THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 MARCH 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977364
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 24, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100200001-5
The President's Daily Brief
24 March 1970
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100200001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100200001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
24 March 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Speaking from Peking, Sihanouk has embarked on a
campaign to shake the resolve of the Lon Nol govern-
ment. (Page 1)
Lao
(Page 2)
(Page b)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
From Peking yesterday, Sihanouk broadcast a mes-
sage to the Cambodian people calling for the estab-
lishment of a "government of national unity" and a
"national liberation army" to overthrow the "reac-
tionary fascists." He promised arms and ammunition
to his followers and claimed that a "military school"
would be established to provide training. He stated
that "formal support" from socialist countries would
be forthcoming, and implied the struggle would be
undertaken in cooperation with Communist forces.
Sihanouk's penchant for theatrics may ac-
count for some of the points in his state-
ment, but it is also heavily larded with
Communist jargon. This plus the fact that
it was issued in Peking--probably with the
blessing of the visiting North Vietnamese
Premier Pham Van Dong--strongly suggests
that the Communists are backing Sihanouk's
current maneuver. A Hanoi domestic broad-
cast on 23 March commenting on Sihanouk's
earlier statement regarding the "illegal-
ity" of the Phnom Penh leadership, voiced
support for the Prince's efforts to rid
Cambodia of the "coup makers."
Despite the evidence of support, it is not
clear how far Hanoi is willing to go at
present to back Sihanouk against the new
regime in Phnom Penh. The Communists may
hope that Sihanouk's statements will cre-
ate a climate of doubt and dissension
among the new government's backers that
could shake the resolve of Lon NoZ and
Sink Matak.
Hanoi may also hope that the "support"
already given Sihanouk will cause Lon NoZ
and Matak to accommodate Communist inter-
ests in Cambodia. Recent statements by
Lon NoZ suggest that Phnom Penh's anti-
Vietnamese rhetoric is now giving way to
a more sober appreciation of the problems
Cambodia faces. If he and Matak do not
give way, however, the existence of a Si-
hanouk-Zed "liberation movement" provides
the Communists with the cover for more
forceful measures.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
(continued)
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LAOS: Current Situation
ala
hou
,eyhoun
r
Muong
Sann
Luang-
? Ho ei
Ki Nin
Ban Nee
Sam e,
Thori w
? JARR
,--1-
Government/forces moving --N
towardoutpost \
,
Khang ---N,
Vir N\ -1
i }
Khouang
Xieng
houangville
TIia Tam
Bleung
ang Vieng
Ban
?
NVA probing government
defenses
20 Miles
- ? 20 Kilometers/)
979943.70 CIA '
0 (Government-held' location \--)
0 Commuhist-held location
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
On the military front, North Vietnamese forces
have carried out several heavy, but unsuccessful,
probing attacks against the Long Tieng perimeter.
According to a recently intercepted enemy message,
North Vietnamese forces were urged to overcome these
defenses at the "earliest possible time." North of
the base, government guerrillas began moving back
into the Tha Tam Bleung area and will attempt to re-
gain the high ground overlooking this former govern-
ment outpost within the next few days.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
WEST GERMANY - EAST GERMANY
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NOTES
Fedaveen:
Albania - Western Europe: Requests by Tirana
for diplomatic and economic ties with Denmark, Bel-
gium, Norway, Greece, and possibly the Netherlands,
do not indicate strains in the Sino-Albanian axis
or a change in Albania's ideological orientation.
They are the result of Albania's growing self-con-
fidence in its political stability and recognition
that there can be economic and even political prof-
its, at low cost, from such ties.
Initial responses to the Albanian overtures
vary with the distance from Tirana. Copenhagen and
Oslo were the most receptive, whereas a resumption
of Greek-Albanian relations is only a long-range
possibility. The Greek claim to southern Albania
is a major stumbling block--the two states techni-
cally are still at war. Some progress in restoring
economic ties is being made, however.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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