THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 25 SEPTEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993537
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 25, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100220001-9
The President's Daily Brief
25 September 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification scheduk of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100220001-9
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
25 September 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The military situation in South Vietnam's coastal
lowlands remains serious
(Page 1)
Lebanon
(Page 2)
Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka has arrived in Peking
for five days of talks on normalization of relations.
(Page 3)
A number of President Marcos' political opponents
have been arrested during the first hours of martial
law in the Philippines, where the administration is
trying to generate public support for its action.
(Page 4)
In Uganda, the security situation remains precarious.
There is still some fighting in the south, and Pres-
ident Amin continues to threaten Tanzania. (Page 5)
A Soviet military airlift to Syria is in progress.
(Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
The situation in the coastal lowlands remains
serious. In Quang Ngai Province, units of the North
Vietnamese 2nd Division have surrounded the district
capital of Duc Pho and are heavily shelling it, as
well as nearby Landing Zone Bronco. The attackers
are also employing wire-guided missiles against gov-
ernment positions, the first time such weapons have
been used by Communist forces in this sector. Al-
though enemy attacks against the town of Ba To eased
over the weekend, South Vietnamese Rangers trying to
reach the town are still several miles to the east
and a North Vietnamese battalion is said to be pre-
pared to block their advance along Route 515. In
Mo Duc District, enemy units are still in control
of parts of Route 1 between Mo Duc town and the Song
Ve River.
In Quang Tin Province, the Communists renewed
their attack against Tien Phuoc over the weekend.
Field reports indicate that heavy artillery and wire-
guided missiles are being directed against the town,
as well as Landing Zone Young to the southeast.
Units of the North Vietnamese 711th Division in the
area may be trying to take advantage of the heavy
fighting in Quang Ngai Province to push into the
lowlands around Tam Ky, the provincial capital.
Colonel Tran Van Nhut, hero of the battle of
An Loc, has recently assumed command of the South
Vietnamese 2nd Division, which is charged with de-
fenseof Quang N ai and ?uan. Tin
Action in Quang Tri Province was generally light
over the weekend, except along the Thach Han River
and in the Hai Lang Forest, where government troops
continued operations designed to disrupt an enemy
buildup.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LEBANON
The Lebanese press this weekend indicated that
Premier Salam and Palestinian Liberation Organiza-
tion chief Arafat are still meeting on unresolved
_problems raised by fedayeen activities.
The more militant fedayeen elements may
not be as ready as Arafat to come to terms
with the Lebanese Government. Arafat him-
self most likely views an agreement mainZy
as a temporary device to forestall further
moves against the fedayeen by the Lebanese
Army.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JAPAN CHINA
Prime Minister Tanaka has arrived in Peking for
five days of talks on the normalization of relations.
Tanaka expects the Chinese to be flexible on most
issues, but has been led to believe they will insist
that Japan sever its formal diplomatic relations
with Nationalist China.
We believe Tokyo
demand.
is prepared to meet this
Various Japanese who have recently talked with
Premier Chou En-lai believe Tanaka will be able to
avoid or finesse other contentious issues. Chou has
let it be known that the Chinese would not bring up
"third country" problems--presumably a reference to
military ties with the US and Japan's relationship
with South Korea. Should Peking press for a Japanese
statement on Taiwan's status, Tanaka will repeat
Japan's longstanding position that, having renounced
all claims to Taiwan, it was not in a position to
express a view on the island's future.
The Japanese will insert into the joint communi-
que to be issued during the visit a statement recog-
nizing the Peoples Republic of China as the sole
legitimate government of China. In Japanese eyes,
this statement will constitute the establishment of
relations with Peking. The Japanese will then move
promptly to sever relations with Taipei, if the
Nationalist Chinese themselves do not make the move.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PHILIPPINES
President Marcos is moving quickly to try to
enlist public support for his declaration of martial
law. In his speech to the nation on 23 September,
Marcos repeated his allegation of a Communist con-
spiracy, adding that martial law was necessary be-
cause less drastic methods--in particular his sus-
pension of the writ of habeas corpus in 1971--had
failed to check the growth of guerrilla forces.
Marcos went on, however, to say that he will use
martial law powers to mold a "New Society" for the
Philippines by disarming private political armies,
eliminating corruption in government, controlling
prices, and ensuring social and economic justice.
Marcos apparently believes that if he can pre-
vent martial law from impinging too heavily on the
daily life of the average citizen, serious opposi-
tion will be discouraged. He has already eased
travel restrictions and allowed some newspapers to -
reopen, although under stringent military censor-
ship.
The first series of arrests under martial law
was aimed not only at Communist conspirators, but
also at political rivals. Among those arrested are
important leaders of anti-Marcos political blocs as
well as respected newspapermen who have exposed Mar-
cos' political manipulations. Constabulary forces
have also raided national and provincial offices of
radical student groups that have criticized Marcos.
Thus far, Marcos appears to be having his
way. Resistance to martial law may de-
velop, however, as news of his political
purge spreads. There are already indica-
tions that individual constabulary offi-
cers question Marcos' motives.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
UGANDA
Ugandan troops are still fighting remnants of
a guerrilla force that invaded from Tanzania last
week. It appears that the fighting is on Ugandan
territory, rather than in Tanzania as claimed by
Uganda's Government. Ugandan troops are said to
have been augmented by the arrival Saturday of about
400 Libyan troops, presumably the same group that
was barred Friday night from proceeding to Uganda
via Sudan. Tanzania has denied again that its troops
are involved or that any fighting has occurred on
its territory.
Several African leaders are attempting to me?
-
diate, and a Somali peace proposal is said to have
been accepted by Tanzanian President Nyerere. Ugan-
dan President Amin has labeled the proposal "very
good" but at the same time has threatened new at-
tacks on Tanzania, if Dar es Salaam does not with-
draw its troops from the border.
The security situation remains precarious. All
US citizens detained by Ugandan forces have been re-
leased. US Peace Corps volunteers are being assembled
in Kampala for evacuation. Undisciplined soldiers
continue to rough up and occasionally kill Asians
and to settle tribal scores with other Ugandan Afri-
cans. Many Asians who cannot meet new deadlines for
their departure from Uganda are fearful of their
safety. The British High Commissioner has said that
the ?airlift for Asians resumed on Saturday and should
be in full operation this week. If he can obtain
enough aircraft, the commissioner anticipates that
all the Asians may be out of Uganda in time to meet
the deadlines.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
USSR-Syria: Since 19 September a Soviet mili-
tary airlift has been under way to Syria. Ten AN-12
and two AN-22 cargo aircraft have arrived so far.
More flights are expected today. The cargo may be
destined for Syria's air defense command, which
earlier this year received Soviet SA-3 surface-to-
air missile equipment.
?
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Top Secret
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