THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 NOVEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977813
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 23, 1970

Declassified in Pari - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008900210001-6
The President's Daily Brief
23 November 1970
4 8
Top Secret,
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S-DAILY:BRIEF
23 November 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Hanoi's reaction to the US air strikes is discussed
on,Page 1.
Satellite photography indicates that Communist
China's guided missile plant is in full-scale pro-
duction. (Page 2)
In Laos, Communist forces have overrun the principal
government bases on the Bolovens Plateau. (Page 3)
?I South Vietnam/
Libya]
\ (Page 4)
(Page 5)
/Egypt and Sudan
Guinea,
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(Page 6) 50X1
In West Germany, the Free Democrats' success in a
state election yesterday gives a boost to the cen-
tral government coalition. (Page 7)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NORTH VIETNAM
In a pair'of angrily worded'communiqugs, Hanoi's
Foreign Ministry and its delegation at the Paris
talks have claimed that the air raids over the week-
end violated a US pledge to halt all bombing of the
North and were a "brazen provocation" and "extremely
serious act of war" that would gravely affect' the
Paris talks. The statements reassert Hanoi's long-
standing position that no "understanding" exists
that allows'uncontested US aerial reconnaissance
over the North. The communiqugs end with a "severe
warning" against any further encroachments of North
Vietnamese territory.
Hanoi contends that in addition to hitting tar-
gets south of the 19th paralle1,-US aircraft struck
targets in North Vietnam's heartland including a
suburb of Hanoi, the general Haiphong area, and a
few populous, agricultural provinces near the capi-
tal.
Aside from 'leaving an impression that a
deeper freeze in Paris is in store, the
Communists have not revealed what their
next move will be; Following a series of
US air strikes against the North last May,
Hanoi talked' tough for a.time-and skipped
one of the weekZy-plenary sessions in-
Paris. At a press conference in Paris on
Saturday a North?Vietnamese spokesman
hinted that Hanoi'expected the talks to
goon.
The Communists could also retaliate in
South Vietnam with rocket attacks against
a major city or two or with increased
activity,around the Demilitarized Zone.
In this way, Hanoi would underscore its
contention that the US had breached its
"pledge" of 1968 to refrain from bombing
the North and that Communist forces in
the South are not constrained by any kind
of "understanding."
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
COMMUNIST CHINA
Satellite photography of the Nan-yuan guided.
missile production plant near Peking in early Novem-
ber showed two new pieces of missile support equip-
ment. Anew missile transporter, larger than any
previously noted in China, was identified. Also, a
large new missile rail car measuring 80 feet in
length was seen. In addition, large numbers of
people and vehicles were visible in the plant area.
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LAOS: Current Situation
162
los
CHJNA
2 '
CHINA
22-
BURMA
7
THAILAND
G F
F
To N K ! N
_
Communist-controlled territory
Contested territory
100
MILES
THAILAND
18 -
A
OEM A RCA TION
f-ALIIvE
SOUTH
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
"*-14 -
550579 11-70.CIA
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e a
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
The prolonged lull in significant military ac-
tivity on the Bolovens Plateau ended on 22 November
as widespread attacks were made on Laotian irregular
positions by an estimated four North Vietnamese bat-
talions. The enemy succeeded in taking the two key
government bases on the plateau ten miles northwest
of Attopeu as well as four other outposts in the
sane general area. Enemy forces also seized an ir-
regular base camp just east of the plateauT about 30
miles north of Attopeu.
It is too early to tell whether the North
Vietnamese intend to hold these positions.
Government air strikes were directed
against enemy units throughout the day on
22 November and irregular forces are in
the process of regrouping for counterat-
tacks. If the Communists succeed in con-
solidating their gains, the government's
capacity to harass enemy supply and
troop movements through this region could
be imperiled.
In northern Laos evidence continues to accumu-
late of impending enemy attacks in the vicinity of
Ban Na. Messages between elements of the North
Vietnamese 316th Division have made repeated refer-
ences to launching "phase two of the mission,"
which apparently involves thrusts toward Ban Na
from the east by units of the 148th Regiment and
from the north by a battalion of the 174th Regiment.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LIBYA
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/
/
/
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SPANISH
SAHARA
ALGERIA
MAURITANIA
Nouakchott
at* SENEGAL
Bathurst
PORT. *Bissa
GUI N
\11",
'-Conakri
NIGER
*Niamey
GUINEA
Freetown* -
SIERRA LEONE
ATLANTIC OCEAN
0
IVORY COAST
GHANA
*Monrovia ?
? LIBERIA
MIL:ES 400
550580 11-70
Abidjan
*Accra
?
NIGERIA
Porto-Novo
* ?4*?
a
ome
GULF OP GUINEA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
GUINEA
The. invading force that landed in Conakry yes
terday?said by.President'Toure to consistof some
350 "European and African mercenaries"--was ferried
ashore early Sunday morning from at least four un-
marked vessels clearly visible from the port,of
Conakry. The attackers captured two military camps-
inHthe capital and inflicted heavy damage on the
President's suburban compound and the headquarters
of the guerrilla movement that has been operating
in neighboring Portuguese Guinea No Guineanleaders
appear to have been seized or injured by, the invaders
and the government has retained control of the radio,
which by lastnight.was claiming that the intruders
had been suppressed. Sporadic firing occurred dur-
ing the night', however, and Guinean leaders expect
the ships that landed the strike force to return,
either to pick up the men or to land more.
Lisbon may have hoped that an invasion
would spark an internal uprising against
Toure and bring to power a new government
indebted to Portuguese aid. Ata minimum,
the Portuguese may have thought they could
frighten Toure into reducing his aid to
the anti-Portuguese insurgents in Portu-
guese Guinea.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
West Germany: The Free Democrats (FDP) cap-
tured the required ten percent of the vote in one
district in the Bavarian state elections yesterday
(12.4 percent in Middle Franconia) and regained
the representation in the state legislature that
the party had lost in 1966. This success, on top
of that in the state of Hesse two weeks ago, pro-
vides evidence that the FDP's role as junior partner
in Brandt's government has won new voter support
and that the decline of the party has been halted.
The Social Democrats lost a few percentage points
but as in Hesse they are compensated by the success
of the FDP, on whom they depend for their slim
Bundestag majority.
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Top Secret
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