THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 FEBRUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977283
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 5, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
5 February 1970
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
5 February 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
President Thieu is pushing ahead with the prosecution
of "Communist sympathizers" in the Lower House. (Page 4)
The military situation in Laos is quiet for now, but
the Communists are moving into position to exert greater.
pressure. (Page 5)
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USSR-EGYPT
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USSR - WEST GERMANY
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NORTH VIETNAM
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SOUTH VIETNAM
President Thieu has ordered a military tribunal
to proceed with the prosecution of Tran Ngoc Chau
and Hoang Ho, the two Lower House deputies accused
of having contacts with the Communists. Thieu de-
cided to act after receiving official word from the
Lower House that three fourths of the deputies had
finally signed a government-sponsored petition call-
ing for the lifting of the parliamentary immunity
of the two men.
Thieu's success came only after considerable
arm-twisting and does not suggest any substantial
improvement in executive-legislative relations. In
fact, his action may place new strains on his rela-
tions with the National Assembly. An opposition
group believes the prosecution will be illegal and
plans to ask the Supreme Court to rule whether the
constitution permits the prosecution of the deputies
without an actual floor vote by the House.
Thieu made the decision to bring the two
deputies to trial in spite of the question-
able constitutionality of his action be-
cause he has staked considerable personal
prestige on this case.
The President has taken this strong stand
against what he calls "Communist sympa-
thizers" in the Assembly partly as a warn-
ing to those who would develop a "Third
Force." He fears that those favoring such
a movement might eventually compromise
with the Communists. He probably realizes
that although three fourths of the Lower
House signed the petition, it would still
be difficult to get a similar number to
vote to lift the deputies' immunity. Nev-
ertheless, if the legislators are convicted
in absentia, Thieu may then go back to the
House in an attempt to get such a vote, so
that they can be arrested.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: Current Situation in the Plaine des hues
- -----
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.--Luang Prabang 7
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NVA troop
movement
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-Tieng -
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THAILAND
Government-held location
? Communist-held location
THAILAND'
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97473 2-70 CIA Kt1.0...FTEPS 20
20
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LAOS
The military situation remains quiet near the
Plaine des Jarres, although recent government pa-
trols have reported large numbers of enemy troops
in motion southeast of the Plaine. Other government
patrols have sighted a multibattalion force of North
Vietnamese moving toward the Plaine from the north-
west.
The Communists are aware of General Vang
Pao's sensitivity to troop movements that
could become a threat to his headquarters
at Long Tieng, and they may hope to force
him to pull back some of his troops that
have been disrupting Communist supply
movements along Route 7.
The Communists' seeming reluctance to take
full advantage of their overwhelming nu-
merical superiority near the Plaine may
stem from a number of factors. Among them
are their supply problems and their desire
to move on a number of fronts simultane-
ously. They may also be interested in fol-
lowing up the proposal Prime Minister Sou-
vanna made last Saturday to "neutralize"
the Plaine des Jarres.
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NOTES
USSR: The helicopter carrier Moskva is return-
ing to the Mediterranean after 20 days in the Atlan-
tic. (See The President's Daily Brief of 19 Janu-
ary.) Heavy weather permitted the Moskva and her
escorts to conduct training exercises on only one
day of the 20.
USSR:
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TET CEASE-FIRE PERIODS
Tet Holiday-6-8 February.
Saigon Tillie
Washington
Tinie
? COIVIIVIUNIST
Begins
5/0700
4/1800
Ends
9/0700
8/1800
? ALLIED
Begins
5/1800
6/0500,
Ends
6/1800
6/0500.
97464 2-70
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South Vietnam: Enemy activity during the Tet
truce period is likely to be limited to minor in-
cidents. As in previous truce periods, some local
units will have failed to get the word from higher
commands, and there will be reactions to allied re-
connaissance patrols. After Tet, however, we expect
another spurt of enemy action against allied posi-
tions and pacification targets.
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Top Secret
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