THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 18 AUGUST 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014878
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 18, 1975

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The President's Daily Brief
sicP
August 18, 1975
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Top Secret 25X1
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 513(1),12).M
declassified only on aPPmval af
the Director of Central Intelligence
-ek t?-? ?16
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010058-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012700010058-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
August 18, 1975
Table of Contents
Portugal: The Communists are continuing their cam-
paign to reassert the party's presence in the
north, and more violence is likely as anti-
Communists react to the challenge. (Page 1)
Portuguese Timor: Indonesian President Suharto
again has postponed a decision on taking mili-
tary action against Portuguese Timor. (Page 2)
Notes: Bangladesh; Laos; Cambodia (Pages 3 and 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGAL
The Communists yesterday vowed to
continue their campaign in the north
to reassert the party's presence there.
Their initial foray into the north, a
party rally on Saturday in the town of
Alcobaca, proved that the anti-Commu-
nists are equally determined to be rid
of them.
The Communists, now experiencing the same type
of harassment faced by the more conservative parties
several months ago, are demanding that the military
guarantee the right of free assembly. They have
scheduled another demonstration tomorrow in Porto,
claiming they have sufficient power to respond and
"smash the counterrevolutionaries." Anti-Commu-
nists around Porto are certain to react to this
second challenge, and more violence may result
since the Communists have promised to "take pre-
cautions" against a repetition of events in Alcobaca.
Pro-Communist Prime Minister Goncalves, under
heavy pressure to resign, publicly admitted on Sat-
urday that his new government is unable to function
because of the split in the armed forces. Goncalves
promised, however, that he and his left-wing cab-
inet would not "shirk their responsibilities."
The statement will do little to gain support for
Goncalves, but it does make clear to those opposing
him that he will not step down voluntarily.
The dissident officers in the Armed Forces
Movement are continuing to circulate the anti-regime
document drafted by former foreign minister Antunes,
hoping to gauge support among the rank and file
before moving against Goncalves.
The dissidents are clearly hesitant to move
against their fellow officers and may lose their
advantage if they continue to delay. The Social-
ists and other anti-Communist civilian groups,
however, can be expected to continue pressuring
them, particularly if the Communist counteroffen-
sive in the north continues.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PORTUGUESE TIMOR
Indonesian President Suharto
again has postponed a decision on tak-
ing military action against Portuguese
Timor. He has scheduled a meeting this
morning with high-level cabinet and
security officials, however, to review
the situation.
Suharto continues to fear an adverse reaction
from Washington if he authorizes an invasion, par-
ticularly since such a move would come only a few
weeks after his visit here. Top military commanders,
however, still favor swift military action because
they fear the situation in Timor will soon turn
irrevocably against pro-Jakarta elements and result
in a threat to Indonesian security.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Bangladesh remained quiet during the weekend,
and the round-the-clock curfew imposed on Friday
has been partially lifted.
Pakistan, which on Friday became the first
country to recognize the new regime, has promised
to send rice and other supplies. It has urged
other Islamic countries to extend recognition, and
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Sudan did so over the
weekend. The new President, Khondakar Mushtaque
Ahmed, has declared that his government wants
friendly ties with all three major powers. Meanwhile,
India has continued its cautious approach to the new
regime. An official Indian statement yesterday de-
scribed the situation as an "internal matter of Bang-
ladesh" that India is "carefully studying." Moscow
also appears to be adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
Peking has reported the coup, but as yet has not
commented.
The Lao communists are moving to take full
control of Vientiane.
Several thousand communist-led civilian demon-
strators staged peaceful protest marches in two of
Vientiane's outlying districts over the weekend.
The marchers were accompanied by armed communist
troops and cadre. The demonstrators are demanding
the ouster of local non-communist village officials
and their replacement by pro-communist sympathizers.
The Lao communists almost certainly will follow up
their take-over of Vientiane with a similar move in
the royal capital of Luang Prabang.
(continued)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Pyongyang announced yesterday that a delega-
tion headed by Cambodian communist leader Khieu
Samphan and Prince Sihanouk's Peking-based prime
minister, Penn Nouth, will soon pay an "official
goodwill visit" to North Korea at the invitation
of the North Korean government.
The visit will provide an opportunity for
Sihanouk, who has been in Pyongyang since the mid-
dle of May, to discuss the question of his possible
return to Cambodia with Samphan and deputy prime
minister Ieng Sary, who may accompany Samphan.
The Prince has thus far avoided meeting with the
Khmer communist leaders in Peking, reportedly pre-
ferring to have Penn Nouth negotiate the terms of
his future relationship with the Phnom Penh regime.
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