THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 DECEMBER 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014984
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 20, 1975

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
The President's Daily Brief
December 20, 1975
2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
December 20, 1975
Table of Contents
Angola:
Lebanon: Lebanese leaders traded accusations yes-
terday over the causes of the recent fighting,
while Syria continued its efforts to mediate
the dispute. (Page 3)
Notes: Cambodia; Kuwait-USSR; Argentina; Mozambique
(Pages 4 and 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
ANGOLA
Our embassy in Libreville, Gabon, has received
second-hand information--originating with a source
described to it as reliable--that a fresh contin-
gent of some 3,000 Cuban troops arrived in Pointe
Noire, Congo, during the past week. The contin-
gent, supported by "55 tanks" and "additional light
armored and support vehicles" reportedly moved
into the Angolan exclave of Cabinda.
Three Cuban ships were due to arrive in that
area last week. Given the capabilities of the
ships involved, however, half the reported number
of troops would be a more realistic figure. What-
ever the size of the force, its presence in Ca-
binda, where no fighting is taking place, is unnec-
essary and its actual destination was probably
Angola proper.
(continued)
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
The Organization of African Unity announced
yesterday that a majority of its 46 member states
have agreed to hold an emergency summit meeting on
Angola from January 10 to 12 in Addis Ababa.
OAU members are deeply divided over Angola,
and the summit--which could turn out to be acrimon-
ious--may contribute little toward an African solu-
tion to the Angola conflict.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
.?-? J. I -A. V' A- ./.-J
LEBANON
Lebanese Leaders traded accusations
yesterday over the causes of the recent
fighting, while Syria continued its ef-
forts to mediate the dispute.
Christian Interior Minister Shamun and Pha-
langes Party leader Jumayyil charged yesterday that
the "communists" were behind the recent trouble at
a small village southeast of Beirut where Shamun's
forces clashed with Muslims allied with Socialist
leader Kamal Jumblatt.
Jumblatt again has called for Shamun's resigna-
tion--along with that of President Franjiyah--and
yesterday issued his standard demand for political
and economic concessions from the Christians-.
The bickering reportedly has prompted the Syrians
to summon Jumblatt for another round of talks. The
Syrians apparently warned Jumblatt during his visit
to Damascus last week that he would lose the backing
of Syrian-supported groups in Lebanon if he did not
help to end the fighting. Jumblatt is expected to
return to the Syrian capital within the next few days.
General Shihabi, Syrian army chief of staff,
arrived in the Lebanese capital yesterday, presum-
ably to inform Prime Minister Karami of Syria's
mediation plans. President Asad apparently intends
to delay sending Foreign Minister Khaddam to Beirut
until the cease-fire becomes more stable.
Fighting diminished yesterday in most of Bei-
rut's suburbs, but armed clashes continued in the
Tripoli-Zagharta area. Lebanese security forces
aided by Palestinian patrols are moving into the
disputed areas in the north, and members of the
Syrian-controlled Saiqa fedayeen group apparently
are trying to arrange a truce between Christian
and Muslim militiamen.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
_ _ _ _ _
NOTES
Cambodia has for the first time supported Laos
and Vietnam in their demand that the Thai expel the
remaining US military forces from Thailand.
Phnom Penh expressed its support in a joint
communique issued yesterday following a visit to
Cambodia by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Phoun Sipaseut. The Cambodians, however,
have not joined Hanoi and Vientiane in insisting
that as a precondition for the normalization of re-
lations Bangkok return all the US-origin aircraft
and military equipment taken into Thailand during
the last stages of the Vietnam war.
Kuwait's negotiations with the USSR for the
purchase of arms appear to have made progress.
If an agreement is reached, it would mark
the first sale of Soviet weapons to any of the
Arab sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf. The Kuwaitis
can be expected to haggle about types and quanti-
ties of weapons and the conditions Moscow wants
to attach to any agreement. Negotiations have
been stalled over Kuwait's refusal to guarantee
that Soviet-supplied weapons would not be used
against Iraq, one of Moscow's most important Arab
clients. Kuwait and Iraq have long been engaged
in a bitter border dispute.
(continued)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
11- 11..1--J, J. I -A- AL 'I LI -?
The continuing rebellion by dissident Argentine
air force officers is aggravating serious strains
between the military and the administration.
While the move began Thursday apparently as an
internal air force insurrection aimed at their com-
mander in chief, who has since been replaced, the
dissidents are now calling on the armed forces to
overthrow the government because the "political
process is exhausted." Given the considerable mil-
itary opposition to President Peron, the rebels'
call could yet evoke a sympathetic response from
the other services. Several army officers have
told our embassy in Buenos Aires that "the next
moves are up to the President."
In statements yesterday, Peron refused to re-
sign, and opposition political leaders later called
on her to request a leave of absence. The army
might well refuse to obey a presidential order to
suppress the air force rebellion, if Peron moves in
this direction.
Forces loyal to the government appear firmly
in control of Mozambique.
The authorities are rounding up stragglers
from the dissident members of the army and police
who clashed with loyal troops beginning on Wednes-
day night. Our embassy in Lourenco Marques reports
that press accounts of widespread disorders have
been highly exaggerated.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A013000010010-1