THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 MARCH 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007696
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 13, 1974

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The President's Daily Brief
March 13, 1974
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I ),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
March 13, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
President Asad of Syria has assured the Saudis that
he does not intend to attack Israeli forces in the
Golan Heights. Both sides, however, are building up
their forces in the area. (Page 1)
The assassination of a prominent leftist in Guatemala
City by gunmen believed to be sponsored by the govern-
ment will raise tensions further and has already pro-
voked adtion by students. (Page 2)
Miring a recent visit by President Mobutu of Zaire,
Egypt's President Sadat cautioned the African leader
against falling into the clutches of the Russians.
(Page 3)
Peruvian President Velasco's health appears to be
deteriorating. (Page 3)
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SYRIA-ISRAEL
President Asad has assured the Saudis that he
has no intention of attacking Israeli forces in the
Golan Heights and promised to consult the Saudis
and the Egyptians before taking any such action.
Both the Syrians and the Israelis, however, are
continuing to build up their forces in the Heights.
The Israelis, meanwhile, are preparing to cope
with any new fighting on the Golan front. Accordinc
to information received by the
at least some Israeli units in the Golan
Heights are overstrength, and Israeli troops have
been moved to positions from which they can better
defend against Syrian efforts to pinch off the
salient.
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GUATEMALA
The assassination of a prominent leftist polit-
ical activist in Guatemala City on Monday by gunmen
believed to be sponsored by the government will
raise tensions further. Late yesterday, after the
victim's funeral, students clashed with police.
There have been no reports of casualties. A high-
level government official had earlier told the US
Embassy that agitators intended to give students
small arms. The official said the police had or-
ders to control disturbances with as little violence
as possible, but the government fears the students
will now seek conflicts with police, rather than
avoiding them as they had in recent days.
General Efrain Rios Montt, the defeated presi-
dential candidate, reportedly is undecided how to
press his charge that the government rigged the elec-
tion. He apparently still advocates a peaceful
approach, but he may not have much influence on how
hostility to the government manifests itself. Pres-
ident Arana remains determined to turn over the
presidency to General Laugerud on July 1. Arana
apparently will allow the military to assume control
of the government only if public order deteriorates.
Yesterday, the congress completed the formality of
choosing Laugerud over Rios, following the congres-
sional recount on Monday.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Egypt-USSR: President Mobutu of Zaire, who re-
cently toured the Middle East, has given Ambassador
Vance some flavor of his talks with Sadat. Sadat,
after commenting favorably on the US, cautioned
Mobutu against falling into the clutches of the Rus-
sians. "Once they sell you equipment you spend the
next 100 years paying for it. They would take all
your copper and other raw materials." Sadat illus-
trated his point by placing both hands around his
neck in a strangle hold.
Peru:
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Top Secret
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