THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 17 DECEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977855
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 17, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
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17 December 1970
49
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
17 December 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Polish authorities have apparently restored order-
following two days of severe rioting and street
fighting. (Page 1)
Yesterday' SALT meeting is discussed on Page 2.
The status of the Laotian Government's operation
against Ban Ban is discussed on Page 3.
South Vietnamese and Cambodian battalions are con-
tinuing to move unopposed along Route 7. ( Page 4)
An accelerated logistics program is again underway
in the Laotian panhandle. (Page 8)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Disturbances in Poland
14-15 December 1970
POLAND
U.S.S.R.
Gdynia.
.Sopot
Riots and street fighting .
Gdansk,'
AUSTRIA
ITALY HUNGARY
ROMAN IA
.Bydgoszcz
-
i',Poznan
Disturbances reported
Katbwice.
550704 12-70 CIA
HUNGARY
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POLAND
Authorities used severe measures to stop the
rioting and street fighting in three coastal cities
and to quell lesser disturbances in other urban
areas. An official Polish radio statement acknowl-
edged that police fired on mobs engaged in looting,
arson, and destruction of public buildings in Gdansk,
Gdynia, and Sopot. Troop reinforcements were sent
from Wars*
Six persons are reported dead and 300
people, including 150 policemen injured.
A dusk to dawn curfew has been instituted in
the coastal areas. The county government chief yes-
terday began urging people to return to work and
decreed that shops should be opened during daylight
hours.
All reports indicate that the riots stem
from dissatisfaction with the recent gov-
ernment price changes designed to reorient
spending away from food items, especially
meat, which are in short supply. Despite
the reaction, the regime is unlikely to
back off appreciably, primarily because
the meat shortage is as real as the peo-
ple's wrath.
Order appears restored, and strong security
measures plus the usual stocking of stores
with special Christmas foodstuffs should
keep things under control for now. Ten-
sion will continue, however, at Least un-
til mid-1971. Until then, food supplies,
especially meat, will remain in short sup-
ply. In these circumstances, small sparks
could set off a repetition of the disturb-
ances.
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SALT
At yesterday's meeting, Ambassador Smith tabled
the US's formal rejection of Moscow's position on
forward based systems (FBS)- and the Soviet proposal
for an ABM-only agreement. Semenov's presentation
was essentially a rehash of Moscow's views on these
topics, and contained no new substantive elements.
The next and final plenary meeting has been sched-
uled for tomorrow morning. Smith and Semenov agreed
to resume the talks on 15 March in Vienna, after the
upcoming break.
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LAOS: Plaine des Jarres
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LAOS
Since the government's operation against the Commu-
nists' logistic base at Ban Ban began on 27 November,
more than 23000 irregulars have succeeded in estab-
lishing positions about ten miles north and south of
Ban Ban and have gained control of the airstrip at
San Tiau. The government's forces have harassed
North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao units in the area
and have ambushed trucks on Route 61.
Thus far, however, they have been unable to generate
sustained drives toward the Ban Ban valley, through
which flow the bulk of the supplies sustaining Com-
munist units in the Plaine des Jarres area. Progress
has been slowed by bad weather, which limits effec-
tive air support, and by sporadic skirmishes with
enemy-units. The Communists have recently intensi-
fied their opposition, scattering a 76-man government
force northwest of Ban Ban and overrunning an outpost
east of San Tiau.
The size of the Communist forces opposing the ir-
regulars is not known, but they appear to consist
largely of Local security troops, logistics person-
nel, and artillery units. There is no evidence that
the enemy has yet brought in major reinforcements,
although small elements of the NVA 148th and 766th
regiments may have been introduced.
Additional units of the 148th Regiment may be com-
mitted to the Ban Ban area in the coming weeks.
Elements of this unit have been withdrawing from
the western edge of the Plaine des Jarres, where
they have been heavily engaged since Last spring.
Although the troops may have been pulled off the
front line because of morale and supply problems,
they could still be used against government forces
in the Ban Ban area.
The pullback of the 148th has not greatly diminished
the enemy threat west of the Plaine des Jarres, as
elements of the 866th NVA Regiment have been sent
in as replacements. During the transition, however,
the Communists have been unable to exploit the re-
duction in government strength there brought about
by the Ban Ban operation.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Current Situation
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CAMBODIA
The three South Vietnamese paratroop battalions
and, several Cambodian battalions moved unopposed,
through the village of Troeung on 15 Dedember-i and
are continuing to close the seven-mile, gap between
Troeung and Prey Totting. Simultaneously, six Cambo?
dian battalions frOm Skoun are also converging on,
Prey Totung.- The status of the five Cambodian bat- ?
talions that were surrounded: near Prey Totung,is-
still not clear.
Logistics problems may .partially account
for the Communists' failure to contest the
South Vietnamese operations. One enemy
message indicates that the Viet Cong 272nd
Regiment, which participated in the fight-
ing around Prey Totung, is having ammuni-
tion problems. Communist main force units
remain within striking distance of Route
7, however.
In the southwest, the Communists are continuing
operations against government positions in the vicin-
ity of Route 4. For the first time, enemy probing
attacks have been reported against Veal Rinh, west
of the Pich Nil Pass. Last week the Communists over-
ran Sre Umbel, north of Route 4,_and dispersed a
nearby Cambodian battalion.
This is the westernmost area of Communist
operations to date against Route 4, which
has now been closed for almost a month.
Although Lon NoZ has talked of a flanking
operation against Communist units in the
Pich Nil Pass area, there is no,sign that
the government plans an early move to re-
open the road.
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WEST GERMANY - BERLIN
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TURKEY
6
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SOUTH AFRICA - RHODESIA - ZAMBIA
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NOTES
Laos - South Vietnam: Intercepts indicate.a-
heavy flow of southbound truck traffic in the Laotian
panhandle. One important logistics unit in the south-
ern panhandle has received as much as 400 terns of
supplies in just two nights of transport activity.
Most of the cargoes appear to be foodstuffs, explo-
sives, and gasoline. Much of this initial flow is
likely to be used in the panhandle to support logis-
tics-operations. The destination of the remainder
is as yet?unclear. This accelerated logistics pro-
gram began on 5 December; as in past years, similar
programs are likely to recur throughout the dry sea-
son.
Brazil:
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