THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 22 APRIL 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007729
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 22, 1974

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010063-4
The President's Daily. Brief
April 22, 1974
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010063-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010063-4
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(11,12).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
April 22, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Fighting on the Syrian front continued over the week-
end but at a lower level since Friday's intensive
battles. (Page 1)
Recent reports support earlier indications that Mos-
cow offered President Asad large sums of aid during
his recent visit. (Page 2)
Israel's Labor Party voted yesterday to try to form
a new coalition government rather than face another
election. The Central Committee intends to vote
today on a successor to Golda Meir as party leader.
(Page 3)
The civil aviation agreement signed by Japan and
China last Saturday looks toward inaugurating regu-
lar air service between the two countries on Septem-
ber 29. (Page 4)
PLO leader Yasir Arafat is reported to have suspended
PLO subsidies to all non-Fatah fedayeen organizations
in hope of dissuading them from mounting cross-border
attacks into Israel. (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SYRIA-ISRAEL
Fighting on the Syrian front generally has con-
tinued at a lower level since Friday's intensive
battles. Artillery and mortar fire was exchanged
over the weekend but no surface-to-air missile
launches were noted.
An Iraqi news source reported Saturday that
Syrian authorities had closed two air corridors over
Syria to civilian airliners. The action may have
been taken as a precaution because of heavy Israeli
air activity over portions of Syria on Friday.
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USSR-SYRIA
Recent reports support earlier indications
that Moscow offered President Asad large sums of
aid during his recent visit, perhaps in the neigh-
borhood of several hundred million dollars in eco-
nomic credits. While welcoming such aid, Asad is
not likely to get. over-involved with the USSR on
economic projects. Prior to Asad's Moscow trip,
the Syrians had made a strong pitch for EC partici-
pation in Syrian industrial development. Moreover,
with an influx of Arab aid, Syria is in a better
position to choose its suppliers.
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ISRAEL
The Central Committee of Israel's Labor Party
voted yesterday to try to form a new coalition gov=
ernment rather than face a new election. The commit-
tee members put off until today balloting to name a
successor to Golda Meir as party leader. If they fail
to agree on a successor, however, they could reverse
themselves and seek an election.
Motions calling for a new election were narrowly
defeated yesterday, despite a warning by Finance Min-
ister Sapir, who implied that Labor would not be able
to form a new government without another election.
Sapir, who played a key role in the talks that helped
reconstitute Mrs. Meir's governing coalition last
month, claimed that both of Labor's coalition part-
ners, the National Religious Party and the Independent
Liberal Party, are balking at the prospect of yet
another attempt to mold a new government.
The only declared candidates to succeed Mrs.
Meir are Labor Minister Yizhak Rabin and Information
Minister Shimon Pekes. Foreign Minister Eban report-
edly will announce his candidacy before the deadline,
which is noon today. Thus far Rabin appears to be
the favorite, but it is possible that the party may
have to dig deep into its ranks for a compromise can-
didate.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010063-4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JAPAN-CHINA-TAIWAN
The civil aviation agreement signed by Japan and
China last Saturday looks toward inaugurating regular
air service between the two countries on September 29--
the second anniversary of their establishment of dip-
lomatic relations. The pact was achieved after more
than a year of complex negotiations.
Japanese Foreign Minister Ohira, in a supplemen-
tary statement to the agreement, noted that Tokyo now
no longer recognizes the Nationalists' airline or its
flag insignia as that of a "state." Taipei reacted
strongly to the agreement and Ohira's statement by
carrying out its earlier threat to terminate opera-
tions on the Japan-Taiwan route by China Air Lines
and Japan Air Lines. Taipei also closed Taiwan's
airspace to all Japanese aircraft.
Although disturbed by the Nationalists' action,
the Tanaka government has reacted calmly. It is com-
plying with Taiwan's demands but endeavoring to play
down the situation to leave room for future negotia-
tions. Ohira has described Taiwan's move as "regret-
table," but he has pledged Tokyo's continued desire
to maintain good relations with Taipei through non-
governmental means. He expressed his belief that the
air link "could and should be restored" in time, not-
ing that one reason for the long delay in signing the
agreement with Peking was Tokyo's desire to find some
way to preservexommercial air ties with Taiwan.
Taipei's action has drawn support from pro-Taiwan
interests within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party,
and Tanaka and Ohira seem certain to be in for further
criticism from these elements. Nonetheless, the LDP's?
top executives intend to submit the air agreement to
the Diet--probably this week--where favorable action
seems assured.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FEDAYEEN - ARAB STATES
Yasir Arafat, head of the Palestine Liberation
Organization and Fatah, suspended
PLO subsidies to all non-Fatah fedayeen organizations.
The success of the terrorist attack on Qiryat Shemona
by a group not affiliated with the PLO has increased
pressure on Arafat to allow Fatah to revert to more
spectacular forms of terrorism. By cutting off funds,
Arafat hopes to dissuade these groups from mounting
other cross-border operations and thus decrease pres-
sure on himself to adopt similar tactics.
? Arafat's move, however, will not prevent the
small, radical fedayeen groups from continuing their
terrorist activities.
Despite the financial difficulties that the
fedayeen may be experiencing, certain Arab states
seem to be in line for increased assistance. The
Kuwaiti Parliament on Saturday approved a grant of
more than $500 million to Syria, Egypt, and other
"front-line" states. This comes on the heels of
Saudi Arabia's cash handout of $100 million to
Egypt last Wednesday.
The amounts involved are not large for either
Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, considering their substan-
tial oil revenues. Both also regularly make payments
to Egypt under agreements reached in Khartoum in 1967.
Egypt annually has received $91 million from Kuwait
and $100 million from Saudi Arabia.
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Top Secret
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