town of Caxito
last month, the National Front has been strengthen-
ing its logistic base there. The Front is being
assisted by at least 1,100 Zairian troops.
Although there has been some heavy skirmishing
around Caxito and in central Angola in recent days,
the three groups apparently are having problems
preparing for full-scale offensives. According to
the US consul general in Luanda, all three are
finding it difficult to provide supplies to their
frontline troops.
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NORWAY
(continued)
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(continued)
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PANAMA
PANAMA
CANAL ZONE
Canal
-??- Existing canal zone
boundary
MIProposed canal zone
MEMilitary base proposed
for retention
MA UDEN
LAKE
10 Mtles
10 Kilornettls
PANAMA
The Canal Zone showing reduced zone and base holdings Panama proposes for US retention.
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78
COSTA RICA
.?
Area of Canal Zone Map
CARIBBEAN SEA
Cheep
PANAMiIIT
*Rto Hato
GULF OF PANAMA
, COLOMBIA
7,5 Mdcx
75 Kolometers
558640 10-75
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NOTES
Panama's General Torrijos apparently intends to
use the seventh anniversary of his assuming power to-
morrow to demonstrate massive support for his nego-
tiating position on a new canal treaty. Disorders
are possible, but we believe the government will
make every effort to keep events under control.
We believe Torrijos remains committed to the
negotiations, and that he still thinks he can get a
treaty that will meet Panama's aspirations and bene-
fit him politically. The Panamanians will make con-
cessions only grudgingly and probably expect the
talks to drag on through 1976. Partly for domestic
reasons, Torrijos will try to show that he is keep-
ing pressure on the US through gestures to third
world and communist countries.
Argentina's President Peron apparently is de-
termined to resume her duties next week, despite
strong pressure on her to extend her leave or even
resign. The government has announced she will re-
turn to the capital on October 16 and attend an im-
portant Peronist rally the next day.
Both Acting President Luder and Interior Min-
ister Robledo flew to the presidential retreat on
Tuesday to confer with Peron. Luder almost cer-
tainly urged her to remain out of the picture, but
Robledo, who is said to differ with Luder on the
issue, may well have urged her to come back. Ac-
cording to a press account, the commander of the
air force also visited the President to tell her
of the military's desire that she prolong her vaca-
tion. The officers regard the controversy over her
role and her demonstrated inability to lead as det-
rimental to the pursuit of their principal goal,
the suppression of terrorism.
(continued)
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* * *
Polish
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Top Secret
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