THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 JUNE 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977498
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: June 8, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008400070001-7
The President's Daily Brief
8 June 1970
50
Top Secret 50)(1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
8 June 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Events in Cambodia are discussed on Page 1.
In Laos, General yang Pao's drive on Ban Na has made
some progress, but in the south, the Communists
stepped up attacks over the weekend on a government
guerrilla base. (Page 2)
Militant Buddhist leaders in South Vietnam are plan-
ning further protests against the Saigon government
and they are also considering a self-immolation or
some other demonstration at the US Embassy during
the current visit of US congressmen and other offi-
cials. (Page 3)
OAS representatives have decided to switch the late
June General Assembly meeting from the Dominican
Republic to Washington due to violent leftist pro-
tests in Santo Domingo. (Page 4)
The South Korean Government may be adjusting to the
prospect of a reduction in US troop strength, but
President Pak can still be expected to bargain hard
with Washington for every US soldier taken out of
Korea. (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Cambodia: Current Situation
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Government reports indicate that heavy fighting
is still going on in and around Siem Reap town. An
estimated 500 Communist troops, armed with mortars
and rockets, had controlled the town's two airfields.
Late press reports indicate government forces have re-
captured one airfield. According to an intercepted
Cambodian Army message, the town's defenses remain in-
tact but are weakening rapidly. Phnom Penh, which has
lost radio contact with several of its battalions in
the area, is sending three additional battalions to
support the town's defenders.
If the Communists succeed in gaining con-
trol of the town and of nearby Angkor Wat,
capital of the ancient Khmer Empire, they
will score a major propaganda and psycho-
logical victory. Siem Reap could also
serve as a political headquarters for
Sihanouk's rump government.
Kompong Thom city remains surrounded by Commu-
nist forces and was bombarded again yesterday with
rocket fire. Air strikes reportedly have killed
over 100 Communists and are enabling government
elements to retain control of the city. Supplies
are being dropped to Kompong Thom at night by South
Vietnamese aircraft.
Government messages report that there are still
several large Communist troop concentrations between
the Bassac and Mekong rivers, not far south of the
capital, and it is possible the Communists will soon
renew offensive operations in this area. Army mes-
sages.also indicate there are other sizable enemy
concentrations east of Phnom Penh, in northern Prey
Veng Province. One group reportedly was moving
munitions and heavy weapons.
The presence and activities of South Vietnamese
Army troops in Cambodia continue to inspire hostile
comments from important Cambodian officials. Major
Lon Non, the prime minister's brother,
the South Vietnamese were
conquerors than allies, and added
soon occur between South Vietnamese
acting more like
that clashes may
and Cambodian troops.
the South Vietnamese had not done a thorough
Jo of cleaning Communist forces out of Cambodia,
and that the Communists eventually would return in
strength and make strong retaliatory attacks on the
Cambodians.
The recent visit of South Vietnamese Vice
President Ky to Phnom Penh may have helped
reduce such animosity, if only temporarily.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: Current Situation
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008400070001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
General yang Pao's drive on Ban Na made some
progress over the weekend, but countermoves by the
enemy are expected. A North Vietnamese message in-
tercepted in this area on 5 June reported that "the
first step in expandingour offensive out of the
Ban Na zone has begun."
The enemy's continuing capacity to strike
hard in this sector was substantiated on
7 June when a government unit came upon
63 dead defenders at one of the outposts
on Phou Long Mat ridge overrun by the Com-
munists last week. This level of casual-
ties is unusually high for Laos.
In southern Laos, enemy forces have stepped up
their attacks on PS-38, the government guerrilla
base about ten miles west of Attopeu. Over the
weekend, the defenders withstood two prolonged
rocket attacks and a substantial ground assault.
The extended rocket and mortar firings at the base
suggest that the Communists are receiving ample
quantities of ammunition. At Saravane, the situa-
tion remained relatively quiet.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
The militant An Quang Buddhists are preparing
for further protests aaainst the SAianh anvernment0
plans
had been made for a protracted, low-key campaign
which, at least for the next two months, will be
nonviolent. During this time, Buddhist clergy will
circulate throughout the country and attempt to
gain popular support for their cause by explaining
their antigovernment position. At the same time,
they will try to persuade candidates for forthcoming
elections not to run with government support and
will attempt to discredit those who do.
An Quang leaders
also are considering a,self-,immolation or some other
protest-demonstration at the US Embassy during the
curren:Lvisit of a group of US congressmen and other
officials. They are concerned, however, that rash
actions by younger and more activist monks and nuns
will cause the situation to get out of hand. The
most prominent An Quang leader, Tri Quang, has dis-
sociated himself from-the protest campaign, appar-
ently out of concern that the current campaign runs
the risk of inviting repressive measures by. the gov-
ernment.
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
OAS - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Plans to hold the OAS General Assembly in Santo'
Domingo on 22 June have been canceled as a result of
violent leftist protests. A formal announcement re-
scheduling the conclave for 25 June in Washington
will be made early this week. This will givethe
Dominicans time to fashion.a face-saving explanation.
No cosmetic announcement, however, will.
conceal the fact-that the Dominican Gov-
ernment is bowing to leftist pressure.
The left, buoyed by what' it will regard'
as an unqualified victory, will be en-
couraged to use civil disorder to exert
further pressure on the administration.
The OAS question, however, was a rare
nationalistic issue that, owing to the
still bitter memory of the OAS-sponsored
intervention of 1965, allowed the left
to gain support across the political
spectrum. With the international spot-
light now removed from Santo Domingo,
the Balaguer government will be less
reluctant to deal firmly with any fur-
ther attempts to promote disturbances.
4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH KOREA
South Koreans generally are worried by the
prospect of reduced US involvement in Asia and what
this could mean for Korea. In the past, the govern-
ment has attempted to soften concern by taking a
position of unyielding opposition to any reduction
of US troops in Korea. Recently, however, govern-
ment-inspired press commentary suggests that the re-
gime may be adopting a more flexible line. An edi-
torial in the government-owned Seoul Sinmun linked
US troop withdrawal to assurances of IrgUEURatic" US
intervention in the event of an armed attack from
the Communist North. Withdrawal was also linked to
modernization of South Korean forces, and to US fi-
nancing for the construction of a Korean small-arms
factory. Other leading newspapers subsequently
adopted a similar line. On 4 June, the English
language Korean Times carried a long feature article
emphasizing the need to build up South Korea's
forces to compensate for any reduction of US forces.
Despite the new signs of flexibility on
the part of the government, President Pak
can be exp'ected to bargain hard for every
soldier taken out of Korea. He also prob-
ably hopes to delay the cutback in US
troops as long as possible. Pak, who
faces re-election next year, is anxious
to avoid laying himself open to opposition
charges of neglecting the nation's security
interests.
5
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Top Secret
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