THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 DECEMBER 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977197
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 16, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
16 December 1969
46
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
16 December 1969
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Ambassador Schaetzel sees the recent European Com-
munities summit meeting as a turning point in Euro-
pean affairs. (Page 1)
In Panama, opposition to the ouster of General Tor-
rijos is developing. (Page 2)
Sihanouk takes the Communists to task in a speech on
Cambodian border problems. (Page 3)
With an eye to next week's general elections, Sato
calls for official talks between Tokyo and Peking.
(Page 4)
Ulbricht has hinted that Pankow is willing to nego-
tiate with Bonn. (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Ambassador Schaetzel views the recent EC sum-
mit as a turning point in European affairs. He
senses a new hope among Europeans that the problems
associated with the closer integration of the Euro-
pean Communities can be solved. In the opinion of
the ambassador, this optimism stems from a complete
reversal of French policy which, as stated by Pres-
ident Pompidou at the summit meeting, now favors the
expansion of the EC membership. Pompidou's EC col-
leagues realize that he cannot accomplish such a
shift quickly, however, and that progress probably
will be spasmodic.
Although European diplomatic circles gen-
erally agree that French policy has "turned
around," the events of the next several
months will be the definitive test. Even
if the Six are closer to a common view on
the future of the Communities than they
have been for years, agreement on essen-
tial details will not be readily achieved.
We remain optimistic that the UK will not
retreat when faced with the real possibil-
ity of entry, even though some British of-
ficials continue to doubt the value of EC
membership.
1
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PANAMA: Support Developing for Ousted General Torrijos
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96937 12-69 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PANAMA
Opposition to the ouster of General Torrijos is
developing. There are indications that the Chiriqui,
Veraguas, and Tocumen National Guard garrisons will
not join Colonels Silvera and Sanjur, who yesterday
removed Torrijos from his post as Guard commandant.
Torrijos, who was in Mexico when the dissident
officers moved against him, last night was in El
Salvador conferring with the Panamanian ambassador.
He may try to go to Panama's second largest city,
David, where the majority of his support now exists.
Silvera and Sanjur apparently hope to isolate these
forces before Torrijos arrives.
Silvera and Sanjur have been able thus far
to gain the backing of the majority of the
National Guard. If Torrijos and his sup-
porters seriously contest this seizure of
power, however, the splits within the
Guard may widen, and armed clashes could
result.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
In a speech yesterday, broadcast over the do-
mestic radio service, Sihanouk charged that the Viet
Cong respect Cambodian territory only "on paper."
He accused them of triggering the Dak Dam incident
by firing at Americans "from our territory." Si-
hanouk noted that if Cambodia were to break rela-
tions with the US, it would also have to do so with
"the Viet Minh and the Viet Cong," because "they
still continue to commit aggression against our ter-
ritory...."
Sihanouk's criticisms of the Communists,
although generally in line with his re-
cent views, are expressed in a more forth-
right than usual fashion. As such, they
are a good measure of his frustration over
continued Communist use of Cambodian ter-
ritory. Moreover, he is clearly trying
to strike a more realistic balance in as-
signing blame for border violations. The
speech, by implication, also suggests the
importance Sihanouk attaches to maintain-
ing his renewed relations with the United
States.
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JAPAN - COMMUNIST CHINA
Prime Minister Sato has called for official talks
between Tokyo and Peking while campaigning for the
general elections scheduled for 27 December. Another
high official on Saturday said that the government
was "considering" talks at the ambassadorial level.
Despite its campaign oratory, the Sato ad-
ministration will move cautiously in any
effort to broaden its ties with Peking.
50X1
50X1
Sato undoubtedly felt the need to make
some response to the announcement of new
US - Communist China contacts in Warsaw
in order to avoid criticism from the oppo-
sition parties on the China issue. Im-
portant elements within Sato 's party also
support closer ties with Peking.
4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND
The Thai are highly upset over what they view
as US interference in Saigon with a deal for the
sale of 20,000 tons of Thai rice. Some cabinet of-
ficials view South Vietnamese withdrawal from the
rice negotiations--with the assertion that it was
at US "orders"--and the substitution of a US rice
delivery to Saigon as clear evidence of US chicanery.
Foreign Minister Thanat has warned Ambassador Unger
that a formal protest may be levied if there is not
a "responsive" reply to his strong verbal protest.
Bangkok is reacting strongly to each new
sign that suggests a downgrading of Thai
interests by Washington. Thai leaders
are apprehensive over what they believe
to be a weakening in the US commitment to
Thailand's security, and they are dismayed
over criticism in the US of Thailand's
role in the Vietnam war.
Bangkok is apparently prepared to pursue
the rice issue forcefully in an effort to
regain an appearance of equality in its
partnership with the US. Although the
Thai have been careful in the past to
keep differences with the US hidden, both
Thanat and Prime Minister Thanom have
made the issue a central theme in recent
press conferences. Thanom has also said
his government plans to put the contro-
versy on the top of its list of things to
discuss during Vice President Agnew's
visit to Bangkok.
5
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EAST GERMANY - WEST GERMANY
Speaking at a party plenum on 13 DeCember, East
German leader Ulbricht indirectly acknowledged Chan-
cellor Brandt's offer in October to begin talk's with-
out discrimination and said that negotiations can be
started. Available excerpts of Ulbricht's long
speech indicate that he did not demand that Bonn ex-
tend de jure recognition to East Germany. He did
say, however, that normalization of relations "means"
recognition of East Germany as an equal, sovereign
state.
Ulbricht seemed to be inviting an approach
from Bonn. Although ambiguous, his state-
ments suggest that Pankow now may be will-
ing to accept de facto recognition. Brandt
has acknowledged the existence of two Ger-
man states but maintains that relations
between the two Germanies have a "special"
quality and that Bonn cannot give full de
jure recognition.
The timing of Ulbricht's speech--one week
after the East Germans were given short
shrift by their allies at the Warsaw Pact
summit in Moscow--suggests that the East
Germans_ may have decided that they must
begin negotiations with Bonn to protect
their own interests. The East Germans
also want to give the impression that they
are not the ones who are blocking progress
on East-West German negotiations.
6
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Top Secret
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