THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 MARCH 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977360
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 21, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100180001-8
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The President's Daily Brief
21 March 1970
27
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LATE ITEM: CZECHOSLOVAKIA
A Reuters dispatch from Prague states that
Alexander Dubcek has been suspended from the Commu-
nist Party. Reuters cited the Czech paper, Rilde
Pravo, as the source of the information, which we
can neither confirm nor deny at this time (0500 EST).
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 March 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS.
Communist forces continue to advance in Laos. (Page 1)
Lon Nol seems to be attracting grass-roots support
in Cambodia, but international acceptance may be slow
in coming. (Page 2)
South Vietnam. (Page 3)
Many Canadians oppose the second voyage of the Man-
hattan. (Page 4)
Student violence in Turkey will meet stronger police
action. (Page 5)
Libya
(Page 6)
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LAOS: Current Situation
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ang Vieng
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Governmerit-held
Communist-held locatiori'
97970 3-70 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
The government has moved additional-reinforce-
ments into Long Tieng, but the military situation-
continues.to deteriorate. North Vietnamese troops
have pushed to within one mile of the airstrip, even
though new government troops have movedinto the
hills immediately north of the base., Vang Pao now
has about 800 troops dug in around the headquarters
Complex. With enemy units closing in, however, there
is-a real danger that the government will lose' the
.use of the airstrip.
It is not yet clear how many troops the Commu-
nists have in the immediate Long Tieng area. Enemy
communications indicate the presence of at least
two North Vietnamese battalions. Another radio.ter-
minal associated with the North Vietnamese 316th
Division has moved into the area. An intercepted
message indicating guides were directing elements
of this division toward Long Tieng suggests the
buildup is continuing.,
In an attempt to block further enemy troop move
ments:into the northern approaches to Long Tieng,
Vang.Pao is reinforcing positions immediately south
of the heavily contested Tha Tam Bleung area.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Sihanouk denounced the Lon Nol government's re-
cent actions. in a statement from Peking yesterday
and called for. a nationwide popular vote, to be ad-
ministered-by the International Control Commission.
Sihanouk argued that recognition of the Lon Vol goy-.
ernment would be an illegal act, but made no mention
of returning to CaMbodia or using force to regain.
his office..
Sihanouk's unrealistic appeal for a refer-
endum will almost certainly fall on deaf
ears in Phnom Penh. The government already
has passed the point of no return in its
relations with Sihanouk as its current cam-
paign to discredit him indicates.
The Cambodian ambassador in Moscow, meanwhile,
has told US officials there that the
Soviets had indicated they would not accept. a.West--
ern-oriented government in Cambodia.
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LAOS - SOUTH VIETNAM
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140
U.S.S.R.
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MANHATTAN,
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Atlantic
Ocean
UNITED STATES
97783 3-70
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CANADA
Opposition to the second voyage next month of
the icebreaker-tanker Manhattan through the North,-
west Passage has not subsided despite the govern-
ments announcement earlier this week of new safety
measures for the. vessel. The government has been
attacked in the House of Commons and in the press
for not taking a more forthright position on Can-
ada's sovereignty over its Arctic water routes and
on pollution controls for ships using these waters.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
TURKEY
Senior Turkish authorities have decided to in-
stitute military: control of Istanbul and Ankara in
an attempt to curb continuing student violence-, which
has occurred repeatedly in at least five cities dur-
ing the past three weeks-. Observers are struck by
the degree towhichextremists have taken over the
student movement and the extent to which political
issues and anti-Americanism have'replaced valid ]
academic grievances.
The current rash of student unrest appears
to be the most highly organized and wide-
spread in several years. Because student
extremism has alienated many of those who
were previously sympathetic, stronger po-
lice action at this time probably would
receive broad popular support.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LIBYA
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Top Secret
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