THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 FEBRUARY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992491
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 20, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
20 February 1971
46
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
20 February: 1931
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The military situation in northern Laos is discussed
on Page 1.
In Cambodia, the Communists are continuing to resist
the South Vietnamese clearing operations near the
Chup plantation. (Page 2)
a constitu-
tion along the lines proposed by East Pakistan's
Awami League. (Page 3)
A dispute between Colombia and Venezuela over delin-
eation of seabeds in the Gulf of Venezuela is alarm-
ing Colombian officials. (Page 4)
The .new Polish regime has indirectly warned that fur-
ther labor unrest could jeopardize the workers' gains.
(Page 5)
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/ I
/ Atiam Bac
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Suong
Luang Prabang
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Muong
Kassy
4 13
Sala Ph
Khoun
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f
Muong Soul
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Communist
probes ,
Communist
shelling attacks
13
13
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13
. Vientiane
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Bouam Longs
71
Ban tip
?
Sam
Thong oKhang -Kko
Long Tieng
LAOS
THAILAND
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o Government-hold location
?Communist-held location
STATUTE haLLE
? to
1 1 1 1
0 tO 20
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13
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55101 4 2-71 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
At Ban Na, north of Long Tieng, Communist probes
have continued to hamper government aerial resupply
efforts. On 17 February sporadically heavy enemy
fire forced the closing of the airstrip. Yesterday
two rockets hit the Long Tieng base, but without
damaging logistic or air facilities. The previous
day, tactical air sorties in northeastern Laos pro-
duced 125 secondary explosions.
This is the highest number ever noted in
the area, and underscores the extent of
the North Vietnamese buildup.
The government yesterday. closed Route 13 be-
tween Vientiane and Luang Prabang following Commu-
nist probes at Sala Phou Khoun and Muong Kassy.
Although the only land Zink between the
two capitals, Route 13 is used mainly for
local traffic. Its closing may neverthe-
less upset the civilian population as a
mark of the war's growing nearness to
their homes.
On the political front, National Assembly Pres-
ident Phoui Sananikone and some other legislators
are seeking ways to put the assembly on record as
critical of Souvanna's handling of the war. At
Phoui's request, Souvanna will send a Defense Min-
istry representative to brief the assembly's mili-
tary affairs committee next week.
Although dissidents do not appear to have
enough votes to censure the government,
the current maneuverings reflect the as-
semblymen's longstanding factional jeal-
ousies over Souvanna's leadership, as
well as a fear that he will prejudice
government interests in any negotiations
with the Communists.
1
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StOng Chiral
hhlong
? Div.
-12? Kompong Cham
Enemy attacks
PHNOM PENH
SAIGON,*
VIETNAM
551017 .2-71 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA-VIETNAM
The Communists are continuing to resist South'
Vietnamese clearing operations in Kompong Cham Prov-
ince. South Vietnamese armor and ranger units have
clashed sharply with enemy troops in and around the
Chup rubber plantation. ARVN soldiers claim to have
taken only light casualties, while the Communists
suffered heavily.
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the enemy is still rein-
forcing and repositioning main force combat units
near Chup. The 174th Regiment of the Communist 5th
Division, east of the plantation near Route 75, now
is coordinating its operations with the headquarters
of the Communist 7th Division. The headquarters of
the Communist 9th Division has moved deep into the
plantation, placing it behind the South Vietnamese
task forces that recently pushed through Chup. The
division's 271st Regiment, which has been respon-
sible for the probing attacks against South Viet-
namese troops moving along Route 7, is now located
south of Chup, just below Route 7.
The Communists evidently want to keep the
fighting focused in central Kompong Cham
for as long as possible to prevent the
South Vietnamese from moving toward Com-
munist supply centers in Kratie Province
to the north.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PAKISTAN
\a constitution
along the lines ?ro osed b East Pakistan's Awami
League.
The League wants to limit central govern-
ment responsibilities to defense and for-
eign affairs and to give provincial gov-
ernments all taxing power. It has given
every indication that it plans to use its
majority to force through its program in
the assembly.
Rejection of the League's constitution
and the extension of military rule might
well have the acquiescence of the largest
West Pakistani party, but East Pakistanis
would react strongly, possibly even to
the point of proclaiming their independ-
ence.
Yahya must be aware of this risk and of
the extreme difficulty of holding Pakis-
tan together by force. He and the gener-
als may be willing to let the East go,
however, to avoid subjecting the entire
nation to what they believe would be an
unworkable governmental system which
would threaten the position of the mili-
tary.
The situation could still be saved by a
compromise between East and West Pakis-
tani politicians, but their public state-
ments in the past week give little hope
of this. Mujibur Rahman, spokesman of
the East Wing and Awami League leader,
has reiterated his unwillingness to com-
promise on provincial autonomy. Z.A.
Bhutto, major political leader in West
Pakistan, has emphasized that his deci-
sion to boycott the constituent assembly
unless Mujib is willing to negotiate re-
mains "unshakeable and irrevocable."
3
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Northern Segment of the COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA Boundary
Marla
CARIBBEAN SEA Venezuelan
clakm
Colombian
claim
1 .
GUAJIRA
PENINSULA
'1?
Gt'LF\11,? ?
VENEZUELA
NETHERLANDS
ARUBA ANTILLES
CuRApu)
Willemstad?L\
Garraipja.
Fonseca.
Valledupar.
?se
LAKE
RACA
Barquisimeto
/ ?
Fncontrados
VENEZUELA
?Merida
La Fria
COLOMBIA -
Pamploria
Bucaramanga
Guasdualito
Arat,0 Araut
Barbosa.
.Paz de Rio
551018 2,171 Tuoja
50
statute miles
100
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA
On 18 February, Colombia's ambassador to Vene-
zuela, Hector Charry, on his own initiative asked
for US assistance in solving the Venezuelan-Colombian
dispute over delineation of seabeds in the Gulf of
Venezuela. He feared the dispute might lead to a
clash or to the fall of both governments through mili-
tary coups.
On the same day, former president Alberto Lleras
Camargo told US officials in Bogota that an untoward
incident could touch off an armed conflict-. He as7
serted-that Venezuela had hardened its stand on the
boundary dispute and stated that the present position
is completely unacceptable to Colombia. He expressed
fear that political pressures in Venezuela on the Is-
sue could lead to a Military coup.
Both countries believe that the disputed
area is rich in oil'. The two governments
have been in frequent contact on the issue,
and another round of talks is scheduled
next month.
Jingoistic press treatment, especially in
Venezuela, has stirred latent hostility be-
tween the peoples, and a military buildup
by both countries along the border has in-
creased the chances of an inadvertent
clash. Although conditions do not seem
ripe for 'a coup in either country, the
views expressed by the Colombians under-
line the seriousness with which veteran
political leaders and officials view the
current trend.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
POLAND
An authoritative commentator in Warsaw's most
popular daily wrote yesterday that a sharp struggle
is being waged on many levels between entrenched
party functionaries associated with the former
Gomulka regime and advocates of Gierek's new style
of rule. The writer warned that extremist worker
demands are playing into the hands of the old party
bureaucrats who oppose sharing power with anyone.
He hinted that these elements, for their own polit-
ical purposes, are encouraging excessive worker
demands.
In effect, this article is a public warn-
ing that further labor unrest could jeop-
ardize the gains workers have made and
could undermine Gierek's efforts to mold
a party apparatus more responsive to popu-
lar desires. In part, it could be an at-
tempt to intimidate the workers into not
making any further demands. This point
has become critical because it has become
abundantly clear that Gierek has nothing
more to give.
The speedier-than-anticipated ouster of
provincial and local party officials in
recent days lends some credence to the
possibility that there is considerable
resistance to change among party func-
tionaries fearful of their tenure.
Gierek would like to gain the public's
confidence in his policies by installing
new faces among the bureaucrats who are
in daily contact with the people. Un-
less Gierek's new style of rule effec-
tively restores calm and a modicum of
local party authority soon, he may come
under increasing pressure from the So-
viet Union and his own party to adopt a
hard line.
(continued)
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the Soviet
credit recently granted to Poland amounts to $1.2
billion. It is to be used for the purchase of
grain, gas, and petroleum nroanofq
This is the largest single Soviet credit
to any Communist country. Whatever its
precise terms, it is certain to increase
Poland's political and economic depend-
ence on the USSR during the next decade.
6
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Top Secret
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