THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 MAY 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015097
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 1, 1976

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013300010028-9
The President's Daily Brief
7
May 1, 1976
2
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I 1652
exemption category 5B( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013300010028-9
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013300010028-9
1-1 A .1 %. 1-i .L_1I ? J. VI
May 1, 1976
Table of Contents
Lebanon: The presidential election originally scheduled for today
will be delayed until next Saturday. (Page 1)
China: The two Chinese ships now operating off the Fiji Islands
in the South Pacific have been identified as oceanographic
research vessels. (Page 1)
Panama: Reaction to discussion of the treaty negotiations in the
US presidential campaign has been split between a generally
restrained response to statements by official US spokesmen
and harsh words for former governor Reagan. (Page 2)
Angola: A struggle for power within the ruling Popular Movement
for the Liberation of Angola does not endanger President
Neto but does restrict his room for political maneuver.
(Page 2)
Notes: Italy; Portugal; USSR (SS-X-16); USSR (Dartmouth Confer-
ence);-Japan (Pages 4, 5, and 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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- U. S. S. R.
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L/ y .1 .L A 1'.. LA v 1. ? 1J A.
LEBANON: The presi-
dential election orig-
inally scheduled for
today will be delayed
until next Saturday.
CHINA: The two Chinese
ships now operating off
the Fiji Islands in the
South Pacific have been
identified as oceano-
graphic research ves-
sels.
The speaker of the Lebanese parlia-
ment announced the decision yes-
terday after heavy pressure from
leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt,
whose preferred candidate Raymond
Edde has lost ground in recent
days. Jumblatt alleges that Syria
is exerting undue pressure on
members of parliament to vote for
its candidate, Ilyas Sarkis.
Jumblatt may now seek support from
uncommitted delegates for a com-
promise candidate sympathetic to
his reform program. The Lebanese
Christians and Syrians probably
would accept a compromise candi-
date, although reluctantly.
Damascus so far has not commented
on the postponement. Any delay
threatens Syria's effort to ar-
range a settlement and represents
embarrassment for President Asad.
Chinese Foreign Ministry officials
arrived in Fiji on April 13 to
open an embassy. The two research
ships may make a port call while
they are in the area.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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lV 1 11 Lj 1 .1%. 1_, Li.LVA 1 V A-, A
PANAMA: Panamanian
reaction to discussion
of the treaty negotia-
tions in the US presi-
dential campaign has
been split between a
generally restrained
response to statements
by official US spokes-
men and harsh words for
former governor Reagan.
ANGOLA: A struggle for
power is said to be
taking place within
the leadership of the
ruling Popular Movement
for the Liberation of
Angola. President Neto
does not seem to be in
any immediate danger,
but his room for po-
litical maneuver has
been restricted by pres-
sure from black radi-
cals within the Move-
ment's military hier-
archy.
Panamanian leader Torrijos recog-
nizes that his own best interests
dictate an emphasis on the US com-
mitment to a fair treaty, and he
has had the press continue to
publicize this point. If Torrijos
allowed his public to believe that
the US was reneging on its nego-
tiating commitments, the likeli-
hood of anti-American violence
would reduce his options.
Secretary Kissinger receives fa-
vorable treatment by Panamanian
media for his stand on the treaty,
although not necessarily for his
policies in other areas. In
marked contrast, the Panama press
consistently derides Mr. Reagan.
Torrijos remains wary of trouble
from leftist students and sensi-
tive to their carping about his
failure to take a harder line.
This was probably a motive--in
addition to the purely economic
incentive of huge fines--behind
the more aggressive policies to-
ward fishing vessels initiated
this week. Torrijos has also be-
gun to emphasize that Panama's
patience for a new treaty will end
in 1977; this line demonstrates
resolve to his domestic audience.
Factional strife has been common
within the Popular Movement for
many years and has centered pri-
marily on policy differences be-
tween the political and military
wings. These tensions have been
exacerbated by the civil war and
the Movement's emergence as the
sovereign political power in An-
gola. The organization's military
victory strengthened the hand of
the military hierarchy.
2
--continued
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r VIC .1 17G F IkG011-/ILIV V LI
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There are racial overtones in the
dispute because educated mulattos
have virtually monopolized the
political hierarchy while blacks
are predominant in the military
structure. Neto heads the faction
made up primarily of the tradi-
tional mulatto leadership.
Neto is said to want a reconcilia-
tion with the National Union, which
is still in the field against him,
that will end the threat of an in-
surgency and thus make a large
Cuban force unnecessary. The
black radical faction, on the
other hand, favors strong ties
with Moscow and Havana.
Neto is an adroit politician who
has weathered serious political
crises in the past, and he may
well manage to stay on top in the
present struggle. To do so, how-
ever, he may have to move somewhat
closer to the radicals.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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PUK 1H1 rArks.1111LIV lily i
Italian President Leone
opens a round of consul-
tations today to decide
how to proceed in the
aftermath of Prime Min-
ister Moro 's resigna-
tion.
Portuguese
NOTES
All signs continue to point to a
presidential decision to dissolve
parliament and schedule an elec-
tion.
The most likely date for an elec-
tion is June 20. In order to hold
the contest on that date, Leone
would have to dissolve parliament
by next Thursday.
*25X1
25X1 25X1 25X1
4
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--continued
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r rnr,OILAGIV
Some of the leading So-
viet experts on US af-
fairs are attending the
Tenth Dartmouth Confer-
ence that opened yester-
day near Tucson, Ari-
zona.
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These unofficial bilateral meetings
were initiated at Dartmouth College
in 1960 by President Eisenhower.
American and Soviet experts have
been meeting quietly and at fairly
regular intervals since then, with
the two countries alternating as
host.
The current conference may be of
particular interest because the
Soviets have made it clear that
they want to discuss foreign pol-
icy issues during a US election
year. Among the Soviet delegates
is Georgy Arbatov, director of the
Institute of the USA and Canada.
Georgy Zhukov, political observer
for Pravda who was elected to the
party's Central Committee in March,
is also participating.
5
--continued
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run Inc, 1- 1?12,0.11...11:..1 V .1 Vi V _LJ
The Japanese trade sur-
plus continues to grow.
Exports rose at a 72-percent an-
nual rate during the first three
months of 1976, while the Japanese
import bill remained essentially
unchanged. The trade balance wifh
the US during the first quarter 25X1
1976 reached an annual rate of $6
billion in Japan's favor.
25X1
The EC countries are worried about
their rising trade imbalance with
Japan.
In the case of 25X1
steel, Japan's leading export com-
modity, the EC has already limited
Japanese exports to the Community
market in compliance with an agree-
ment reached in late 1975.
6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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,
Top Secret
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