THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 DECEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977853
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 16, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
16 December 1970
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
16 December 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In Cambodia, South Vietnamese troops have begun their
clearing operation along Route 7'
/ (Page 1)
North Vietnamese troops are entering the infiltration
system in December at a rate that will approximate
the infiltration starts of the last two months.
(Page 2)
Mrs. Gandhi may take advantage of her current popular-
ity and schedule elections early next year. (Page 5)
The military situation in Laos is noted on Page 6.
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Cambodia: Current Situation
550697 12L70 CIA
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CAMBODIA - SOUTH VIETNAM
Two ARVN paratroop battalions are meeting only
light resistance as they advance west on Route 7
from Kompong Cham toward the Communist-held village
of Troeung. A third South Vietnamese battalion was
airlifted into position north of Troeung to link up
with the other two battalions. The remainder of the
2,400-man ARVN task force is conducting perimeter
clearing operations around Kompong Cham city.
Farther west on Route 7, two Cambodian Army bat-
talions, including a Khmer Krom battalion, are sur-
rounded on the outskirts of Prey Totung, and three
government paratroop battalions are encircled south-
west of the town. The bulk of the Cambodian forces
involved in the joint operation are supposed to be
proceeding east on Route 7 to join ARVN forces be-
tween Prey Totung and Kompong Cham.
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North Vietnam: Infiltration Starts
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
- 1968 SVN, Total 240,800
1969 SVN, Total 84,600
1970 SVN, Cambodia, and Southern Laos
1970 total: 102,500 to 14 December
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
1968 SVN
21,000
18,900
32,600
38900
32,800
23,500
21,800
11,000
2,200
1969 SVN
19,200
25,000
17,100
2,300
,.1,100
100
100
600
600
1970 SVN, Cambodia,
and Southern Laos
14,200
11;700
10,600
3,100
3,800
2,100
4,100
4,400
11,000
Southern Laos
600
-
700
700
900
709
3,300
10,200
2,800
-
5,200
30,100
4,500
7,800
6,200
15,200
17,300
5,000'
3,400
2,600
2,100'
Totals for 1968 and 1969 include troops bound for South Vietnam only
those for 1970 include troops bound for South Vietnam, Southern Laos,
550698 12-70 CIA and Cambodia.
*to date
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NORTH VIETNAM
About 5,000 North Vietnamese troops have started
south thus far in December. All of these have been
detected in the last week, following a lull of about
ten days. The new input is in line with a recent
Communist message saying that groups were to enter
the system regularly beginning 7 December.
If this rate of flow is maintained, De-
cember's total will be about the same
as those for October and November--be-
tween 15 000 and 17,000.
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ISRAEL - SAUDI ARABIA
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BALKANS - COMMUNIST CHINA
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INDIA
Speculation is growing in Indian political and
press circles that Prime Minister Gandhi will dis-
solve parliament this week and schedule new elec-
tions for early 1971. Mrs. Gandhi was handed a pop-
ular issue yesterday when the Supreme Court invali-
dated her government's recent abolition of payments
and privileges granted former rulers of India's
princely states. She may use this as the pretext
for an early election.
Under its constitution, India's next gen-
eral election could be held as Late as
February 1972, but it is increasingly
doubtful that Mrs. Gandhi will wait that
long. Her popularity is high, and the
moderate and conservative parties that
oppose her are in increasing disarray.
The prime minister--who now leads a mi-
nority government?could almost certainly
win a majority in parliament if an elec-
tion were held soon. By delaying, she
would risk having to cope with a variety
of problems--a poor harvest in 1971, an
increase in inflation, or ?serious new
urban or rural disorders--that could
erode her present strong position.
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NOTES
Communist China:
LAOS: An element of the three-battalion irreg-
ular force moving toward Ban Ban from the north was
attacked Monday by Communist troops about nine miles
northwest of the base; radio contact was lost and no
other details are available. Early this morning the
North Vietnamese overran a government outpost about
ten miles south of Ban Ban. Irregular outposts south-
west of the Plaine des Jarres were harassed, but no
casualties were sustained.
Poland: Last weekend police intervention was
necessary in Poznail -to quell a workers' prct,est-
against a recent hike in the price of some consumer
items. The government claims the price increases
were necessary because consumer demand, especially
for food, could not be satisfied. The populace is
not likely_to be appeased by this type of rationale.
Unconfirmed press reports this morning indicate that
there have been riots in Gdansk, Gdynia, and? Sopot on
the Baltic seacoast.
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