THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 2 JANUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977224
• 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 2, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
2 January 1970
49
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
2 January 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Moscow has told Bonn it is willing to talk with the
Western powers on Berlin. (Page 1)
There is evidence that the North Vietnamese are mov-
ing heavier artillery into north Laos. (Page 2)
Communist terrorism in Thailand has increased in re-
cent weeks. (Page 3)
The Chinese, in an authoritative editorial, have
directly denounced Brezhnev for the first time since
the Chou-Kosygin meeting of last September. (Page 4)
The Soviets are constructing a division-size instal-
lation in Mongolia. (Page 5)
Pekin
Italian and Canadian
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USSR-BERLIN
MbscoW-has'eXpresSed its' Willingness to talk
with the'Western powers on West Berlin in an oral
demarche delivered by the Soviet charge in Bonn on
29 December. The Soviet diplomat also reaffirmed
Soviet Opposition to Bundestag-committee meetings
in West Berlin. He noted that such meetings were
planned Tor this month but did not threaten any
counteraction.
This is the first direct Soviet comment
on the Allied proposal for four-power
talks on Berlin since the formal Soviet
reply on 12 September. Moscow apparently
felt it necessary to impress upon the
Western powers its continuing interest in
discussing the Berlin problem without
committing itself on the specifics of the
proposed talks.
In an effort to create a favorable cli-
mate for give and take with the Soviets,
Chancellor Brandt decided early last
month not to hold the customary January
Bundestag work week in West Berlin, Bonn
will not make any further concessions,
however, and individual committees and
party groups will continue to hold fre-
quent sessions in West Berlin.
Moscow seems interested in continuing a
dialogue with the West on various issues,
and the Soviets are not likely to provoke
a crisis over these meetings.
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122-mm Field Gun D-74 (type captured by US in A Shau Valley)
Northern Laos: Current Situation
NORTH
BURMA
Samneu:
o Road
improvements
P des
GovernMent' J ?r4les''
continues io,hiild
positions
122-mm Field Gun
may be
oved to Laos
THAILAND
Vientiane
Communist controlled
territory
Contested territory
0 ? 50
Statute Miles
97085 1-70 CIA
THAILAND
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LAOS
The North Vietnamese appear to be moving medium
artillery into north Laos. According to an inter-
cepted message of 30 December, North Vietnamese en-
gineers along Route 7 were pushing to complete road
improvements by 1 January in order to support the
movement of a convoy towing 122-mm. "long-barreled
artillery pieces."
This would be the first time that Commu-
nist forces have employed such a weapon
in Laos. A weapon of similar caliber was
captured by US forces in the Au Shau Val-
ley of South Vietnam last February.
The surprising degree of success that gov-
ernment guerrillas have had in holding
strategic highpoints near the Plaine des
Jarres, despite repeated North Vietnamese
ground attacks, may be responsible for the
decision to introduce heavier artillery
into north Laos at this time.
Another intercept of mid-December suggests that
the North Vietnamese are also increasing sharply the
flow of arms and ammunition into north Laos.
These shipments, and the movement of ar-
tillery?at a time when the Communists
normally take the offensive--are further
indications that the long-anticipated
Communist counteroffensive against the
Plaine des Jarres may soon begin.
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Insurgent Activity Increases in Thailand
9.8
7)1
j?-1,"*".
? ?
14,40,19
162 I `IN
I. I '71
.)
NORTH
4
VIETNAM
LAOS
GULF
OF
TONKIN
18 -
_
Lom Sak
-
Gueliille`e interdict traffic
HI
?
VIETNAM
14
A NEM
SEA
6
-14-
4
GULF OF
)14;
^ ,1?.4L-14
97087 1-70 CIA
SIAM
C:2) Area of Insurgent Activity
? Insurgent Attacks
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A
MILES
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THAILAND
Communist insurgents have mounted several am-
bushes in recent weeks, causing a number of casual-
ties among government security officials. In the
most serious attack, a police patrol was wiped out
in an area west of Bangkok that heretofore has been
largely free of insurgent activity. There has also
been a marked rise in guerrilla activity in the
northeast and north-central areas of the country.
the Communists may
stage some headline-grabbing activity this
month to celebrate the first anniversary
of the Thai People's Liberation Armed
Forces--the embryonic military arm of the
Communist Party of Thailand.
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COMMUNIST CHINA USSR
In An authoritative editorial on 31 December
the Chinese directly denounced Soviet party leader
Brezhnev by name for the first timesince the ChOu--
KOsygin,meeting last September. The article also
underscored China's determination to defend its
frontiers from attack by either the US or the So-
viets.
The Chinese commentary is consistent with
the more strident tone China's anti-Soviet
polemics have adopted in recent weeks, and
is intended to put Moscow on notice that
the Chinese will continue to be tough ne-
gotiators when the border talks resume.
Moscow this morning announced that its
delegation chief, First Deputy Foreign
Minister Kuznetsov, returned to Peking
today.
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USSR-MONGOLIA
Recent satellite photography shows a division-
size installation under construction at Sumber Suma,-
Mongolia. Only a few vehicles were observed at the
new installation, which was begun sometime after No-
vember 1968, suggesting that it is not yet fully oc-
cupied.
The Soviets probably are forming a high-
level headquarters to control at least
three divisions in Mongolia. There are
now two Soviet divisions there--one at
Ulan Bator and one at Sayn Shanda. An-
other smaller ground force unit at Choy-
balsan may eventually be brought up to
division strength.
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COMMUNIST CHINA - ITALY - CANADA
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NOTE
Chile: The impasse over the selection of a
presidential candidate is widening the divisions
within the Communist-leftist electoral front. The
six parties of the Popular Unity Movement finally
agreed on a program last week after months of wran-
gling, but have been unable to settle on a candidate.
Opposition to the leading contender, Socialist Sena-
tor Salvador Allende, on grounds that he is over-
exposed after three unsuccessful tries at the pres-
idency, has led him to withdraw his name
There is growing talk that
Senator Rafael Gumucio, who recently broke away from
the governing Christian Democratic Party, will be
the compromise candidate.
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Top Secret
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