THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 9 JANUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977236
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 9, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900070001-3
The President's Daily Brief
9 January 1970
48
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
9 January 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
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Chinese
(Page 1)
North Vietnamese troops are moving into position to
launch a major counterattack against the Plaine des
Jarres. In southern Laos, the Communists have hit
the town of Pakse with rockets. (Page 3)
In a talk with Ambassador Beam on Wednesday, Foreign
Minister Gromyko relayed the Kremlin's views on sev-
eral matters of joint concern. (Page 4)
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COMMUNIST CHINA
The atmosphere at yesterday's meeting in War-
saw was brisk and businesslike. The Chinese charge
made a pro forma declaration that responsibility for
the frigid state of Sino-US relations rested with
Washington, but there were no polemics. The Chinese
accepted US proposals that subsequent meetings al-
ternate between the embassies of the two countries
and that discussions be conducted in English and
Chinese exclusively.
Yesterday's meeting was somewhat more for-
mal than that of 11 December, but the Chi-
nese apparently are remaining flexible and
are clearly interested in hearing what the
US will have to say on 20 January.
(continued)
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North Vietnamese Readying Counterattack Against the Plaine des Jarres
NORTH
CHINA
NVA troop
movement
VIETNAM
THAILAND
1,,Luang
Fan
NN
T.P/ des
rre
Os.
CammuniSt
trip buildup ( K1 01 OR
NVA regiment
on move
Communist-controlled territory
Contested territory
DEMA RCA TION
r*. LINE
SOUTH
VIETNAM
THAILAND
Communist
rocket attack
?
MILES
97134 1-70 CIA
CAMBODIA
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LAOS
The North Vietnamese are moving into position
to launch a major counterattack against government
forces in the Plaine des Jarres. There are reports
of widespread enemy troop deployments along the pe-
riphery of the Plaine, including a regiment of the
312th Division, which has been safeguarding supply
trails in eastern Xieng Khouang Province. There are
also indications that a convoy of long-range artil-
lery is moving toward a forward staging area. A
North Vietnamese command operating near the Plaine
has increased its tactical readiness, suggesting a
higher level of combat in the near future.
The North Vietnamese may have recently infil-
trated another combat regiment into north Laos. A
village official in northeast Laos near the North
Vietnam border claims large numbers of troops crossed
the border on foot in late December headed for the
Plaine des Jarres.
The enemy soon will have the capacity to
launch concerted ground assaults on sev-
eral fronts, possibly at the same time.
The fate of the outmanned government guer-
rillas under such circumstances would de-
pend heavily on the level and timeliness
of air support.
In southern Laos, Communist forces yesterday
launched a limited rocket attack against the town
of Pakse. There were no US casualties.
The fact that the shelling was not followed
by a ground assault suggests that the Com-
munists, smarting from their losses in
the north, were more interested in a psy-
chological blow than further territorial
inroads at this time.
The attack also serves as a reminder to
Vientiane of the enemy's ability to stir
up the military situation with little no-
tice. The Communists may hope that this
incident will deter the government from
moving additional troops from this area
to augment the defense of the Plaine des
Jarres.
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SOVIET UNION
In a conversation with Ambassador Beam in Mos-
cow on 7 January, Foreign Minister Gromyko relayed
the Kremlin's views on several matters of joint con-
cern. On the question of a European security con-
ference, Gromyko said that US and Canadian partici-
pation was "clear" proVided that both German states
would also be included. He implied that the US was
opposing the conference by insisting that the pro-
posed agenda include issues, such as balanced force
reductions, that have long been in dispute.
On the Middle East, Gromyko said that Moscow
was prepared to continue bilateral and four-power
talks, but implied that progress toward a settle-
ment depended on a change of attitudes and policies
in Washington and Tel Aviv, not in Moscow. He said
recent US proposals were one-sided and claimed that
it was "hard to understand" US encouragement of the
Israelis since the situation might again get out of
hand.
Touching briefly on the recent strategic arms
limitation talks, Gromyko said that Moscow has not
yet drawn any firm conclusions regarding the US po-
sition and that the next phase of SALT would pre-
sumably, deal with some of the more basic issues.
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NOTE
Peru; The Velasco government promulgated a law
last week limiting participation in the information
media to native-born Peruvians residing in the coun-
try and restricting press freedom where state secu-
rity or the honor or privacy of individuals is con-
cerned. Opposition has been quick in coming from
both.pro and antigovernment publishers and politi-
cians; the fight, in facts'is being led by Lima's
foremost:newspaper, normally .a strong backer of the
government. The tone Of :a government communique
issued Wednesday, which denounced this opposition
as a "counterrevolutionary maneuver" and a "conspir-
acy," suggests that continued criticism may result
in arrests based on a provision in the law establish-
ing a one-year prison term for media offenses "pre-
judicial to state security"
5
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Top Secret
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