THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 FEBRUARY 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993734
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 5, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011500010030-6
The President's Daily Brief
5 February 1973
L5
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ExempI from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( 1),(2).0)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
5 February 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Communist military activity in Laos has intensified
amid signs that both sides are preparing for an
early cease-fire. (Page 1)
In South Vietnam, fighting remained light through-
out most of the country over the weekend. (Page 2)
Several major US allies are moving toward early
recognition of Hanoi. In addition, some European
officials are expressing uncertainty over the ap-
propriate authorities to deal with in establishing
an aid program in South Vietnam. (Page 3)
Thailand is planning to initiate contact with North
Vietnam to arrange discussions on the repatriation
of Vietnamese refugees. (Page 4)
On Saturday, the NATO ad hoc group adopted a proposal
aimed at resolving the procedural stalemate that is
blocking further sessions of the initial force re-
duction talks. (Page 5)
King Husayn has made clear his reservations on the
usefulness of Jordan's entering a unified military
command with Egypt and Syria. (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS
554081 2-73 CIA
?Government controlled
0 Communist controlled
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
The Communists intensified their military ac-
tivity over the weekend, making the greatest head-
way in the remote northwest. On Saturday they over-
ran Nam Yu, a base for government guerrilla opera-
tions, for the first time. Initial reports indicate
that large numbers of irregulars in the area are
moving westward and that one of two population cen-
ters still under government control is being evacu-
ated. The government is flying reinforcements into
the area, ?however.
In the south, Communist forces supported by
tank and heavy artillery fire have overrun two gov-
ernment battalions southeast of Muong Phalane. Some
75 percent of both units are estimated to be killed,
wounded, or missing. Farther south the North Viet-
namese dispersed two irregular battalions advancing
on much-contested Saravane, inflicting heavy casual-
ties. On the Bolovens Plateau, the North Vietnamese
probed government positions outside Paksong, the
only population center in government hands, and a
major attack could come at any time.
Peace discussions continue in Vientiane.
Prime Minister Souvanna
Phouma met with the King in Luang Prabang yesterday
and is expected to confer with the senior Lao Com-
munist representative Phoumi Vongvichit before the
secret talks resume. Phoumi announced when he ar-
rived in Vientiane over the weekend that he had
come "with full powers to negotiate and conclude an
agreement."
1
25X1
25X1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Demilitarized Zone
THIE
OUANG
4Qa.Nang
MRI
tie Son
THAILAND
UANG TIN
ICJ
Quang Ngai
ONTUM
Sa Huynh
BINH
DINH
Phi:i My
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Qui Nhon
CAM BODTIA
Tonle
Sop
Nelrong
. PHUOC
LONG
CNA
KIEN
KIEN TUONG
CHAU , PRONG
DOC
PHUOC
TUY
-10
CHUONG
THIEN
KIEN HOA
VINH
BINH
MR 3
Capitol Special Zone
Gulf of
Thailand
AN
XUYEN
104
554083 2-73
MR 4
MR 2
South
Chiria
Sea
190
116 118 MILES' 1 0
16--
14-
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Fighting remained light throughout most of the
country over the weekend. Shelling and light ground
probes continued against South Vietnamese Marine and
Airborne positions in northern Quang Tri Province,
but no territory changed hands. Early on Sunday, a
battle was reported to be shaping up west of Hue,
where a North Vietnamese unit--estimated to be a
battalion supported by tanks--is moving against Fire
Support Bases Veghel and Bastogne. Details are
sketchy, but Communist troops appear to be in con-
trol of most of the area around Veghel and are hit-
ting Bastogne with heavy shelling. South Vietnamese
forces are counterattacking and are reported to have
destroyed six tanks. Farther south, fighting con-
tinues near FSB Ross in the Que Son Valley of Quang
Nam Province and along Route 1 near Sa Huynh Village
in southern Quang Ngai.
On Saturday, Communist-units in Binh Dinh Prov-
ince captured a South Vietnamese coastal radar sta-
tion southeast of the district capital of Phu My.
The enemy later abandoned the station after destroy-
ing most of its equipment... Road interdictions con-
tinue to be reported along Route 14, but Highway 19
between pleiku and An Khe has been reopened. The
isolation of Kontum City is causing serious food
shortages, and the rice supply is said to be virtu-
ally exhausted.
Light action was reported throughout Military
Region 3 with most of the attacks occurring in Trang
Bang District of Hau Nghia Province.. President Thieu
is reported to have ordered the military commander
for the region, General Minh, to use whatever re-
sources are necessary to drive the Communists out of
areas they now hold before international control and
supervisory personnel arrive and begin inspections
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM-RECOGNITION
Several major us allies are moving toward early
recognition of Hanoi. On 1 February Ottawa informed
the U$ that the cabinet had decided in principle to
recognize North Vietnam because representation in
Hanoi is needed to discuss ICCS and postwar aid
matters. The following day an Italian Foreign Min-
istry:official informed the US Embassy in Rome that
the Italians had already contacted the North Viet-
namese in Peking as a first step toward recognition.
An Australian Foreign Ministry official recently.
stated
stated that Canberra's plans for reconstruction aid
would require contact in Hanoi, and that Hanoi pre-
sumably would insist on an embassy to match the Aus-
tralian embassy in Saigon. The Australians plan
to approach the North Vietnamese in Paris on 12
February.
In addition, some European officials have ex-
pressed uncertainty over the appropriate authorities
to deal with in establishing an aid program in South
Vietnam. The nine EC members are to meet later this
week to consider a joint aid program for Indochina.
A Belgian official has implied that the EC could de-
cide to approach the Provisional Revolutionary Gov-
ernment as well as Saigon,
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND - NORTH VIETNAM
Deputy Foreign Minister Chartchai told a US Em-
bassy official on 2 February that Bangkok intends to
initiate contact with Hanoi through Red Cross chan-
nels. Bangkok hopes to arrange new discussions on
the repatriation of the large number of Vietnamese
refugees now residing in northeastern Thailand.
The Thai have long considered these Viet-
namese, most of whom fled North Vietnam
during the French-Indochina war, to be a
serious internal security threat. During
the last round of talks in late 1970, For-
eign Minister Thanat Khoman strongly
hinted that his government was interested
in broader discussions aimed at reducing
the apparent threat posed by the growing
North Vietnamese Army presence in western
Cambodia. The talks soon bogged down,
however, with both sides evidently con-
cluding that any agreement would have to
await the end of the war.
Having already begun to mend their fences
with Peking, the Thai could also be taking
another tentative step toward a policy of
rapprochement with their Communist neigh-
bors. Bangkok recently endorsed a confer-
ence of all Southeast Asian states to dis-
cuss postwar developments and may use a
new round of refugee talks to sound out
Hanoi on participation in such a regional
meeting.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FORCE REDUCTION TALKS
On Saturday, the NATO ad hoc group adopted a
proposal aimed at resolving the procedural stale-
mate that is blocking further sessions of the in-
itial talks. The NATO group would blur some of the
distinctions between observers and direct partici-
pants, but would still require that decisions be
made by consensus among the direct participants.
This would bring the NATO position closer to that
of the Soviets, and a Soviet delegate has stated
that if the West should take steps to create the
"appearance of equality" of all participants, Mos-
cow would refrain from raising extraneous issues
such as neutral participation.
-The Soviets have, however, introduced another
complication by saying that Hungary does not wish
to be a direct participant.
While most Western representatives be-
lieve this is merely a Soviet tactic, it
could nevertheless cause new problems for
NATO. The Benelux countries have linked
their direct participation to that of
Hungary, and West Germany is concerned
that it could become the only NATO coun-
try on whose territory certain force con-
trols would be applicable.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Jordan: In a tough speech on the eve of his
departure for the US, King Husayn made clear his
reservations on the usefulness of Jordan's entering
a unified military command with Egypt and Syria--
a statement prompted by the Arab Defense Council'
decision last week to appoint a single commander
for all three "fronts." Husayn outlined three con-
ditions for Jordan's participation: a clear under-
standing must be reached on the powers of the com-
mand, the Arab subsidies to Jordan must be rein-
stated, and the fedayeen cannot be allowed to resume
operations from Jordan. He also hedged his observa-
tion that any partial or separate Middle East peace
settlement would be a "fatal stab to the Arab strug-
gle" by noting that the continuation of the present
impasse is also a "deadly stab."
Chile: With the important congressional elec-
tions just four weeks away, the rival Communist and
Socialist factions of the Popular Unity coalition
are trying to paper over their squabble about the
need for violence in achieving a socialist revolu-
. tion. They are holding a mass rally tonight in an
effort to demonstrate that the strains of power have
not destroyed their ability to work together.
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Top Secret
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