THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 25 MARCH 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015064
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 25, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
March 25, 1976
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption categoni.511(1),(21.(3)
declassified onbi on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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March 25, 1976
Table of Contents
Lebanon-Syria: Syrian mediators are still trying
to gain agreement to a cease-fire from Lebanese
leftist leader Jumblatt. Syrian military com-
manders are showing signs of dissatisfaction
with President Asad for his handling of the
crisis. (Page 1)
China: The campaign criticizing Teng Hsiao-ping
continues to leave open the possibility that
he can redeem himself if he admits his mistakes.
(Page 2)
Zambia-Rhodesia: Prime Minister Mudenda recently
described the ground rules Lusaka will impose
on Rhodesian insurgents if and when they are
allowed to conduct guerrilla campaigns from
Zambia. (Page 4)
USSR: The Soviets have made significant gains in
their program to develop a nuclear-fusion re-
actor. (Page 5)
Notes: Argentina; Portugal; Thailand (Pages 6
and 7)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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.1 Li 1 'I J. 'Ji
LEBANON-SYRIA
Syrian mediators are still trying
to gain agreement from leftist leader
Kamal Jumblatt to Damascus' peace pro-
posal; Jumblatt is scheduled to meet
with President Asad today. Asad's
handling of the current crisis is ap-
parently creating dissatisfaction within
the Syrian military, which may further
complicate his efforts to obtain a
cease-fire.
Syrian officers
may also be worried that Damascus will become bogged
down militarily in Lebanon or, even worse, become
involved in an unwanted conflict with the Israelis.
The continued defiance of Jumblatt and other
leftist leaders creates a dilemma for Asad. Faced
with the prospect of the collapse of his mediation
efforts, he probably feels under strong pressure to
use more Syrian regulars to restore order. If he
cracks down too heavily on recalcitrant leftists,
however, he may provoke further discord within his
own military. Asad's enemies hope he will make a
serious miscalculation on Lebanon, but Asad is
adept at outmaneuvering his opponents and thus far
military dissension does not appear to have reached
the stage where it threatens his position.
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There are no indications that Syria has moved 25X1
additional forces into Lebanon in the past few days.
Israel has 25X1
appar-
ently taken no action beyond sending reconnaissance
missions over southern and central Lebanon.
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CHINA
The campaign criticizing Teng Hsiao-
ping, now nearly two months old, continues
to leave open the possibility that Teng
can redeem himself if he admits his mis-
takes. This formulation Leaves Teng a
way out of his difficulties; it also
serves a similar purpose for his oppo-
nents should their efforts to remove
him fall short. Recent articles in the
media indicate, in fact, that Teng's
opponents recognize they have chosen a
formidable adversary.
Chinese officials have frequently used the
theme of Teng's possible redemption in discussions
with foreigners, presumably to give the outside
world an impression of patience and reasonableness.
The same theme has surfaced from time to time within
China. An article in the March 21 issue of People's
Daily, although no less critical of Teng than ear-
lier material, ends with the statement that "people
are watching" Teng to see whether he will change
his ways and "truly repent."
The PRC-controlled press in Hong
Kong reportedly has been told by Peking to refer
to Teng as "comrade," indicating that he remains a
member in good standing of the party.
The article in the People's Daily stated that
Teng "holds a high position and certain power" and
expressed concern that he could use this power in
his own interest and that of his supporters. The
party theoretical journal Red Flag has indicated
that Teng and his followers are putting up a strug-
gle, noting that after their first major setback--
presumably when Teng was blocked from the premier-
ship--they have fought back "ten times as hard."
(continued)
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Response to the campaign against Teng remains
mixed. Some areas are pursuing it with a noticeable
lack of enthusiasm, while others seem to be promot-
ing it more vigorously. The recent public appear-
ance of some provincial officials who, like Teng,
were stripped of power during the Cultural Revolu-
tion and subsequently reinstated, indicates the
campaign has not "broadened" in the way its origina-
tors may have hoped.
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Southern Africa
Central African Republic
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Mala
Equato
Gut
Bangui
*Yaounde
Uganda
Kampala*
Lake
Victoria
Ii
Cabind
Brazzaville
bura
undi
*Nairobi
Kinshasa
Tanzania
*Bar es'
/ Salaam
Luanda
Lake
Nyasa
Rhodesia
b que
South-West Africa
(Namibia)
*Windhoek
Walvis Bay
(S. AO-
Botswana
Atlantic
Ocean
South
*Pretoria
Swazila
as tho
Africa
Maputo
bane
Indian
Ocean
MILES 500
5595I2 3-76
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ZAMBIA-RHODESIA
Zambian Prime Minister Mudenda re-
cently described the ground rules Lusaka
will impose on Rhodesian insurgents if
and when they are allowed to conduct guer-
rilla campaigns from Zambia.
Mudenda has
stated that the insurgents would be provided safe
haven, tactical information on Rhodesian border
posts, small boats for river crossing, and possibly
transportation for arms and equipment. Training
will not be allowed in Zambia, and Lusaka will not
act as an intermediary for procurement or shipment
of arms to the insurgents.
Cuban and non-African forces will not be al-
lowed to transit Zambia or participate with the
guerrillas in military operations from there.
Neither will direct involvement be permitted in
Zambia by non-African governments in the form of
military aid, financing, or bther types of support
to the liberation movements. All non-African sup-
port must move through Tanzania and Mozambique.
The Zambian government has long maintained
tight control over the activities of liberation
movements within Zambia. The new restrictions
clearly reflect Lusaka's concern over the Soviet
and Cuban role in Angola, and are intended to pre-
vent any such involvement with Rhodesian insurgents
inside Zambia.
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USSR
The Soviets have recently made sig-
nificant gains in their program to de-
velop a nuclear-fusion reactor, also a
major goal of US nuclear research.
A fusion reaction will produce energy by the
same process as a hydrogen bomb, but the energy
will be released slowly and in a controlled manner.
The fuel is deuterium, a form of hydrogen available
in virtually unlimited quantities in water. The
problem is to raise the temperature of the deuterium
to about that of the sun to ignite the fusion re-
action and then to continue the reaction at that
temperature while extracting usable energy.
Soviet scientists have achieved impressive re-
sults with a fusion research device. Based on these
results, they now plan to build a much larger device
to demonstrate conclusively that energy can be pro-
duced in this way.
The US program, which is smaller in both
funding and manpower, is expected to match the re-
cent Soviet achievements later this year. However,
the Soviet fusion program probably will demonstrate
the feasibility of producing fusion energy before
the US does. Many formidable engineering problems
will remain before an electric power plant based
on fusion energy can be built.
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NOTES
Argentina's new military junta is firmly in
place and shows every sign that it intends to re-
tain power for some time.
There has been little violence so far, but
stiff penalties have been decreed for anyone who
assists the terrorist cause. The government has
banned political and labor union activity, closed
congress, suspended the supreme court, and is ap-
pointing military governors for the provinces.
The new leadership is friendly to the US and will
strive to improve Argentina's ties with this coun-
try which they hope will provide investment and new
capital to cover Buenos Aires' huge debt payments
and current-account deficit.
Portugal's Revolutionary Council, after an
all-night session, reaffirmed April 25 as the date
for legislative assembly elections.
The so-called "operational" faction within the
Council presumably mustered the strength to over-
rule arguments by those, including President Cdsta
Gomes and Foreign Minister Antunes/
/ The "oper-
ationals" have been reluctant to risk public dis-
approval by going back on assurances that the vote
would be held as scheduled.
(continued)
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Thai
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Top Secret
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