THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 22 JANUARY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993095
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 22, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010300190001-2
The President's Daily Brief
22 January 1972
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010300190001-2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
22 January 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
On Page 1 we comment on the outlook for Foreign Min-
ister Gromyko's visit to Japan next week.
The battle for
west Communist
Army positions
Luang Prabang.
Skyline Ridge goes on while to the
forces appear to have overrun Lao
on Route 13 between Vientiane and
(Page 2)
President Bhutto is taking a whirlwind trip to Mus-
lim countries in North Africa and the Near East next
week, and will then hop to Peking. (Page 3)
Prime Minister Mintoff has coupled his acceptance of
the UK-NATO offer of $36 million annually with a re-
quest for a,separate one-time payment of $26 million
by the end of January. (Page 4)
Jordan
(Page 5)
Chi-
nese Nationalists
(Page 6)
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USSR-JAPAN
Foreign Minister Gromyko's visit to Japan next week
is a major step in Moscow's campaign to improve ties
with Tokyo.
There have been few signs that Gromyko: will make any
dramatic offers. He will be anxious discreetly to
discourage Japanese overtures toward Peking.
Gromyko will
seek further to stimulate Japanese interest in de-
veloping Siberian resources and closer economic co-
operation in general.
The Japanese will be keenly interested in whatever
he has to say on the question of the Soviet-occupied
"northern territories"--the primary obstacle to
better relations, from their viewpoint. Gromyko
might renew some hints of flexibility similar to
those dropped last summer by other Soviet officials.
Both Moscow and Tokyo, of course, have reason to
demonstrate to the US, in advance of President
Nixon's visit to Peking, that they have the option
of developing better bilateral relations. The
visit may lead to an exchange of higher level vis-
its between Moscow and Tokyo.
1
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Mar;
'
Luang Prabang
"-
"Sala fthoti Khoun
--.,
, Struggle
\ ---: 1 Skyline Ri ge
uong Kassy , L., ,
-continues
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,
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, \
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13
THAILAND
'THAILAND
[ ? Government-held location 1
? Communist-held location
But
A NOPT
m*A51:
THAILAND
552461 1-72 CIA
STATUTE r.LES
10
0 10 20
1,OMETEPS
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Yesterday an irregular battalion that had ear-
lier been pushed from a forward position on Skyline
Ridge regained it after heavy fighting. The battal-
ion, which a few days ago numbered about 300 men,
could muster only 50 for the counterattack and now
has been replaced. Some 2,000 government troops
are dug in along the ridge. Intense fire from enemy
units entrenched on the eastern end and northern
slopes of the ridge is hampering aerial resupply,
One North Vietnamese battalion has been posi-
tively identified on the ridge, and other 'units are
probably there as well. The North Vietnamese .have
a strong reserve force--the 312th Division and the
335th Regiment, most of whose units appear to have
been largely uncommitted so far in the fighting
around Long Tieng,
To the west, Communist forces apparently have
overrun Lao Army positions and captured four 105-mm.
howitzers at Sala Phou Khoun at the junction of
Routes 7 and 13.
There is no evidence to suggest that North
Vietnamese units have moved into this area,
and we believe the attack was mounted by
Pathet Lao and dissident Neutralists, who
also occupied this area in early 1970.
The severing of Route 13--the only road
between Vientiane and Luang Prabang--is
more a psychological than a logistical
blow, since the road is used mainly for
local traffic.
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PAKISTAN
President Bhutto plans to leave Pakistan early
next week for a whirlwind trip to Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and possibly
Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq
After a day back in Pakistan, he will then
go to Peking, probably on 31 January. His stated
purpose is to express his gratitude for these coun-
tries' support--virtually nonexistent in some cases--
during the recent war with India.
It is more likely that in some places,
particularly Libya and Saudi Arabia,
Bhutto will.. be looking for money.
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We believe that Bhutto's trip to China
mainly involves an attempt to demonstrate
to the Pakistani people that he has Chi-
nese support.
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MALTA
At the talks in Rome this week Prime Minister
Mintoff accepted the final UK-NATO offer of $36 mil-
lion annually, plus bilateral aid, but with the pro-
viso that Valletta receive a.separate one,-time pay-
ment of $26 million by the end of January to cover
an anticipated budget deficit. The North Atlantic
Council meets today to consider this request
On the question of access to facilities on
Malta, Mintoff agreed to exclude military visits by
Warsaw Pact countries. He would not rule out vis-
its by the Chinese, however. As for other countries,
Mintoff suggested that the use of-the UK facilities
be subject to both Maltese and British approval.
Mintoff said that among NATO countries, at least
Italy and West Germany: would be permitted access,
but the US would not. He would not agree to subject
Libyan visits to prior UK approval.
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JORDAN-LEBANON
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COMMUNIST CHINA - NATIONALIST CHINA
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NOTES
USSR:
USSR-Cuba: A Kashin-class guided missile de-
stroyer, an F-class submarine, an ocean-going rescue
tug, and a tanker left Mariel late Thursday. They
have passed through the Florida Strait and are main-
taining a northeasterly course, apparently headed
for home waters. The Soviets now have in Cuba only
another rescue tug which arrived in Mariel earlier
this week and two special support barges in Cien-
fuegos.
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Top Secret
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