THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 29 APRIL 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007735
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 29, 1974

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010069-8
The President's Daily Brief
April 29, 1974
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010069-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010069-8
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
F, !"-) d
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
April 29, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Fighting on the Golan front increased over the week-
end after several days of relative quiet. (Page 1)
The junta in Portugal is concerned that the enthusi-
astic response to announced moves toward liberaliza-
tion could conflict with its determination to main-
tain order. (Page 3)
In Ethiopia, the military have ended their arrests
of former ministers; they continue to proclaim their
support for Prime Minister Endalkatchew's govern-
ment. '(Page 4)
Recent remarks by a senior North Korean official
shed light on Pyongyang's current tactics aimed at
getting rid of the UN command in the South and ob-
taining a US commitment to total military withdrawal
(Page 5)
A note on a major Soviet economic venture in Latin
America is on Page 6.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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The Syrian Front
Leb non
\_,...Rashayya
DAMASCUS
Qatana
Al Kiswah
?
1949
Armistice
line
Israeli-claimed
Battle Line
,Baniyas
Israel
Battle me
ia
Al Qunaytirah
As Sanamayn
Israeli I 67
Cease-Fire L ne
HEIGHTS
./
Sy ian
Ba e Line Nawa
Lake
Tiberias
Tiberias
Nara' arm,
-Jordan
0 5 10 15 Kilometers
555761 4-74 CIA
10 15 Miles
Dara
?
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ISRAEL-SYRIA
Fighting on the Golan front increased over the
weekend after several days of relative quiet. Sharp
exchanges of tank and .artillery fire occurred on both
Saturday and Sunday. In yesterday's action, Israeli
and Syrian aircraft were ?detected flying combat oper-
ations for the first time since mid-week.
-Israeli Military authorities announced on Satur-
day.that 14 Israeli soldiers had been killed and
-seven injured during the day's fighting. Six died in
a helicopter crash that apparently was caused by a:
mechanical failUre. Since the", cease-fire in'T October,
the Israelis admit to having lost 40 dead and 99
wounded on the Syrian front.
Tel Aviv
announced that Israeli aircraft attacked Syrian tar-
gets on Mount Hermon and south of the salient into
Syria. Damascus said that Syrian aircraft struck Is-
raeli positions on Mount Hermon
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USSR-CHINA
On the same day, Pravda reiterated Moscow's con-
tention that the helicopter downed in March was on
a mercy mission and was not engaged in intelligence
activities, as charged by Peking. This was the first
significant publicity Moscow has. given the incident
since its second formal protest nearly a month ago,
which has been officially ignored by China. There
have been repeated rumors that the Chinese intend
to try the helicopter crew.
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PORTUGAL
The junta has largely consolidated its control.
It is concerned, however, that the enthusiastic re-
sponse to announced moves toward liberalization could
conflict with its determination to maintain order.
Although General Spinola has implied that political
parties, including the Socialist Party and the Com-
munist-dominated Democratic Electoral Commission,
will be legalized, the junta has warned that it will
set limits on political activity should freedoms be
"abused."
The junta apparently does not plan to consult
other groups in choosing the provisional president
and government. Although censorship has been abol-
ished, an ad hoc commission will "control" the media
until new press laws are promulgated. The armed
forces will deal with crimes against "the established
political order" just as under Caetano.
The new regime has given precedence to consoli-
dating'its power in Portugal proper. Apparently it
prefers to postpone detailed consideration of policy
toward the African insurgencies. It has replaced
governors-general in the African territories, as it
did provincial governors in Portugal, and has di-
rected their immediate subordinates to take charge.
So far, no civil disturbances have been reported
from any of the territories.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ETHIOPIA
Addis Ababa is reported calm. Military forces
are less in evidence, but some patrols continue.
Fifteen former cabinet ministers and five other
former officials charged with ?corruption are being
held at the headquarters of the Fourth Army Divi-
sion in Addis Ababa. A coordinating committee formed
by representatives of the armed forces and police to
direct the arrests stated on April 27 that the offi-
cials would be held pending the decision of a com-
mittee of inquiry appointed last month to investigate
allegations of widespread official corruption.
The coordinating committee said the armed forces
and police support the cabinet and Emperor Haile
Selassie. The committee urged the Ethiopian people
to follow the cabinet's directives, stated its oppo-
sition to strikes and demonstrations, and appealed
to striking workers to return to work. It demon-
strated the military's determination to end the coun-
try's wave of strikes by arresting eight executives
of the Addis Ababa bus company for questioning in
connection with the bus drivers' strike.
Despite their current expressions .of support
for the government, some members of the moderate-re-
formists that dominate the military probably question
the ability of the Endalkatchew cabinet to restore
order and proceed with promised reforms. They may
decide to take a firmer hand in running the country's'
affairs if severe disorders continue for long.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
KOREA
North Korean Vice Premier Chong Chun-ki stated,
during a tour of African countries earlier this
month, that Pyongyang wants -a firm US agreement in
principle to withdraw its forces from the South,.
the Vice Premier
asserted that such an agreement should be reached
through bilateral talks with the US, but the pre-
cise timing of withdrawal could be decided in later
discussions involving other parties--presumably in-
cluding the South Koreans. Chong further stated
that Pyongyang regarded US withdrawal as opening
the way. for reunification of the peninsula under
the North by political or "other" means, including
subversion.
Chong's statement is part of a current effort
by Pyongyang to enlist international support for
its recent proposal for bilateral talks with the US.
The stress on bilateral negotiations, however, is
only a tactic in North Korea's effort to make some
progress on the troop withdrawal issue--with or
without direct negotiations.
Pyongyang hopes the fall session of the General
Assembly will vote to end the UN Command, and cal-
culates that this development would stimulate inter-
national pressure on the US to withdraw its forces.
The North Koreans are probably also signaling that
they are not prepared to discuss any other issues--
such as the restructuring of the Armistice Agree-
ment--until their requirement on the US troop ques-
tion is satisfied.
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NOTE
USSR-Argentina-Uruguay: The USSR has been awarded
a $50-million contract by Argentina and Uruguay to in-
stall six turbines at the Salto Grande dam project lo-
cated on the border between the two countries. This
will be the first major Soviet economic venture in ei-
ther country and one of the first in Latin America other
than those Moscow has undertaken in Cuba and Chile.
The Soviet bid was 30 percent below the lowest made by
the other bidders, which included US, Japanese, West
European, and Yugoslav firms. In addition to a 4-per-
cent interest rate over 15 years, the Soviets agreed
to accept payment in goods. rather than cash.
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Top Secret
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