THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 MAY 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014799
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 16, 1975

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
The President's Daily Brief
May 16, 1975
Top S cret 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Exempt from general
declassification scheduk of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 58( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
May 16, 1975
'Table.of. Contents
Mayaguez Incident: World reaction is reviewed.
(Page 1)
Laos: Most major urban areas were reported quiet
yesterday. (Page 3)
Spain
25X1
I visit to Spain maybe.25X1
ill-advised. (Page 4)
MBFR: The sixth round of the force reduction nego-
tiations opens today. in Vienna. (Page 5)
France-NATO:
25X1
Page 7) 25X1
would like 25X1
relations with
USSR-China-Taiwan: The Soviets
to establish economic and trade
Taiwan. (Page 9)
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT
World reaction to the recovery of
the Mayaguez ranges from condemnation
by China and North Vietnam to approval
by South Korea and Taiwan. Reaction in
the UK and West Germany has been gener-
ally favorable, and coverage in Soviet
media has been essentially factual.
Chinese. Vice Premier Li. Hsien-nien has labeled
the US action to recover the Mayaguez.."an outright
act of piracy" that should be condemned by world
opinion. Speaking ata reception given by Vietnam-
ese representatives in Peking, Li said-the Mayaguez
incident "showed that the US had not learned from
its defeats in-Indochina."' He portrayed the inci-,
dent.as arising from the intrusionof 4 US ship
into Cambodian territorial waters. Li's-comments?
the first authoritative statement from Peking, came'
after the military action had been.completed.
The foreign ministry in Hanoi issued an offi-
cial statement describing the Mayaguez as a "recon-
naissance ship" and condemning its recovery as a
"serious ?act of war." The North Vietnamese pledged
support for Cambodia's "right to defend its terri-
tory, airspace, and territorial waters"--a state-
ment that may come back to haunt Hanoi, given Phnom
Penh's recent assertion of its rights to disputed
offshore islands. The new government in Saigon,
though it has ?not commented yet, can be expected to
parrot Hanoi's line.
Soviet media have given the incident exten-
sive, ?but essentially factual, coverage. Cambodian
charges and US denials that the Mayaguez was engaged
in. espionage activity have both been reported. Ra-
dio Moscow noted Thai protests, as well as criticism
in the US, but has offered no editorial comment of
its own. The East Europeans have been somewhat out
in front of Moscow in their criticism of US actions;
the East Germans have used the most pejorative lan-
guage.
(continued)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Public reaction in. Britain and West Germany
has been, generally favorable; French press comment
has been. mixed. The French left has condemned the
action as "shameful," while the right--still rankled'
by Cambodian handling of the refugees in the French
embassy--has been basically favorable... Swedish news-
papers have, been almost unanimous in their criticism
of Washington's use of force
In
Copenhagen, Foreign Minister Anderson was noncom-
mittal after receiving the US embassy's presenta-
tion on the Mayaguez incident.
A spokesman for the Japanese foreign ministry
implied approval for the action, telling newsmen
that ships in "open waters must not be' subject to
seizure." The spokesman said Tokyo viewed the
American action as "limited."-
Official and
unofficial comment from South Korea and Taiwan has
been predictably favorable. Despite the strong
Thai reaction, 'a communique issued on the comple-
tion of a meeting of foreign ministers of the As-
sociation of Southeast Asian Nations--Thailand, the
Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore--
made no mention whatsoever of the Mayaguez incident.
Of the. Arab nations,. only Algeria has weighed
in heavily with invective against Washington.
Cuban commentary has been,relatively mild, while
Paraguayan and yruguayan officials have expressed
satisfaction with the outcome of the incident.
The rest of Latin America has yet to make itself
heard.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
-)
firedorninontly communist-controlled territory
at time of Fe6ruary 1973 cease-fiic
MILES ) 1(IS
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
With the exception of Thakhek, most
major urban areas in the non-communist
zone as well as the "neutralized" twin
capitals of Vientiane and Luang Prabang
were reported quiet yesterday.
In Thakhek, a rightist stronghold along the
Mekong in north-central Laos, an estimated 500
Pathet Lao - inspired students, soldiers, police-
men, and low-level civil servants assembled yester-
day at the USAID compound. The protesters demanded
action on the area's serious economic problems as
well as the ouster of a number of local rightist
officials. The atmosphere in Thakhek was reported
as relaxed, but more radical student agitators
apparently are on their way to Thakhek from nearby
Savannakhet.
The situation in Savannakhet-has stabilized,
at least temporarily, following several days of
anti-rightist and anti-American demonstrations.
The coalition government has formally apologized
to the US for the protesters' occupation of the
USAID compound and for the detention of three Amer--
ican officials. The three hostages were released
late yesterday and allowed to return to their pri-
vate residences in the city. The coalition govern-
ment-has dispatched a joint peace-keeping delega-
tion to Savannakhet to negotiate the protesters'
grievances.
The coalition cabinet met on May 14 amid con-
siderable speculation that replacements for a num-
ber of recently ousted rightist ministers would
be announced.
Action on the cabinet reshuffle, however, was
deferred to next week at the earliest.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
225X1
25X1
SPAIN
your visit to Spain may be
25X1
ill-advised.
25X1
doubt that Franco
can
be encouraged to in-
troduce democratic
changes. Other
25X1
leaders have res
25X1
tions about the efficacy
of the
(Similar doubts were
expressed
25X1
when
Presidents Eisen-
25X1
hower and Nixon visited
Spain.)
25X1
you
25X1
will be talking to a "dying regime" when you visit
Madrid.
25X1
any bilateral agreement
25X1
reached during the visit might easily be overturned
by a post-Franco government.
25X1
25X1
the
situation in Spain is
25X1
too complex and fraught
with unknowns to hope for
even gradual democratic
changes simply by encourag-
ing Franco to make them.
25X1
25X1
your. visit, will
be a boost for Franco.- The very cool reaction
to the US proposal that NATO
consider establishing closer ties with Spain re-
flects a still widespread feeling that Franco Spain.
is a pariah
In Spain itself, press reaction to the visit
generally reflects the varied opinions about the
desirability of having US bases in the country.
Some commentators view the visit as a reaffirmation
of the country's importance to the US because of
Spain's strategic position; others imply more di-
rectly that the visit should strengthen Madrid's
position in renegotiating the base rights agreement.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
25X1
25X1
20A1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MBFR
The sixth round of the force reduc-
tion negotiations opens today in Vienna.
The major question, for the Allies as
well as the Soviet Union, is whether
the US will offer to withdraw US nuclear
warheads and delivery systems in return
for the Soviet Union's withdrawing ar-
mored forces--the so-called Option III.
All the NATO Allies were informed in April
that the US was studying the matter. They prob-
ably expect the US formally to propose that this
option be utilized in an effort,to break the dead-
lock in Vienna.
West Germans
remain interested in using such an offer
to obtain East European acceptance of the West's
common-ceiling proposal to bring Eastern and West-
ern ground forces in Central Europe to approximately
the same size.
West Germans are also con-
cerned that if the US offers to withdraw nuclear
elements, the Soviets would insist that other West-
ern participants withdraw or reduce their aircraft
and missiles. Bonn presumably will in-
sist on a thorough discussion of this issue within
NATO. A lengthy review by NATO officials would
make it impossible to offer the nuclear trade-off
during this round,
The Soviets and their allies have insisted
from the beginning of the talks that aircraft
and nuclear weapons be included in any force re-
duction agreement.
(continued)
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
the Soviets expected the US to
propose a discussion of the reduction of nuclear
missiles some time during this round. The Soviets,
in any case, anticipate lengthy talks on this
topic and reportedly doubt that any agreement on
reducing nuclear weapons can be concluded by the
end of the fall round of talks.
Moscow is hopeful, however, that the fall
round will result in some general agreement on
ground forces reductions: In this context, the
Soviets probably believe that the West eventually
will accept their proposal for a "first-step"
agreement in which both sides would reduce by about
20,000 men.
6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FRANCE-NATO
5
(continued)
7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-CHINA-TAIWAN
The Soviets would like
to establish economic and trade rela-
tions with Taiwan.
The Nationalists are sensitive to complications
that any dealing with the Soviets could raise for
their relations with the US, but they also appreciate
the anxiety contact with Moscow causes Peking. This
anxiety has probably been compounded in the wake of
the death of Chiang Kai-shek. The Chinese communists
have long suspected that Premier Chiang Ching-kuo is
less adamantly anti-Soviet than,his father.
The Soviets may think that. the Nationalists will
be more responsive to their probes in light of your
coming visit to Peking, but it is unlikelythat
Soviet overture will lead very far. While
both parties share ?an interest in worrying Peking,
neither sees much utility in closer mutual relations.
The Soviets recognize that significant ties with Taipei
would preclude improvement of relations with Peking,
even after the death of Mao Tse-tung. Chiang Ching-kuo,
who would face opposition from the old guard of the
Koumintang if he were to pursue an "opening" to Moscow,
seems to believe that any serious attempt to explore a
meaningful relationship would risk an adverse US reac-
tion with only' doubtful gains in Moscow.
9
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012600010036-8