THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 29 MARCH 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992555
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 29, 1971

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79f 00936A009300260001-6
The President's Daily Brief
29 March 1971
4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T60936A009300260001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
29 March 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In East Pakistan, the army is harshly asserting its
control in Dacca but the situation elsewhere is less
clear. (Page 1)
The Communists have apparently initiated their an-
ticipated spring offensive in northern South Viet-
nam. (Page 2)
Laotian Government forces are continuing their ef-
forts to push the Communists from high ground near
the royal capital. (Page 3)
On Page 43 we comment on the Soviet draft agreement
tabled at Friday's four-power talks on Berlin.
At Annex we present some thoughts about the Soviet
party congress which opens tomorrow.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PAKISTAN
Dacca remains under firm army control, but com-
plete news censorship, the forced evacuation from
Dacca of Western newsmen, and a breakdown of commu-
nications with the interior have combined to make
the? situation in the rest of East Pakistan extremely
unclear. Conflicting claims continue to be broad-
cast by the government and secessionist radios, with
the government declaring yesterday that peace had
been restored throughout East Pakistan except for a
few disturbances, and with the clandestine "Free
Bangla" radio proclaiming that widespread fighting
persists and that the population is rallying behind
Mujibur Rahman 's leadership.
Mujib 's status is still uncertain. Clandestine
broadcasts maintain that he has escaped arrest and
is at his headquarters in the port of Chittagong.
Yesterday, however, a broadcast identified the leader
of the newly proclaimed Bangla Desh regime not as
Mujib but as a Major Zia Khan, said to head the
Bengali "Liberation Army."
Earlier reports have stated that Mujib
was taken into custody on the night of
25?-2e :March
The
vagueness of the broadcasts tends to con-
firm that Mujib is in government hands.
Reports from Dacca indicate that, although the
city is relatively quiet, many sections have been
destroyed and throngs of refugees ?have been leaving
for the countryside. There is some evidence that
the army is attempting to round up all leaders from
the Awami League, including recently elected members
of the provincial and national assemblies, as well
as university students and faculty members.
If, as rumored, a program of eliminating
opponents of the regime is indeed under
way, the effect will be to destroy the
relatively moderate leadership that has
characterized the Awami League. This
would place future direction of Bengali
efforts toward independence in the hands
of more extremist political parties such
as the currently. small Communist organiza-
tion in East Pakistan. This organization
is closely patterned after the NaxaZites
who have been causing considerable havoc
in the neighboring Indian state of West
Bengal.
50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T60936A009300260001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
? In the northern province of.Quangl. yesterday,
a Communist force heavily shelledand temporarily
overran a US fire support base, inflicting unusually
heavy casualtie8... Early today., Da Nang airfield was
struck by several rounds of 122-mm. rocket fire
re-
sulting in light to moderate damage. Communist.
forces also launched a series of attacks against
several South Vietnamese military outposts and a
refugee center in QUang.Ngai Province on 26 Match..
These actions apparently 'mark the start
of the anticipated Communist spring cam-
paign in the northern provinces of South
Vietnam. Recent intercepts show that Com-
munist units in Quang Nam Province were.
ordered to begin ,a new phase of military
action on 28-29 March. It is likely that
Communist plana call for.further,attacks
around pa Nang and elsewhere in the north-
ern half of the :country, including the
central :highlands.
In the Khe Sanh region, there were several Com-
munist shellings.and aMbushes over the weekend, but
none caused serious allied casualties.
The recent movement of the headquarters
of the North Vietnamese 308th Division to
a point some 11 miles. northwest of Khe
Sanh could presage more extensive ground
attacks. The headquarters is now in an.
area where Communist antiaircraft gunners
have been active in recent days and from
which the Communists have staged'attacks
against- Khe Sanh in the past.'
To mount a. concerted drive in western
Quang Tri Province, the Communists would,
have to reinforce the 308th Division. It
sustained heavy. casualties. during the
South Vietnamese thrust into Laos, and
in-
tercepts indicate that some, of its.subor-
dinate units are still having morale and
manpower problems. There are at least
five infantry regiments and another
divi-
sion headquarters--the North Vietnamese
324B--southwest of Khe Sanh that could be
moved in to apply additional pressure on
the base..
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009300260001-6
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