THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 AUGUST 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977636
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 21, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008600190001-2
The President's Daily Brief
21 August 1970
27
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008600190001-2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 August 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The situation in Cambodia is discussed on Pctge 1.
Enabling legislation to improve the South Vietnamese
economy may not pass in the National Assembly. (Page 3)
The first administrative changes foreseen in Castro's
26 July speech have been made. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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CAMBODIA: Current Situation
THAILAND
Preah Vihear
st.?.
Battamaang-- ?
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1-
--arz-
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e ?,
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avy fi ,ghttng
Pre a
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SOUTH
?12.
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Kompon
(Sihanoukville).
? *Saigon ? -
V IETNA.M.
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THAILAND
0 Principal city (10000 or over)
Population over 125 per sq. mi.
Communist-controlled area
0
SO
MILES
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
99772 8-70 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Combat activity at Prek Tameak, some nine miles
northeast of Phnom Penh, apparently continues apace
with heavy casualties on both sides. The Cambodian
Army sent reinforcements to the area yesterday after
initial reports indicated that 60 Cambodians were
killed and 200 wounded in the action.
If these figures are accurate the battle
for Prek Tameak is one of the most costly
of the war. Despite the fighting's prox-
imity to Phnom Penh,
the situation in the capital
remains calm.
Sporadic fighting continues in other areas of
the country. Prey Totung and Skoun in Kompong Cham
Province received intermittent mortar fire on 19
August. In Kompong Chhnang Province, government
forces have retaken a bridge on Route 5, 12 miles
south of the provincial capital.
A government message claims that bands of Cam-
bodian and Vietnamese Communists recently have oc-
cupied several posts in the Cordaman mountains in
Pursat Province.
Cambodian guerrillas have been active in
this area for several years but this is
the first evidence that they have linked
up with Vietnamese troops. The Communists
probably hope to develop these foothills
into a major redoubt area.
Thai commanders are concerned that the enemy
will attack the Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-
Cambodian border. The historic site is presently
held by a battalion of Cambodian troops and is Cam-
bodia's only remaining post in Preah Vihear Province
(continued)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Enabling legislation for the government's eco-
nomic program has become stalled in the National
Assembly
- The
government intends to continue efforts to secure ,
Assembly approval, but it is well: awareof the se-
riousness of the economic situation and the need
for-some.kind of early action Lagainst.. nflation.
President .Thieu says he-will take anti-inflation-
ary steps under his executive authority if legis-
lation is not available by 1 September-.
Government officials, remembering the wide-
spread adverse reaction to the austerity tax decree
last fall, are clearly concerned about the conse-
quences of resorting to decrees again and are seek-
ing a sound legal basis for such action. An imme-
diate effect of decrees would be a price rise that
would hit hardest at civil servants and the poor.
On the other hand, unless current economic problems
are alleviated, more serious problems will arise
later.
This dilemma may wen cause Thieu, despite
his statement about- taking early action,
to seek to postpone it as long as possi-
ble.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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NOTES
Cuba:. The first changes in the administrative
hierarchy promised by Castro in his speech.on 26
July have been announced. An experienced military
supply officer has been named minister of domestic
trade, replacing an: "old Communist" who was unable
to cope with. distribution problems. Two other mili-
tary officers have been named as the chief and deputy
of the Education Ministry.
These appointments conform to the current
trend of relying on trusted military of-
-ficers or technicians to: take on key gov-
ernment assignments The bleak character
of Cuba's economy has forced Castro to
make the changes.. More such reshuffling
is expected.
Communist China:,/ 50X1
--The Chinese have agreed to construct a 40-
mile pipeline to conduct water between Endine and
Nouakchott in Mauritania. Value: about $2.2 mil-
lion.
--Peking has signed a contract with Japan to
buy. 5.3 million tons of fertilizer for $144 million.
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4
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