THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 APRIL 1972

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005993223
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 1, 1972
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PDF icon DOC_0005993223.pdf357.16 KB
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 The President's Daily Brief 1 April 1972 14 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 April 1972 PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS South Vietnamese forces remained under heavy attack today. (Page 1) In Laos, the seesaw battle for Skyline Ridge may go on for some days. (Page 2) Chile's President Allende is being pre-empted by Socialists in his government who wish to capitalize on radical agrarian reforms for their own political benefit. (Page 5) The Soviet press has played down air defense chief Batitskiy's recent trip to North Vietnam. (Page 6) Pakistan, (Page 6) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 SOUTH VIETNAM ? e1..ri,.:1?1* ORTH1?8 'VIETNAM DEMIL A 4 ITARIZED ZONE 0 50 .....1 AIN ti ,- . d Area of N VA artillery blanket MILES ' r r ? ? _ ". L.- ' Dong Ha? -/Quang Tchepone 4/ N... TN ? . 0 U.sA. N.?(7/46, 1", ?????./ . , Iv4'.4'-',...-,FSB Barge f I. '? ,-1, 1 \ r 1 5 dan Nft L NG 0.400 ? ? am Thong Reoccupied by irre 31 March Fire suppor r?-? Tha Tam Bleu 0`iceb ong Tieng Phou Se DESi uong Pot \ JRRES w Ohou Pha Sal Attacked by irregulars ,387,31 March ? ha Khao Khang KID 'I, 1 1 Pha Dongo [Ban So Phone Sa. 52 Trail ) 552758 4-72 CIA ? Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY LAOS Government forces yesterday recaptured two strongpoints on the western end of Skyline Ridge that had been in North Vietnamese hands for nearly two weeks. They are pressing attacks against two other positions, one of which had fallen to the enemy within the last 48 hours. The North Vietnam- ese still hold three positions on the ridge. While giving ground on Skyline, the North Vietnamese have kept up artillery fire on irregular positions on the ridge as well as in the Long Tieng Valley. They have not, however, launched any major ground action since irregulars turned back a tank and in- fantry assault on the western sector of the ridge on 29 March. As of this morning, there were still enemy tanks in this sector. North Vietnamese intercepts give no in- dication that the Communists are ready to give up their attempt to capture the base. Neither side has been able to throw a decisive blow, and the current round of punch and counterpunch seems likely to continue for at least some days to come. To the north and northeast of the Plaine des Jarres, yang Pao's two irregular task forces re- main stalled near enemy supply lines. The 2,600 troops have not inflicted any significant damage nor have they succeeded in diverting troops from Long Tieng. 2 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY USSR-CHINA Soviet negotiator Ilichev will revive several proposals made in earlier rounds of the negotiations on frontier de- lineation. One, first tabled last year, called for an agreement on nonaggression. Ilichev will also restate Soviet willingness to accept minor territorial adjustments in the interest of settling the border dispute and make other "concrete" offers for increased trade and bilateral exchanges. the USSR was "fed up" with China's intransigence and will make the Soviet po- sition in the talks public if the Chinese reject Ilichev's proposals. Moscow probably does not expect a positive response to the proposals since the Chi- nese have rejected similar ones in the _oast. j It is likely, however, that the Soviets want to avoid disrupting the talks, at least prior to President Nixon's visit to Moscow. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 25X1 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY KOREA 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CHILE The Socialist Party, has created a "revolutionary command" in Nuble Province, 150 miles south of Santiago. The command boasts of encouraging land seizures and claims to have obtained arms from the extremist Movement of the Revolutionary Left, The Socialists' objective is to speed agrarian reform and to create a mass peasant organization under their control. The government has not yet found a formula whereby it can carry out its agrarian re- form plans fast enough to satisfy its own hotheads. It also has not convinced land- owners that it will respect their residual rights. President Allende objects not only to the Socialists' refusal to await action by the government of which they are a part, but to their establishment of another independent organizational base. He has sent cabinet ministers to the area to investigate and plans to visit the province himself next week to cool tempers. 5 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY NOTES USSR - North Vietnam: Moscow, in contrast to Hanoi, gave little publicity to Air Defense Chief Batitskiy's recent visit to North Vietnam/ Soviet me la merely noted the marshal's presence in Hanoi and made no mention of the substantial delegation of air defense experts who accompanied him. Moscow thus bypassed an opportunity to play up Soviet back- ing and make points against Peking. In playing down Batitskiy's visit, Moscow may be making a deliberate effort to underplay its military support of North Vietnam lest this become a troublesome issue before President Nixon's visit to Moscow. India-Pakistan: Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh may meet with -a Pakistani representative during Singh's cur- rent visit to Kabul en route to Moscow. New Delhi is puzzled by frequent shifts and. inconsistencies in Bhutto's public position--such as his insistence that he wants to meet with Mrs. Gandhi while also demanding the return of some 94,000 Pakistani pris- oners in advance of negotiations--and may feel the time has come for exploratory talks. West Germany: (continued) 6 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY USSR-Iraq-Syria: The USSR and Iraq are likely to conclude a friendship treaty this month.( 'the two sides were then putting fin- ishing touches on the document. In neighboring Syria, meanwhile, Soviet politburo member Kirill Mazurov hinted broadly during a visit in February that Moscow wants a friendship treaty with Damascus. Mazurov did not actually propose a treaty but noted that such an agreement could facilitate a favorable Soviet response to Syrian aid requests. The Soviet ambassador in Damascus that Syria eventually will sign a treaty with the USSR, although at this time a majority of the Syrian leaders are opposed to the idea. USSR: USSR: The Soviets failed on 30 March in an attempt to send .a space probe toward Venus. It was to be. a follow-up to another Venus probe--des- ignated Venus 8--launched from Tyuratam on 2.6 March, which is expected to reach the planet in late July and, according to the Soviets, will attempt to make. a soft landing. Favorable Opportunities for launches to Venus will exist until late April, and the So- viets may attempt a third probe. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8 25X1 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A01-0600010001-8 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8