THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 17 JULY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977571
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 17, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
17 July 1970
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
17 July 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The situation in Cambodia is discussed on Page 1.
In Laos, the Communists are engaging government
forces to prevent them from harassing the flow of
their men and Material to Cambodia and South Viet-
nam. (Page 2)
The unexpected reconstitution without change of
the Soviet government is examined on Page 5.
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Cambodia: Current Situation
THAILAND
RE A I-1,
7/,,
Thben
Meanchey
Stung treng
BATTA BANG
attambang
mum
a tack
A T I
ra tie
hhiong
'CI-IAM
?7
Ktek Mr: et
? u Dog ?12.
emarak
Phouminville
K OM PONG
S?PEU
Rompone
H KONG-
. Sped'
Kirirom
rakar
Necsk? .Talcrt
KAMPO
Veal-Renh a
Komponl Son,
(Sihanotokville)
KE0
oTake
GULF ,
Sa igon
TNAM
THAILAND
o Communist-controlled location
rz.7.4: Communist-controlled
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
MILES
99274 7-70 CIA
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CAMBOD IA
There are unconfirmed press reports? that Kirirom
has been retaken. At least eight government battal-
ions participated in the assault. For the first time
since the outbreak of hostilities, Phnom Penh has
admitted that in this operation government forces have
suffered "fairly heavy casualties."
The Communists made a minor attack on the Lovek
ordnance depot on the night of 15-16 July, but were
repulsed. Government forces, aided by air strikes,
appear to be in control of this situation.
Foreign Minister Koun Wick told Charge' Rives
yesterday that the government is opposed to a formal
regional defense pact because it would jeopardize
Cambodia's standing as a neutral: He implied, -how-
ever, that the government might not rule out informal
military alignment as long as Communist forces threaten
the country. ?These matters probably will be discussed
during Thieu's visit to Cambodia today and during Lon
Nol's visit to Bangkok next week.
This will come as no surprise to Thieu, who
recently told Ambassador Bunker that he saw
possibility" that a formal defense pact
would be concluded. Expressing doubt that
Cambodia or Laos would ever agree to an al-
liance, Thieu emphasized that the important
thing was to get on with helping the Cam-
bodians.
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Communist Activity in Southern Laos
VIETNAM
Outing Khe
Dong Mei
ovonno
i )
A Shoe
Souv
THAILAND
Harrassing attacks
by ene y '
Pcks? Pa ksong
Bo/oVns
/pdi'6Ell.5-
4
\ Enemy, forcgs stage
repe` fed attacks-:
Phou ji1/44
ongtao
#
Atto?toeo
VIETNAM
ontem
CAMBODIA
99275 7-70 CIA
ong Treng
Communist-controlled territory.
Contested territory
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LAOS
For the past four days, enemy forces have staged
repeated attacks on a government battalion which re-
cently moved into the Phou Nongtao mountain area
along the eastern edge of the Bolovens Plateau.. At
last report, the irregular unit had been forced to
withdraw from its main position, but was remaining
in the area.
Communist pressure against government bases
on the Bolovens is probably intended to
forestall interdiction operations.into?the
infiltration corridor, which have been on
the increase. Since 22 June, government
guerrilla teams are reported to have ac-
counted for four trucks and 25 watercraft
along Route 16 and the Be Kong River.
To the west-of the plateau, Communist forces
appear to be trying to prevent government forces
from regaining the initiative during the rainy sea-
son.. Harassing attacks have been directed against
Paksong and Souvannakhili, and since 13 July small'
unit actions have-been repOrted from the area just
north of Khong Island
All of these places have been earmarked in
enemy propaganda for Communist seizure dur-
ing the rainy season. The Communists' ac-
tions so far, however, suggest that they
are less interested in occupying towns than
they are in tying down government troops
while the flow of men and material to Cam-
bodia and South Vietnam continues.
In the north, heavy rains have-brought military
operations to a virtual standstill.
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ISRAEL-EGYPT
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EGYPT-ISRAEL
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USSR
After months of reports that Kosygin would re-
sign and that there would be other important changes
in the government, the Supreme Soviet met, Kosygin
accepted the premiership again, and all 93 of his
ministers were reappointed.
There is no hard information on the reasons
for this development, or indeed on the post-
ponement of the Soviet party congress which
preceded it. There are several possibili-
ties, which taken singly or together may
help to explain what happened.
Kosygin himself said in early June that he
would be free of ministerial cares in "a
few weeks."(
It is possible
that Kosygsn merely changed his mind.
On the other hand, there may be an unre-
solved struggle for Kosygin's job. As has
happened in the past, rumors of impending
changes may have been floated to promote
the fortunes of individual leaders,. Thus,
at least some of the reports this year con-
cerning Kosygin's retirement may have been
launched to undermine his position or that
of his proteges.
The embassy in Moscow suggests that there-
constitution of the government is intrinsi-
cally connected to the party congress, and
that the question of resource allocations
has so divided the Soviet leadership that
postponement of difficult decisions even
in the government seemed the wisest choice.
There is logic to this conclusion, for the
direction of economic management and the
selection of a successor for Kosygin are
a part of the problem. It may be that we
will not see significant changes until such
decisions are made.
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NOTES
South Vietnam: More Communist-main force. units
have re-established themselves in. theirborder sanc-
tuaries-. The Viet-Cong 5th Division headquarters re-
cently shifted southward from Cambodia to within less
than five miles from the Bu Dop Special Forces Camp
in northwestern Phuoc Long Province (see, Cambodian
Situation map). The division's 174th Regiment may.
be en. route to join it. Farther north, at least'
five subordinates of-the Communist B-3 Front (the
enemy's command headquarters for operations in the
Vietnamese highlands) have returned to their normal
base areas from refuge-in northeastern Cambodia.
NATO-SALT: Our European NATO allies arecon-
cerned about US proposals for a, limited initial SALT
agreement because it would do nothing about Soviet
intermediate- and medium-range missiles targeted
againstthem. Secretary General Brosio, with the
support ofthe French, the Belgians, and the Dutch,
asked for more time to consider the proposal before
it is presented to the Soviets. However, West Ger-
many and the United Kingdom are opposed to lengthy
consideration which might. unduly delay the talks in
Vienna..
Cuba:
(continued)
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Peru-USSR: The Soviet relief airlift is not
turning out-to be. the propaganda bonanza its authors'
may have hoped for. One reason,:of course, is the
delay in getting the flights under way. But the.
Peruvians themselves seem deliberately to be down--
playing the relief effort. The first flight-was
met Tuesday only by two Peruvian Air Force colonels
and' a. representative of the presidential emergency
center. The public, too, seems to be taking the
relief flights with a grain of salt; our.embassy-in
Lima comments. that the public reaction so far indi-
cates that Peruvians view the Soviet aid at a grand-
stand:play undertaken for political gains.
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Top Secret
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