THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 31 AUGUST 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977654
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 31, 1970

Declassified in Pl'art - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008600290001-1
The President's Daily Brief
31 August 1970
26
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PUK I HE l'KESIDEN1 UN L Y
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
31 August 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Egypt
(Page 1)
The fedayeen fear that the Jordanian Government is
seeking to crush their movement. (Page 2)
In: South Vietnam, an upsurge in military action has
begun, marking the Communist anniversaries between
28 August and 4 September. (Page 3)
Fighting in Cambodia remained light, but the Commu-
nists continue to be active in the Phnom Penh area.
(Page 4)
President Pompidou would like to visit Peking next
year. (Page 5)
The most recent Soviet test of the modified SS-13
ICBM is noted on Page 6.
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EGYPT ISRAEL
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JORDAN
Fedayeen leaders charged yesterday that the
Jordanian Army had launched a widescale attack against
fedayeen units with tanks and heavy artillery. An ,
outburst of firing broke out in Amman again last even-
ing, following the clashes on Friday and Saturday in
which three commandos were killed.
In a hard-hitting radio speech before the inci-
dents yesterday, King Husayn dismissed as unfounded
commando charges that the movement of army units was
part of a plan to crush the commandos. He claimed
the transfers were necessary for the protection of
the country. The King warned the fedayeen, however,
that he would no longer tolerate their insults and
accusations. He said that he had refrained from re-
plying to past attacks because he did not want to
move against others involved in the battle against
Israel. Husayn warned that the situation had now
changed and the country could not be diverted from
the struggle to achieve a peaceful settlement of
the Arab-Israeli war.
Despite the harsh words, both the fedayeen
and the Jordanian Government apparently
still want to keep the situation from get-
ting out of control. The government has
announced it will meet with fedayeen
leaders today to determine the cause of
the incidents of the last few daus
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SOUTH VIETNAM
Communist forces are intensifying their military
action in widely separated districts, with 60 shell-
ings--the greatest number recorded in four months--
occurring on 30 August. Most of the shellings were
in the government's Military Region 2 and in the
lower delta provinces of Military Region 4. Accord-
ing to press reports, more than 200 soldiers and ci-
vilians were killed or wounded.
The Communists have been planning for this
upsurge for some time in order to mark
several important Communist anniversaries
that occur between 28 August and 4 Septem-
ber, including the first anniversary of
the death of Ho Chi Minh.
In conjunction with the shellings, Communist
terrorists and local forces increased their harass-
ment of the civilian populace. Ground combat be-
tween military units remained at a relatively low
level throughout the country, however. Major Com-
munist forces were not committed, except for some
artillery and sapper units.
The Senate elections were conducted quietly on
30 August, in spite of the increased Communist activ-
ity. The Communists made no concerted effort to dis-
rupt the elections, although a few incidents were
directed against polling places in various parts of
the country.
Voter interest in this year's contest was
relatively low. Still unofficial figures
indicate about 65 percent of the registered
voters went to the polls. In the Senate
elections in 1967, 83 percent turned out.
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CAMBODIA: Current Situation
THAILAND
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Kompon
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(Sihanoukville)
GULF
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THAILAND
0 Principai city (10,000 or over)
Populition over 125 per sq. mi.
Communist-controlled area ?
? I
1114 . 1 OS
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
99854 8-70 CIA
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CAMBODIA
The Communists have been increasing their activ-
ity in the Phnom Penh area over the past two weeks,
but no additional fighting has been reported there
since 29 Auaust.
the Communists are emplacing So-
viet-made 122-mm. rockets about 10-12 miles northeast
of Phnom Penh, possibly within range of the city.
Although Phnom Penh has been free from harassment so
far, the Communists could probably hit it with rocket
or mortar fire.
Communist forces--half of them ethnic Cambo-
dians--are reportedly moving freely in the rural
areas of Kampot Province propaaandizina and rprrnit?
ing villagers.
their success has been somewhat limited because of
the peasants fear of government reprisals should
the Communists leave the area. In one instance, how-
ever, the Communists were able to overrun a village
when its self-defense force refused to fight because
its commander, a National Assembly deputy, had
failed to pay them and had not provided promised
weapons.
Prime MinisterLon Nol told an Asian journalist
that the government can rely on. the solid support of
only about half of the Cambodian Army, because its
rapid expansion brought in recruits who probably
still admire and respect Prince Sihanouk. Lon Nol
asserted that there has been no dissension within
the army thus far, but suggested that trouble could
break out if the troops were to suffer a major de-
feat.
In the past, government leaders have only
grudgingly admitted that Sihanouk retained
some support in the countryside. They
have argued that his identification with
the Communists has largely dissipated his
once considerable popularity. Lon Nol's
recent remarks indicate the government
may be ready to,admit it has a problem be-
cause of popular support for the Communists.
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FRANCE - COMMUNIST CHINA
Pompidou may see the Par East and Southeast
Asia as a promising sphere for action at
this point. Paris has long coveted a role
in the Far East and Southeast Asia as evi-
denced by its recognition of China in 1964
and its continuing efforts to participate
in any Southeast Asian settlement. An
active French role in European detente ef-
forts has been challenged temporarily by
Bonn and in the Middle East by the US
cease-fire initiative. The French may
have been encouraged to seek expanded Sino-
French ties by the warm reception accorded
Bettencourt during his July trip.
There is no indication yet that the Chinese
have agreed to a Pompidou visit, but Peking
probably sees value in warmer ties with
Paris. The Chinese are currently attempt-
ing to better relations with a number of
states as part of an effort to circumscribe
the influence of the "superpowers." More-
over, both Peking and Paris are interested
in expanding economic ties.
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USSR
The Soviets launched a modified SS-13 ICBM from
Plesetsk on 29 August. As in a similar test con-
ducted earlier this month, the missile flew a dis-
tance of only. 1,100 miles in what was probably a re-
duced-range test of thefl system.
This was the eighth firing of the modified
SS-13 since testing began in January 1970,
and the second launch to a reduced range.
We cannot be certain about the precise
nature of the modifications currently being
tested, but they probably involve a new
re-entry vehicle and, possibly, alterations
to the missile itself.
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