THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 28 MARCH 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977372
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 28, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
28 March 1970
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
28 March 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
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Peking's statement against use of Thai troops in
Laos is the strongest Chinese pronouncement on the
Laotian situation since the early 1960s, (Page 2)
Pro-Sihanouk demonstrations in southeastern Cambodia
?have abated, but they already seem to have served
one Communist purpose by forcing the government to
thin out its forces along the border in order to
help police provincial capitals. (Page 3)
In Laos, General yang Pao's reinforced garrison at
Long Tieng is beginning to push out from the imme-
diate environs of the base. (Page 5)
The latest information on silo construction for the
SS-9 ICBM is provided on Page 6.
At Annex
Egypt.
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ouni
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USSR-EGYPT-ISRAEL
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COMMUNIST CHINA
Peking's: statement of 26 March in support of the
Lao Communists is the strongest Chinese pronounce-
ment on the Laotian situation since the early 1960s.
The Foreign Ministry release condemned the use of
Thai troops in Laos as a grave military- adventure
and war escalation. It went on to pledge that China
would not sit idle in the face of expanded warfare
in Laos and was prepared to share losses with
Laotian people.
This warning is similar to Chinese state-
ments of support to North Vietnam in 1965--
rhetoric which did not commit the Chinese
to any course of action. The statement's
principal purpose mazy be to play on Thai
fears regarding Chinese intentions.
In
1961, for example, the Chinese Foreign Min-
ister specifically warned against intro-
ducing "SEATO forces" into Laos.
The Chinese continue to maintain some 10,000-
11,000 men in northern Laos in connection with their
road-building project. These forces are composed
solely of engineering units and support elements, in-
cluding antiaircraft -battalions. There are no signs
that Peking has begun preparations for the introduc-
tion of combat units into Laos. Recent communica-
tions alerts and possible troop movements in neighbor-
ing Yunnan Province appear to be related tothe on-
going nationwide "war preparations" campaign rather
than to events across the border.
Nevertheless, recent developments in Indo-
china may be causing Peking to reassess US
intentions in Southeast Asia. The Chinese
have been devoting increased propaganda at-
tention to alleged US activities in the
area in the past few weeks, and they have
not yet replied to the US proposal to meet
in Warsaw between 1 and 3 April. It ap-
pears likely that they will put off the
meeting, and when it does take place the
Chinese may wish to discuss the Indochina
situation rather than concentrating exclu-
sively on the bilateral issues that have
thus far been under consideration.
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Cambodian Government Moves
to Quell Pro-Sihanouk Activity
?Is
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Vi4lent
KOMPON&- -demonstrations -
CHAM
Kompong .Snoul
_Chan",
,
einforced
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'MILES
98063 3-70 CIA
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CAMBODIA
A Cambodian intercept indicates that the situa-
tion in Kompong?Cham Province, the scene of the most
serious antigovernment demonstrations, has calmed
down. But the message says Cambodian troops killed
22 and wounded over 70 when they fired into crowds
yesterday morning.
Circumstances surrounding the antigovern-
ment outbreaks of the past two days strongly
suggest the Communists are putting some
muscle behind their support for Sihanouk's
"liberation" program. It is significant
that the first pro-Sihanouk demonstrations
originated in towns in Kompong Cham, long
an area of heavy Viet Cong influence and
infiltration. Moreover, the demonstrations
did not erupt until after Hanoi had declared
its total backing for Sihanouk. The depar-
ture of most Vietnamese Communist diplo-
matic personnel from Phnom Penh on 27 March
is an additional sign that the Communists
intended to play rough.
The Communists have already gained one im-
portant immediate benefit with the pullback
to defend several provincial capitals of
troops positioned along the southeastern
border. This shift will relax consider-
ably Cambodian military pressures on Viet
Cong units in that key area. Additionally,
the demonstrations probably will rattle
.the confidence of some of the government's
lukewarm supporters and, at the same time,
lend some needed credibility to Sihanouk's
claims that the people are still with him.
The army should be able to control the cur-
?
?rent unrest and check its spread to other
areas, provided the Communists do not use
their own troops to support pro-Sihanouk
elements. At a minimum, the Communists
probably will encourage increased activity
by Cambodian insurgents operating along
the eastern border.
(continued)
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South Vietnamese Army units have launched an-
other sizable cross-border raid into Cambodia,/
The South Vietnamese no doubt hope that
through these cross-border raids?, they can
blunt enemy capabilities for future moves
into the delta.
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AREA OF
MAIN MAP
Vientiane
Na" Khan
LAOS: Current Situation
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LAOS
Government forces are trying to win for them-
selves a little elbow room around Long Tieng. They
have reoccupied Phou Pha Sai, some ten miles north-
east of the base. They are also beginning to send
out patrols beyond Long Tieng's immediate defense
perimeter in an attempt to clear the area of North
Vietnamese forces. General Vang Pao, moreover, has
troops ready to move into Sam Thong. He hopes to
secure this area within the next few days. .
So far the Communists have not offered
much resistance to these moves. This sug-
gests they do not yet have enough troops
in the area to deal with the freshly- rein-
forced government garrison at Long Tieng.
Enemy communications indicate that only
two North Vietnamese battalions are now
within striking distance of Long Tieng,
although four others are in the general
area. With close to 4,000 government
troops opposing the North Vietnamese, they
will probably need to bring up more troops
and supplies.
Two months of dry season weather remain;
the Communists thus have plenty of time
to reinforce with elements of the 312th
Division. This unit, deployed generally
to the east of the Plaine des Jarres, has
not yet participated in the current offen-
sive.
The improving situation seems to have convinced
even the cautious Lao Army chief, General Ouan, that
Long Tieng can be held. Consequently he has ordered
the airlift of three regular Lao Army battalions;
one battalion from south Laos is expected to be flown
in Monday.
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ow,
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USSR
Satellite photography has disclosed one new
group of six silos under construction for the SS-9
ICBM. Comparison with earlier photography shows
that construction began on the new group last sum-
mer, bringing the total number of SS-9 groups started
during 1969 to nine.
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NOTES
Lebanon: There has been more shooting between
right-wing Christians and Palestinian commandos. In-
terior Minister Jumblatt/
Ihas
been given the unenviable assignment of trying to re-
store peace. If he fails, it will probably be the
army's turn next, which could lead to considerably
heavier casualties.
South Korea: Prime Minister Chong Il-kwon may
be forced to step down as a result of the scandal
that has been developing since the recent murder of
his mistress. As yet, there is no evidence available
that Chong is personally involved in the murder, and
the authorities appear to be trying to downplay the
,affair in order to protect him. The scandal threat-
ens to become a major one, however, as the mistress
apparently was involved with a number of other highly
placed officials and political figures.
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USSR-EGYPT
Al
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(continued)
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,
Top Secret
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