THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 26 NOVEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977819
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 26, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
26 November 1970
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
26 November 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
North Vietnam's tactics at the Paris talks are dis-
cussed on Page 1.
In Greece, dissatisfaction with Papadopoulos' lead-
ership continues, but the Prime Minister remains in
firm control. (Page 2)
Laps
(Page 3)
Prime Minister Colombo may ask the Italian parliament
for a vote of confidence next week. (Page 4)
Military activity in Cambodia is summarized on Page 5.
Thailand's cabinet reshuffle is noted on Page 5.
The Presidential succession has become topical in
Haiti. (Page 6)
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NORTH VIETNAM
Hanoi's decision to put off temporarily
any further private talks with the US
parallels the Communist boycott of the
regular plenary session. These gestures
are a minimum protest against US actions
last weekend and, we think, do not con-
stitute a basic change in the Communist
attitude at Paris. The North Vietnamese
may consider the gestures a way of under-
scoring that, while they expect to resume
private talks in the future, progress will
be possible only if the US is prepared to
take up all issues in a bilateral: format,
as Xuan Thuy indicated at the private
meeting on 16 November. Communist avoid-
ance of more dramatic moves in response
to last weekend's events suggests that they
still hope that the Paris talks eventually
will be fruitfuZ for them.
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GREECE
US officials in Athens report that opposition
to the leadership of Prime Minister Papadopoulos
may soon come to a head.
The opposition comes from those officers
who joined with Papadopoulos in the coup
of 1967. Ambition for power rather than
disagreement over a significant issue
seems to be the dominant factor.
The challenge to Papadopoulos surfaced
early this fall when he threatened to re-
sign over his colleagues' insistence on
greater participation in the government.
Papadopoulos' critics backed down at that
time because they could neither decide on
an alternative to him nor muster support
in the army. There is no substantial in-
formation at present to indicate signifi-
cant erosion of the army's support for
the Prime Minister but tensions are high
and acrimonious gossip against Papadopoulos
is mounting.
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LAOS
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ITALY
Prime Minister Colombo has threatened to ask
for a vote of confidence next week on the govern-
ment's economic decree law if the legislature does
not approve the bill by then, The Chamber of Dep-
uties plans to remain in session until the end of
the week in an effort,to secure final passage of
the bill. Italy's Communist Party (PCI) has sev-
eral amendments it.would-like to incorporate into
the bill but the filibustering tactics of the small
Soviet-financed .Proletarian Socialist Party have
been the greatest single obstacle.
The PCI believes the ultraleft Proletar-
ian Socialists are working at cross pur-
poses to .the best interests ofleftist
parties in Italy. The Communists want
to avoid a confidence vote because it
might unite the coalition and thereby
reduce the influence the Communist Party
has achieved as an opposition party in
formulating major legislation. The Com-
munists may ask Moscow to call off the
Proletarian Socialists rather than risk
damaging the PCI's ability to influence
other reform bills pending in parliament.
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Current Situation
?14-
SOUTH
?12
Kompong\"Satri
(Sihanoukville)
GULF
a.
OF
THAILAND
*Saigon
VIETNAM
Cambodia
o Principal city (10,000 or over)
r---1 Population over 125 per sq. mi..
i-T-n Communist-controlled area
80
MILES
550594 11-70 CIA
104
106
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
Z1.?
?10
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= EM 1E3 ET3 7-1 11
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NOTES
Cambodia: The government's riverine supply
convoy reached Kompong Cham- city yesterday without
further incident. The Cambodians are now preparing
another push to clear portions of Route 7 between,
Skoun and Kompong Cham, following the recent ambush.
of a government convoy on that road. In the south-
west, the six government battalions assigned. to re-
take positions near Route 4 in-the Kirirom area have
not yet made contact with the enemy. The road is
still closed to through traffic. Elsewhere, the
Communists still control the district headquarters
at Puok, ten miles west.of Siem Reap city, which
they seized on 24 November. Cambodian troops at-
tempting to recapture the town on 25 November were
forced to retreat in the face of heavy.Communist
resistance.
Thailand: In a reshuffle of his cabinet, Prime
Minister Thanom has given important posts to sup-
porters of Deputy Prime Minister Praphat The ap-
pointments will' strengthenthe. impression among Thai'
politicians that momentum is buildingfor Praphatls
early replacement of Thanom. The' timing still lies
with Thanom, but one obstacle apparently has been
removed. A memberof the Privy Council suggested
_recently to Ambassador Unger that the monarchy, to
whom Praphat has' long been anathema, is now recon-
ciled to Praphat's succession.'
Ethio la - Communist China
(continued)
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Haiti: President Duvalier's failing health has
focused attention on the succession problem. 2
/ The
President appears to be favoring his only son, Jean-
Claude as his successor and recently has allowed him
to make public appearances usually reserved for the
President. Max Dominique, Duvalier's son-in-law, is
another possible candidate but neither he nor Jean-
Claude appear to have the necessary military support
to maintain control of the country.
USSR: Last night the Soviets test fired an
SS-13 ICBM from the Plesetsk missile test center
to an impact closure area in. the Pacific, a. distance
of 4,700 nautical miles. This is the first extended-
range firing into this area, since it was closed. on
28 October. The closure termination date is 30 No-
- vember 4
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