THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 3 SEPTEMBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014892
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 3, 1975

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
C,...11
The President's Daily Brief
September 3, 1975
5
Tot S1ecret 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Exempt from general
declasnfication uhedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category,5111(1),(2).(3)
declassified only 00 approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
.1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized CopyApproved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
September 3, 1975
Table of Contents
USSR: Analysis of activity at the Severodvinsk
shipyard suggests that the Soviets are build-
ing a new submarine, possibly equipped to fire
ballistic missiles. (Page 1)
Portugal: Officers opposed to pro-Communist former
prime minister Goncalves are increasing their
efforts to remove him as armed forces chief
of staff. (Page 2)
Ecuador: President Rodriguez has restored calm to
Quito, but dealing with the underlying causes
of discontent will be a more difficult matter.
(Page 3)
Note: Cuba (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
Analysis of activity at the Severod-
vinsk shipyard for the first half of 1975
suggests that the Soviets are building a
new submarine, possibly equipped to fire
ballistic missiles. It is also possible,
however, that the construction activity
there is related to the maintenance and
overhaul of nuclear submarines presently
in service.
Early this year, what appeared to be three
pressure hull sections were photographed at Severod-
vinsk outside a construction hall that builds hull
sections for ballistic-missile submarines. The
sections were encased in box-like structures
With the addition
of an outer hull--a standard design for Soviet sub-
marines--the new submarine could have a beam of
about 43 feet, making it about 5 feet wider than
other modern Soviet ballistic-missile submarines.
25X'25X1
Sometime between late June and July 22, the
hull sections disappeared. We believe they were
moved across the shipyard into a new large construc-
tion hall for submarines by means of a transporter
specifically built to move the sections. If the sub-
marine follows the pattern for the construction of
ballistic-missile submarines, it probably will be
ready for launching in 1978 and could enter the force
by 1980.
Soviet officials have hinted for some time--
usually in connection with attempts in SALT to
restrict the US Trident program--that they are
developing an advanced SSBN. General Secretary
Brezhnev recently told a visiting group of US
Senators that the USSR would not build its new
submarine, called the Typhoon, if the US agreed
not to build the Trident. A submarine of this
size, carrying a long-range missile with MIRVs,
could be considered by the Soviets to be comparable
to our Trident, which will not be operational until
late 1978 or 1979.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGAL
Portuguese officers opposed to pro-
Communist former prime minister Vasco Gon-
calves are stepping up efforts to remove
him as armed forces chief of staff. Their
efforts, plus parallel moves by the polit-
ical parties, have Zed to a postponement
in swearing in a new government with
Admiral Azevedo as prime minister.
Army Chief of Staff Fabiao and his air force
counterpart, General Morais da Silva, have publicly
denounced Goncalves. Each has called on the sep-
arate assembly of his service to purge Goncalves'
supporters before a scheduled meeting on Friday of
the Armed Forces General Assembly.
The general assembly, which is made up of 240
officers and enlisted men and has generally followed
a pro-Goncalves line, has been called into session
by President Costa Gomes to revamp the Revolutionary
Council. The army holds 120 seats in the assembly
and the air force 60. The remaining 60 seats are
controlled by the navy, which earlier endorsed
Goncalves' bid to remain prime minister.
It has been widely assumed that the general
assembly will be used to purge the leaders of the
anti-Goncalves faction. If the army and air force
succeed in packing their delegations, however, they
could turn the assembly into an effective weapon
against Goncalves.
Goncalves and his Communist supporters are
clearly worried about the strategy of the anti-
Communist Antunes group. This strategy is de-
signed to show that Goncalves cannot control the
armed forces and to use the assembly against him.
Air force chief Morais da Silva was summoned
to the presidential palace to explain his refusal
to support Goncalves in his new post. His refusal
was also criticized by the government-controlled
and Communist-influenced national radio, in what
may be the opening volley of a Communist propaganda
offensive.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ECUADOR
President Rodriguez has restored
calm to Quito following Monday's abor-
tive coup, but dealing with the under-
lying causes of discontent?particularly
the country's economic problems?will be
a more difficult matter.
The attempted coup could set back, at least
temporarily, recent moves by the government to
shift its policy orientation away from the left
and toward the center. Rodriguez has accused
"irresponsible politicians" of instigating the
rebellion; this may signal a crackdown on con-
servative political and business groups as well
as on a critical press.
Leading civilian critics of the regime already
have gone into hiding, while some 80 soldiers and
officers have been placed under arrest. Press re-
ports indicate that government forces have raided
the homes of some political and business leaders,
and a dusk-to-dawn curfew is in effect in Quito
and Guayaquil.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RD-P79T00936A012800010003-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Cuba is currently engaged in a major propaganda
campaign to trumpet the cause of Puerto Rican inde-
pendence.
One of this drive's high points will be the so-
called International Conference on Solidarity with
Puerto Rican Independence to be held in Havana from
September 5 to 7. The Moscow-backed World Peace
Council will be the ostensible host, but Cuba has
provided the impetus behind the scenes. The Puerto
Rican issue lends itself particularly well to inter-
national forums such as the UN, where Cuba can beat
the drums before a receptive audience of third-world
representatives and thus certify its revolutionary
and "anti-imperialist" credentials.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized CopyApproved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-R-DP79T00936A012800010003-2
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012800010003-2