CEASEFIRE DEVELOPMENTS (FEBRUARY 9 - 4:30 P.M. EST)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-30-6-27-2
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2010
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: February 9, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM
UNCU6S-IFIED
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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
INFORMATION
February 9, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER
FROM: WILLIAM L. STEARNIAN
SUBJECT; Ceasefire Developments
(February 9 - 4:30 p.m. EST)
The following is a report on current ceasefire developments in South
Vietnam and on the present situation in Laos and Cambodia. This
report includes information received from State, Defense and CIA
as of 4;30 p.m. EST February 9, 1973.
Vietnam
Military
-- Military activity continues to be light throughout the country,
with a few exceptions. In MR I, the Chiang Tin Province Chief believes
that the VC in the mountain areas have probably improved their position,
as there are visibly more houses and rice paddies in VC aleas.
--In MR II, the problem of road interdiction has eased, although
Route 14 to Konhim remains closed. Sharp fighting is reported between
the VC and territorial forces in two coastal districts of Phu Yen Province.
The South Vietnamese have opened additional sections of major highways.
Some vegetable trucks are again rolling from Da Lat To Saigon.
-- Activity in MR III continued to be moderate.
-- In MR IV, the reported number of incidents has increased for the
second straight day and is larger than the pre-ceasefire norm; however,
this may be due to improved reporting. The focal points of enemy activity
in the Delta continue to be Chuong Thien, Dinh Tuong, along the lower coast
of Kien Clang, and along the Cambodian border in Chau Doc and Kien Phong.
-- South Vietnamese territorial forces are engaged in sharp fighting
with the VC forces north and west of the Phu Yen provincial capital of
Tuy Hoa. Three government battalions have been dispatched to the area
to fill the gap caused by the departure of two South Korean regiments.
Province officials have said privately they hope the truce teams will not ?
arrive for another four or five days so that there will be time to clear
the Communists from about 24 hamlets that are contested or enemy-cm-
trolled.
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UN
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. . . .
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TIED
Ceasefire Control
Four-Party Joint Military Corn-nission
? The DRV element of the FRIMG deploying to Ban Me Thuot in MR II
on February 9 was met by a demonstration of about 1, 000 persons. Accord-
ing to initial reports, two DRV officers were slightly injured and two
Americans were also hit as rocks were thrown. Anti DRV/PRG demonstra-
tions have also been held in Quanz Tin Province and reports of similar act-
ivities in other provinces are being received. Embassy Saigon has raised
this matter with the Foreign Ministry, pointing out that such demonstra-
tions will be interpreted internationally as indicating that the GVN is not
living up to the agreement. ?
-- General Ngo Dzu, in a VN Press interview on February 9, accused
the DRV/PRG of dragging their feet in forming their FP.TMC contingents.
Dzu went on to charge that the DRV is violating an agreement by discussing
various FRIMC issues with the press. Dzu also denied that the Communist
delegations have been deprived of food and pointed out that the GVN had
formed its regional and subregional teams, while the DRV has not and the
PRG is moving "slowest of all."
ICCs
-- No plenary session was convened February 8. The preliminary report
on the February 9 session indicates that a number of administrative
matters, including air service and procedures for point of entry sites
were discussed. The third session of the secretariat plannin' g group
bogged down on the issue of staffing. The Poles and the Hungarians
apparently object to the Canadian proposal to hire contract personnel to
relieve the burden imposed by the 290-man ceiling under which the delega-
tions operate.
Political
-- State reports that on the basis of available information, it seems fair
to say that both sides, in their propaganda and, more importantly, in
what we know of their guidance to the field, are emphasizing that the
Agreement must be adhered to, at least overtly. Simultaneously, both
are devoting much propaganda effort to show that the other side is vio-
lating ceasefire provisions. Both the GVN and DRV/VC are, of course,
continuing to fight in violation of the ceasefire, albeit at a reduced
tempo.
IteaSSIFIED
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ANCLASSIFIrb
3
46.
-- President Thieu reportedly has suggested to a meeting of political
leaders that it may be necessary to hold an election for a constituent
assembly provided NVA troops are withdrawn.
? According to articles in the Vietnamese press, President Thieu
told a number of correspondents on February 9 that to date "there has
been no ceasefire" and criticized the Communists for continuing the
war. Thieu went on to charge that the other side had only listed some
4, 000 OVN POWs, whereas they hold up to 30,000.
Economic
? Embassy Saigon has reported that the ceasefire Agreement itself
appears to have had minimal impact so far on prices except in so far
as road interdictions produced a temporarily atypical supply situation.
Prices in Saigon have risen only 7,2% since January 22 and road condi-
tions affecting the operators markets generally are now good.
Reconstruction
-- On January 31 Vo Van Sung of the North Vietnamese delegation in
Paris reportedly told the Japanese Ambassador that Hanoi will insist on
strictly bilateral post war foreign aid to North Vietnam. -
Diplomatic
-- The government of the Netherlands reportedly is planning to recognize
North Vietnam.
Ceasefire Violations
-- For your violations bar-graph, there were 31 major and 168 minor
violations recorded during the 24 hour period ending at 0700 February 9.
Mine Countermeasures
?I? Technical subcommittees of US/DRV mine countermeasures personnel
met yesterday and are meeting again today ( 9 February ) as they continue
to work out technical details of implementing the mine clearing protocol.
-- The USS Westchester County (LST -1167) has arrived and anchored in
the liaison anchorage to serve as support ship for the minesweepers.
UNMSSIFIED
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IP` UNCLASSIFIED 4
POWs
US Prisoners
-- At the afternoon meeting of the PW Subcommission on 9 February,
the DRV announced that they would release their first U.S. prisoners on
12 February. They gave no specific numbers but stated that they would
release one-fourth of the U.S. prisoners held in North Vietnam in this
first phase. They further stated that 29 would be sick and wounded.
Enemy Prisoners
-- The PRO agreed to accept, on 12 February 1973, 4,000 enemy
POWs in the vicinity of Dong Ha airfield in Quang Tri Province, 1000
at Quan Loi and 2000 in Can Tho Province.
Withdrawal and Redeployment of US/FWMAF Forces
-- From an in-country total of 23,458 U.S. troops on 27 January, 4, 824
were reported withdrawn by 1600 EST February 9.
-- From an in-country total of 35,396 ROK troops on 27 Janttary, 6,191
were reported withdrawn by 1600 EST February 9.
Laos
-- The military situation in the southern panhandle of Laos continues to
deteriorate seriously with the loss on February 8 of the important towns
of Paksong and Muong Phalane. At least 4 new NVA regimental size
combat units have been detected in the south.
-- In the internal Lao talks, Premier Souvanna reportedly has told the
Geneva Co-chairmen that he plans to sign an agreement with the Communists
some time next week and to implement a ceasefire the following day,
February 13. In a series of secret negotiations with Pathet Lao Embassy
Phourni Vongvichit, Souvanna reportedly has now agreed to an in-place
ceasefire followed by foreign troop withdrawals within 30 days. The settle-
ment also provides for a new tripartite coalition with both Lao parties
naming 50% each of the third neutralist segment and subsequently the
appointment of Political Council by the new government. The only major
issue which remains unresolved is Souvanna's claim to Neutralist leader-
ship.
-- MACY has reported that no new NVA infiltration groups have been
detected entering the infiltration pipeline through the Laotian Panhandle
since January 16. The 1973 infiltration estimates for South Vietnam and
Cambodia remains at 22, 000.
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r/UlleggIFIED
? Fighting increased in Cambodia with heavy new attacks against Kompong
Thom and a limited resumption of U.S. tactical air support. The situa-
tion in eastern Cambodia has begun to stabilize around the Prey-Vengi
Neak yang area while enemy activity increased again along Route Z.
UNCIASSIFIED
NIP
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