THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 27 JANUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977266
• 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 27, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
The President's Daily Brief
27 January 1970
27
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
PUK 1L11 FKL.)11JLIN 1 (J1N 1'
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
27 January_ 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In northern Laos Communist preparations for an offen-
sive in the Plaine des Jarres area appear to be near-
ing completion. (Page 1)
The movement of supplies through the Laos panhandle
for Communist forces in South Vietnam is in high
gear. (Page 2)
The absence of Brezhnev and Chief of State Podgorny
from public view for 37 days has set the Moscow rumor
mill in motion. (Page 3)
Japan will probably sign the Nonproliferation Treaty
within the week. (Page 4)
In the former Biafran enclave federal officers are
trying to restore. discipline among their troops.
(Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Laos: NVA Continues Preparations for Major Counteroffensive
CHINA
N./
BURMA
HQ Military Region
Northwest
\ Son La
THAILAND
NORTH
VIETNAM
NVA continuing
to move troops and k.
supplies into Laos
CHINA
Comniunist-controlled territory
Contested territory
- Limit of area claimed under
Communist and Neutralist
control, June 1962
\ AI
OEM A RCA TION
SOUTH
VIETNAM
THAILAND
MILES CAMBODIA
97358 1-70 CIA
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Communist preparations for a major offensive in
the Plaine des Jarres appear to be nearing completion.
50X1
messages have been passed between the North Vietna-
mese tactical command near the Plaine and a senior
military command inside North Vietnam at Son La.
This is almost certainly concerned with final plan-
ning for a major ground thrust against the Plaine.
The North Vietnamese also continue to pour
troops and supplies into northern Laos. According
to a message of 17 January, highest priority was to
be given to ammunition and explosives--a strong in-
dication that preparations for the offensive are in
their final stage. Apparently to insure the rapid
movement of high priority cargo, Hanoi is bringing
1,150 more combat engineers into Laos. Also, inter-
cepts indicate that an important vehicle convoy, pos-
sibly including tanks, is nearing the Plaine des
Jarres area.
The scope of present enemy preparations,
the largest ever detected in northern
Laos, may cause the Souvanna Phouma gov-
ernment to question seriously the wisdom
of holding, the Plaine "at all costs." A
high toil in Mo casualties would under-
mine the government's only effective fight-
ing force. The Meo units are needed to
defend politically more sensitive areas
closer to the capital, especially General
yang Pao 's headquarters at Long Tieng.
There is no evidence of a comparable Com-
munist build-up in the south. The Commu-
nists apparently intend to limit their
military activity in the panhandle to hit
and run raids and rocket attacks this dry
season. Such tactics would effectively
tie down government troops, precluding
their possible use in the north.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS - SOUTH VIETNAM
The Communist logistics drive in the Laos Pan-
handle has been in high gear since early December.
By now, significant quantities of supplies should be
reaching South Vietnam.
Although no overall figure for supplies moved
south is available, one key logistics unit received,
during a ten-day period this month, four _times as
much as it did in all of January 1969. Foodstuffs
make up the bulk of identified supplies, but arms
and ammunition account for about 18 percent of iden-
tified shipments so far this month, as compared with
12 percent for the same period last year.
Intercepted messages frequently mention destruc-
tion of trucks and death of personnel from US bomb-
ings in the panhandle. ?Units of the 559th Transport
Group this year are again being told to use false
lights, dummy trucks, and other deceptive measures
to reduce the effectiveness of air strikes. The
Communists have recently deployed surface-to-air mis-
siles to southern North Vietnam close to main pan-
handle logistic routes.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOVIET UNION
Rumors of instability within the Soviet leader-
ship are circulating ?in Moscow. Soviet party boss
Brezhnev and Chief of State Podgorny have been out
of sight for 37 days. Brezhnev, however, continues
to be mentioned in the press, and both he and Pod-
gorny have been listed as signatories of ceremonial
messages.
We are now checking 50X1
on the 50X1
whereabouts of these two sovi-et teaders.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JAPAN
Prime Minister Sato is finally getting around
to signing the Nonproliferation Treaty. He could
have approval from the cabinet and all others con-
cerned by the end of this week--in plenty of time
to have the treaty signed before it goes into force
early in February. -
Sato will have no trouble getting approval.
for signing the treaty. Formal ratifica-
tion by the Diet is another thing entirely
and could take a long time. Major problems
must yet be resolved at high levels of
Sato 's government.
Sato's sudden burst of speed seems to stem
from his desire to hemn step with the ma-
jor powers and to demonstrate Japan's
agreement in principle before Somalia de-
posits its instruments of ratifications
the act which will bring the treaty into
effect.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Nigeria: Federal officers are trying to pre-
vent further deterioration in discipline among the
troops occupying the former Biafran enclave. Looters
have been executed, and some improvement in disci-
pline can already be seen. Lagos is also moving
more federal policemen into the occupied area, but
it will probably be some time before the Nigerians
feel able to return troops to garrisons or withdraw
them altogether. Meanwhile, federal authorities are
working harder to move in relief supplies; serious
food distribution problems persist.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900220001-6