THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 MARCH 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977362
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 23, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
23 March 1970
49
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
23 March 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Soviet
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In Laos, the security of the government's base at
Long Tieng continues to deteriorate. (Page 4)
North Vietnam and China continue to support Sihanouk.
(Page 5)
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USSR
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MIDDLE EAST
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LAOS: Current Situation
AREA OF
MAIN MAP
Vientiane
KO'
'
Bouam ?
Long?
Muong
SOU i
?p'-?....----4/7
,, Sanda
,4Ila Luang,----,...., ? ,
Phou 1 i
1,,, Houer---
Khoun ,
Ki Nin
7
PLAINE Non ? e
Ban Nao
-e
Sam _ Ttba Tam Khang h?
'Thong? Bleung
Conga
Tieng ,
yang Vieng
Ban /
kgn
\N.
?
NVA closing in on
government position,
97974 3-70 CIA
'
, 1
Government-held location
Communist-held location)
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LAOS
Communist forces are operating in strength just
outside General yang Pao's headquarters at Long
Tieng. In recent days the enemy has launched an in-
creasing number of rocket attacks against the base
and the government's ability to defend the area is
being put to a severe test.
there now may be as many as
six enemy battalions threatening Long Tieng. We are
able to place elements of the North Vietnamese 6th,
Battalion approximately one mile east of the airstrip
from intercepted enemy communications which also dis-
close this battalion's plans to direct heavy weapons
fire at the base. Although the government defense
force now numbers over 2,000 troops, it will be dif-
ficult for them to prevent small enemy teams from
penetrating the defense perimeter.
In Bangkok, two Thai generals talked to a US Em-
bassy official Saturday about the possibility of
pulling two Thai battalions out of Vietnam to rein-
force Long Tieng. The generals stressed that this
would require a formal request from Vientiane and a
favorable decision from the highest levels within
the Thai Government. SOuvanna was scheduled to pun-
sue this matter yesterday with King Savang, who has
long been opposed to the presence of Thai forces in
Laos.
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CAMBODIA
After avoiding direct comment on events in Cam-
bodia for three days, North Vietnam yesterday labeled
Cambodia's new leaders as a "pro-American ultra-
rightist group" in an authoritative Nhan Dan state-
ment. Arguing that Sihanouk's ouster had-Fgen engi-
neered by the US, Nhan Dan stated that "our people
fully support" the struggle of the Cambodian people
against the US and the new leadership.
This statement and a reference to "stepping
up the fight" against the US "Lackeys" may
be meant as a warning to the Lon Nol
Sink Matak government that the Communists
are prepared to fight unless the new lead-
ers are accommodating.
The Chinese Communists, for their part, con-
tinue to refer to Sihanouk as chief of state and
they have broadcast his lengthy apologia and attack
on the new regime.
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Sihanouk's weekend statements in Peking
suggest that, in his present state of mind,
he is susceptible to whatever plans the
Communists may have to overthrow the new
Phnom Penh leadership. Although counting
himself out as a prominent figure in Cam-
bodia's future, Sihanouk stated that his
"duty" was to aid the "struggle...from
the inside and from the outside to erase
this coup." He also announced that he
would spend his exile alternately in Pe-
king and Moscow. Sihanouk is not likely
to play the role of a Communist stooge,
however, and his statements may be par-
tially designed to bluff jittery opponents
in the Cambodian capital.
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The government, meanwhile, has called on the
Geneva co-chairmen to "reconstitute" the Interna-
tional Control Commission to meet the threat of for-
eign troops on Cambodian soil'. It has also called
for "official negotiations" with the Vietnamese Com-
munists on the withdrawal of their troops. In addi-
tion to these diplomatic moves, Cambodian units on
the border are maintaining contact with the Commu-
nists, although only a few light skirmishes have
been reported. The Communists have given ground in
some areas/
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NOTE
Fedayeen-Venezuela:
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Top Secret
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