THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 26 FEBRUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977319
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 26, 1970

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008000220001-4
The President's Daily Brief
26 February 1970
25
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008000220001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008000220001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
26 February 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
As election day in Guatemala approaches, there are
reports that the Communists plan further terrorist
acts. (Page 1)
In Egypt, the rising incidence of a parasitic disease
is jeopardizing economic gains from the Aswan dam and
posing serious problems for the military. (Page 2)
There has been no new ground action in the Plaine des
Jarres area. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008000220001-4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
GUATEMALA
An unsuccessful assassination attempt against
Guatemala's chief electoral official this week is
probably a prelude to more violence prior to the
elections on I March.
Charges by both the rightist and leftist oppo-
sition parties that the government plans to rig the
elections have been a principal issue in the cam-
paign. Rightist presidential candidate Colonel Car-
los Arana has threatened to take over the government
should the ruling Revolutionary Party win by what he
considers fraud. If no candidate wins an absolute
majority, the congress is to choose between the two
candidates with the largest number of votes.
The Revolutionary Party appears to have
the strength for a congressional victory
and at least a plurality in the presiden-
tial contest. A major wave of terrorism,
however, before the elections or on elec-
tion day, could drastically alter the vot-
ing pattern. If the government does not
receive a strong plurality in Guatemala
City, where most of the politically aware
elements live, its mandate to govern would
be questionable. Indecisive elections,
followed by a prolonged period of insta-
bility, would increase the possibility ,of
military intervention.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT
Construction of the Aswan High Dam and its ir-
rigation systems has contributed to the rapidly ris-
ing incidence in Egypt of schistosomiasis, a debili-
tating parasitic disease. Schistosomiasis spreads
to man through a blood quke carried by a snail found
in impounded waters or canals. The incidence of the
disease near the dam has risen from about 23 percent
to over 90 percent in the last few years. In a total
Egyptian population 'of 35 million, over 22 million
are believed already to be infected.
The rising incidence of schistosomiasis
not only jeopardizes the economic gains
from the Aswan dam but also poses a se-
vere problem for the military. The dis-
ease infects nearly all the male agricul-
tural population?the bulk of Egypt's_
-manpower pool. The Egyptian Army is con-
ducting field trials of a promising new
US-developed drug.
Thus far the USSR has not become involved
in the search for solutions to this prob-
lem. The Egyptians are looking primarily
to private US sources because of previous
medical assistance given to Egypt and be-
cause of successful demonstrations of the
new drug in other countries.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PHILIPPINES
Students are planning to demonstrate again to-
day at the US Embassy. This time they intend to
protest alleged US efforts to help American service-
men evade prosecution by Philippine courts for of-
fenses under local law. Anti-American feeling has
been further aroused by false reports that a car
driven by an embassy staff member injured a Filipino
child yesterday, and by the death yesterday of a
Filipino shot while attempting to rob the Clark Air
Base commissary.
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Laos: There has been no new ground action near
the Plaine des Jarres. The Communists apparently are
concentrating their efforts on strengthening their
hold over newly won positions and on resupplying front
line forces. General yang Pao is moving additional
troops into position south of the Plaine in anticipa-
tion of an enemy thrust against the government's new
defense line. The Meo leader's determination to de-
fend his headquarters at Long Tieng has been rein-
forced by a recent statement of support for his ef-
forts by local Meo chieftains.
4
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008000220001-4
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008000220001-4