THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 FEBRUARY 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993741
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 10, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011566010037-9
The President's Daily Brief
10 February 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I 1(2),13)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
10 February 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In Laos, the loss of Paksong has sparked a hasty
withdrawal of nearly all government forces from the
Bolovens Plateau. General yang Pao is trying to
make some last-minute aains around the Plaine des
Jarres
(iJage l)
The Saigon government has dispatched three battal-
ions to replace departing South Korean troops in
central South Vietnam. In the North, a small con-
voy of vessels has left Haiphong and moved through
the minefields. (Page 2)
One of Prime Minister Tanaka's closest advisers says
that Japan cannot "forever" recognize Saigon as the
only legitimate government in Vietnam. (Page 3)
Cambodian President Lon Nol is accelerating his cam-
paign to make Sink Matak his vice-president.
(Page 4)
As the international monetary crisis Showed no signs
of easing -yesterday,
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The Soviet Union plans to use underground nuclear
explosions to aid in mining gold in eastern Siberia.
(Page 6)
Uruguay's President Bordaberry has bowed to rebelling
military leaders and sacked his new defense minister,
thus saving his own job for the moment but acknowl-
edging the reality of military dominance of his gov-
ernment. (Page 7)
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LAOS
554109 2-73 CIA
eGovernment controlled
Government operation
? Communist controlled
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LAOS
The loss of Paksong on Thursday has sparked a
disorderly withdrawal of nearly all government
troops on the Bolovens Plateau. Commanders are now
attempting to rally their units at Ban Gnik, the last
natural defensible position on the western Plateau.
Late yesterday two other positions farther east on
Route 23 were still in government hands.
The North Vietnamese, apparently now con-
solidating their control of Paksong, can
be, expected to move soon to push govern-
ment forces from the western Bolovens.
We see no evidence, however, that they in-
tend to depart from their long-standing
policy and attack Pakse, the major town
in southern Laos. They are more likely to
try to tie down as many government troops
as possible to forestall a counterattack
prior to a cease-fire.
With government units on the defensive else-
where in the country, General yang Pao has been try-
ing for several weeks to make some last-minute gains
around the Plaine des Jarres. A force of over 2,000
irregulars in the Muong Soui area is trying to move
into that Communist logistics base west of the Plaine
Lead units are within three miles of Muong Soui to
the north, but Communist units have been diverted
to the area from Bouam Long and Sala Phou Khoun,
and there appears to be little chance that the ir-
regulars will capture the village.
Elsewhere a 1,000-man irregular force is moving
from Ban Na toward the western edge of the Plaine
and a smaller force is attempting to push toward the
southern Plaine from Pha Dong. Intercepts indicate
that the Communists have been anticipating a move
toward the Plaine for some time and have positioned
their heavy artillery and infantry units to counter
such a drive.
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VIETNAM
Three government battalions have been dispatched
to fill the gap caused by the departure of two South
Korean regiments from Phu Yen Province in central
South Vietnam. The fresh troops will join the heavy
fighting against Viet Cong forces in the province.
Local officials have privately said they hope that
truce teams will not arrive for four or five days to
give them time to clear the Communists from about 24
hamlets.
Elsewhere in the country, the Communists ini-
tiated little action. The South Vietnamese have
opened additional sections of major roads leading to
Saigon that the Communists had blocked.
A US Navy helicopter crew spotted a small con-
voy of vessels, including two foreign merchant ships
and a coastal freighter, leaving Haiphong harbor and
passing through the minefields yesterday. The two
500-foot ships--one Soviet and one Cuban--were pre-
ceded by as many as eight small craft. After the
convoy cleared the minefields, the small craft re-
turned to the port.
Both ships recently took on fuel, and in-
tercepted communications indicated they
would be leaving the port on the 8th or 9th.
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JAPAN NORTH VIETNAM
One of Prime Minister Tanaka's closest advisers
has told the press that Japan cannot hold "forever"
to recognition of Saigon as the only legitimate
government in Vietnam.
He was responding to remarks made earlier
to Japanese journalists by the chief
editor of North Vietnam's party daily.
The editor indicated that Hanoi is pre-
pared to "overlook" Japan's cooperation
with the US in the Vietnam war, and that
Tokyo's relations with Saigon would not
hinder the establishment of normal rela-
tions.
Japan wishes to retain its ties in Saigon.
Partly for this reason, the Japanese
will oppose any suggestion that they make
unilateral contributions to the rehabili-
tation of North Vietnam or to areas of
South Vietnam under control of the Pro-
visional Revolutionary Government. A
delegation from the Japanese Foreign
Ministry plans to visit Hanoi on 20 Feb-
ruary.
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CAMBODIA
President Lon Nol is moving into high gear in
his campaign to make Sink Matak his vice-president.
Lon Nol is also trying to persuade former
Democratic Party chief In Tam to become presiden-
tial "adviser on national accord."
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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY DEVELOPMENTS
The monetary crisis showed no sign of easing
yesterday as foreign central banks, principally
the Bundesbank, took in another $2 billion. The
West German, British, and French finance ministers
met last night in Paris to seek a solution.
Tokyo did not open its foreign exchange market
today for the usual half-day session.
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USSR
The Soviet Union plans to use underground nu-
clear explosions to aid in mining gold near Yakutsk
in eastern Siberia later this year
The Soviets have significantly expanded
their program for peaceful use of nuclear
explosions during the past two years,
using them to extinguish gas well fires,
to dam a river, to create underground
storage cavities, and to stimulate oil and
gas production.
The use of nuclear devices in gold mining
would be another example of the intensive
Soviet effort to increase their gold pro-
duction. Over the past eight years, the
Soviets have expanded their output by
about 70 percent despite the extraordinar-
ily high cost of mining gold in remote
areas. The Soviet Union's estimated pro-
duction of 270 metric tons in 1972 was ex-
ceeded only by South Africa's output.
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URUGUAY
President Bordaberry has capitulated to rebel-
ling army and air force leaders by removing newly
appointed Defense Minister Francese as they had
demanded. The entire cabinet resigned in an attempt
to disguise the surrender. Radio stations seized
by the army and air force had broadcast communiques
outlining programs for combatting inefficiency and
corruption in government and offering policy guide-
lines on subjects as varied as export promotion
and land reform.
Bordaberry has saved his own titular
leadership for the moment, but the real-
ity of the military's will and ability
to dominate the Uruguayan Government has
now been demonstrated. Although the
crisis erupted over an area of their
special concern--the Defense Ministry--
the military have underlined their claim
to influence broad policy issues extend-
ing far beyond their traditional responsi-
bility. Thus even if Bordaberry retains
the office of president, his freedom of
action in all areas of government is
certain to be increasingly curtailed.
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NOTES
Egypt: The resumption of university classes
last Saturday was followed almost at once by minor
anti-government demonstrations. About 160 students
were arrested this week. A group of Cairo University
students is planning protest marches in downtown
streets today to protest the arrests and the lack
of freedom of expression. Egyptian security forces
plan to disperse the marchers by force, if neces-
sary.
France: A district-by-district analysis pre-
pared by the Interior Ministry shows the left al-
liance continuing to gain in voter preference.
The survey shows the alliance as likely to win
220 of the 490 assembly seats in the elections on
4 and 11 March, the centrists 35 seats, and the
Pompidolian coalition 235 seats. Public polls show
a similar trend. The government coalition still
has found no issue to capture the public imagina-
tion and is maintaining its emphasis on the dangers
of giving power to the left.
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Top Secret
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