THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 29 JANUARY 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015016
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 29, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
?
January 29, 1976
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Exempt from general
declauification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category, 58(1),(2),(3)
declassified on161 on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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January 29, 1976
Table of Contents
Morocco-Algeria: New clashes took place yesterday
and today in Spanish Sahara, according to press
reports from Algiers and Rabat. (Page 1)
China-Zaire-Anpla: Peking apparently is attempt-
ing to stiffen Zairian resolve on Angola.
(Page 2)
Cuba -Anaola-
Lebanon: Christian leaders remain suspicious of
Syria's intentions. (Page 5)
Notes: Cuba-Somalia; Angola; Indonesia-UN-Timor;
Yugoslavia; USSR (Pages 6 and 7)
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MOROCCO-ALGERIA
New clashes took place yesterday and
today in Spanish Sahara, according to press
reports from Algiers and Rabat. A Moroc-
can communiqug said the fighting was a
continuation of Tuesday's battle between
Moroccan forces and Algerian troops sup-
porting the Polisario guerrillas.
Rabat and Algiers so far have carefully meas-
ured their response to the fighting, but both sides
have expressed concern that the situation could get
out of control.
Following Algerian President Boumediene's con-
tacts with several Arab leaders, Egypt, Syria, and
Iraq have begun preliminary mediation efforts with
Moroccan King Hassan and the Algerian President.
Morocco, for its part, called in the ambassa-
dors of the five permanent members of the UN Secu-
rity Council today to stress the gravity of the sit-
uation. Moroccan Minister of State for Foreign Af-
fairs Laraki emphasized Morocco's determination to
remain calm and not respond to provocations. Laraki
said Morocco was not planning to call for a Secu-
rity Council meeting at the present time, but he
was clearly laying the groundwork for such a move
if the situation grows worse.
Laraki claimed Moroccan forces on Tuesday had
encountered an Algerian "garrison," not a supply
convoy carrying medicine and food as the Algerian
press had reported. He said the Moroccans had cap-
tured 29 Algerian soldiers.
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CHINA-ZAIRE-ANGOLA
Peking is apparently attempting to
stiffen Zairian resolve on Angola.
The Chinese enjoy close relations with Presi-
dent Mobutu and are undoubtedly dismayed by indica-
tions that he might seek an early accommodation
with the Soviet-backed Angolan Popular Movement.
The Chinese appear resigned to a Soviet success in
Angola, but Peking probably wants Moscow to pay the
price of enmity from some African governments as
long as possible. In this sense, Peking's exhorta-
tions about the Soviet threat and Chinese offers of
assistance to Zaire are probably designed to
heighten Mobutu's fears about the implications of
a Popular Movement victory and to signal China's
willingness to help ease Zaire's economic problems.
The Chinese were the target of a
diatribe in the Cuban press on Tuesday,
which suggests that Havana is determined
to play a more aggressive role to under-
mine Chinese influence in the Third World.
Although the attack is in line with recent So-
viet propaganda, it is the most strident anti-Chi-
nese message from Havana since 1966. It now seems
likely that Havana's efforts to extend its and Mos-
cow's influence in the Third World will be carried
out more energetically and in a spirit of acknowl-
edged confrontation with Peking.
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CUBA?ANGOLA
(continued)
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LEBANON
Lebanon's Christian leaders remain
suspicious of Syria's intentions, de?
spite repeated assurances from Foreign
Minister Khaddam that Palestinian troops
will be withdrawn to Syria as soon as
order is restored.
Heavy concentrations of Syrian-controlled Pal-
estinian forces in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Leb-
anon and recent attacks on a group of small Christian
villages in the area are apparently the immediate
cause for Christian concern. The official Lebanese
news service admitted yesterday that a Christian
town, has been under attack for several days, but
carefully avoided assigning blame for the trouble.
Interior Minister Shamun referred to the trouble
in eastern Lebanon in an interview yesterday, and im-
plied that he would withhold approval of a final set-
tlement until Syria recalled the Palestinian troops.
Although Shamun may be overstating his reaction to
the Palestinian presence in order to buy time in po-
litical negotiations, talk of Syrian "occupation"
coupled with persistent cease-fire violations may
erode confidence that a settlement can be reached.
An ambush yesterday of a Lebanese army escort
that had accompanied Foreign Minister Khaddam to
Syria on Tuesday will heighten Christian apprehen-
sion. The ambush was carried out by a group of Leb-
anese army deserters--presumably Muslims--who appar-
ently have joined the Palestinian rejectionists.
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Oman
Asmara.
I
(Sana) I qPi" Yemen
Sana* ? --(Aden),
French Territory
of the Afars and issas,-7D1ibouti
Gulf of Aden
Socotra
cl-7Yemen (Aden)
*Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
)
- Somalia
Indian
Ocean
PAKISTAN
Mogadiscio
SAUDI
ARABIA
YEMEN
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AREA OF MAP
Tanzania
559201 1-76
DPemba
iZanzibar
*Dar es Salaam
TANZANIA
(? ?
OZA 81 UE
DAGASC?AR
OTRA
A ruhian Sea
Indian Ocean
'MAURITIUS
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Cuban
Somalia,
Cuban and Popular Movement troops transported
by helicopters reportedly carried out assaults
against National Union positions in central Angola
last Monday and Tuesday. The troop-carrying heli-
copters were supported by helicopter gunships.
This is the first reported use of helicopters
in such roles since the civil war began last year.
The new development points to an acceleration of
the Popular Movement's drive to take the urban areas
held by the National Union. The airborne operation
apparently has jolted National Union President Sa-
vimbi
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(continued)
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The Indonesians appear to have successfully
stage-managed the visit of a UN fact-finding mission
to Timor.
Following his return to Jakarta on January 22,
Secretary General Waldheim's personal representative
said that he had detected no sign of Indonesian mili-
tary forces. He was impressed that the pro-Indone-
sian Timorese in Dili had the civil administration
functioning. The Timorese assured the representa-
tive that they are now in control, and that they did
not want any referendum on the island's future be-
cause they had already decided to integrate with
Indonesia. In fact, fighting is continuing near the
south coast of the island where the Indonesians are
preparing to attack Fretilin resupply and escape
routes.
Yugoslav President Tito's illness is reportedly
more serious than Belgrade has officially admitted.
A Yugoslav journalist who was to accompany the
83-year-old leader on a recently postponed tour of
Latin America told the US ambassador that Tito is
suffering from partial paralysis, and will need six
to seven weeks to recover. Belgrade has said only
that Tito is suffering from sciatica.
Soviet
Angola
The Soviet Kresta-II guided-'
missile cruiser has joined the landing ship in the
Gulf of Guinea.
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Top Secret
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