THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 JULY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992737
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 7, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
7 July 1971
4 8
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
7 July 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Soviet
(Page 1)
In South Vietnam,
Thieu is doing everything possible to keep Vice
President Ky from qualifying for the presidential
race this fall. (Page 2)
Recent movements by North Vietnamese units in north-
ern Laos seem designed to prevent Vang Pao's irreg-
ulars from driving eastward from the Plaine des
Jarres. (Page 3)
South Korea has urged President
Pak to make a gesture toward the concept of unifica-
tion with North Korea. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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USSR
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
ThieU is doing
everything possible to prevent Ky from obtaining
from provincial councilors, the 190 signatures he
needs to qualify as a presidential-candidate. Gov-
ernment-officials are said to be.using both intimi-
dation and bribery to persuade councilors not to
sign for xy.
Ky himself apparently remains optimistic
that he will be on the ballot, probably
because of an agreement with Big Minh that
provincial councilors sympathetic to Minh
would endorse Ky. //
pI.ans
to have An Quang councilors nomnate Ky
are running into trouble because Ky's un-
popularity among the Buddhists makes it
difficult to ask them to feign support
for him.
The prospect that Ky may not qualify is
said to be causing Minh to have second
thoughts about his candidacy. Minh's re-
solve to run has wavered in the past be-
cause of his concern over the fairness of
the election; some of his supporters be-
lieve that if the government's tactics
succeed in keeping Ky off the ballot, Minh
will conclude that he has no chance to
win and will withdraw.
Thieu apparently is aware of the possibil-
ity that both Minh and Ky will drop out.
Thieu is reported to have ordered province
chiefs to solicit blank endorsements from
councilors which could be used to nominate
some other candidate if necessary to give
the appearance of a fair election.
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LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
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LAOS
Major North Vietnamese units near the Plaine
des Jarres appear to be relocating in order to block
any effort by yang Pao's irregulars to move eastward
?from the Plaine. According to both intercepts and
direction finding, "large formations" of the 148th
Regiment of the 316th NVA Division are pulling back
from the Phou Seu area southwest of the Plaine,
where they have been active in much of the recent
fighting. The division's 174th Regiment, which has
been laying siege to Bouam Long north of the Plaine,
is suspected to be moving southward, possibly to
secure high ground east of the Plaine. This regi-
ment has not been heard in communications since 3
July, and there has been no contact reported by com-
manders of irregular forces at? Bouam Long.
The NVA 866th Independent Regiment also appears
to have moved recently to new positions southeast of
the Plaine. Elements of two regiments of the 312th
Division--the 165th and 209th--are located in the
same general area.
It may take the North Vietnamese some time
to refit and regroup their units before
they are able to mount any major counter-
offensive. Their intercepts indicate, for
example, that they are continuing to have
supply difficulties and that they have many
sick and wounded troops.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH KOREA
is urging Pak to take a
new initiative on unification with North Korea,
As a first step
in Yi's plan, Pak would propose that the North and
South Korean Red Cross societies arrange for an ex-
change of names and addresses of refugees and fam-
ilies divided by the war. If all went well,
this would be followed by an exchange
ot mail, athletes, artists, and news publications.
Eventually, there could be economic and political
contacts between the North and South.
Last year Pak rejected recommendations
for similar exchanges and is not likely
to accept such a far-reaching proposal
now. Pak, however, is said to favor a
gradual relaxation of Seoul's rigid pro-
hibition against all contact with the
North in order to bring South Korean
policy more into line with the worldwide
easing of East-West tensions.
Last summer Pak, in a clear attempt to
seize the propaganda initiative from
Pyongyang, called for a lifting of the
barriers dividing Korea and promised,
subject to conditions unacceptable to the
North, to drop South Korea's opposition
to North Korean participation in the UN
debate of the Korean question. Thus, he
may be willing to make some public gesture
on the unification issue--such as the ex-
change of names--prior to the UN debate
later this year.
Although all Koreans favor reunification
in principle, public fear and resentment
among Southerners against the North is
strong. Pak will move cautiously in order
not to alarm the many South Koreans who
oppose any form of compromise with the
Communists.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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USSR -NORTH KOREA
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Top Secret
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