THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 11 MARCH 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992523
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 11, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
11 March 1971
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
11 March 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Arab-Israeli,/
(Page 1)
Lon Nol's absence from the country and his uncertain
future have stimulated political ferment in Phnom
Penh. (Page 2)
A status report on Chinese road building in northern
Laos appears on Page 4.
Prime Minister Gandhi's party has taken a solid lead
in the early returns from India's national elections.
(Page 5)
\Argentin*
(Page 6)
Turkish)
(Page' 7)
New attacks against US property in Ceylon are being
planned by revolutionary groups. (Page 8)
Soviet ship positions in the Caribbean area are noted
on Page 9.
I(Page 9)
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ISRAEL ARAB STATES
1.
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CAMBODIA
signs of growing
political ferment in Phnom Penh. Students and Bud-
dhist monks in the capital are planning anticorrup-
tion demonstrations, including one aimed specifi-
cally at Acting Prime Minister Sink Matak, whose
alleged venality has been criticized sharply in
civilian circles. student
agitators are also thinking of circulating petitions
calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops,
including the South Vietnamese.
The regime is aware of these developments,
and several as yet unidentified persons
apparently have been arrested for planning
such activities. The possibility of demon-
strations is being used by supporters of
Prime Minister Lon NoZ to discredit Matak.
One junior officer, for example, is spread-
ing the story that the demonstrations are
part of a Matak-inspired plot to dump Lon
NoZ. Although this mischief-making is
not likely to get out of hand, it is symp-
tomatic of the fear for the future among
those closely associated with Lon NoZ.
Concern that a threat to the government's sta-
bility may be developing apparently prompted a meet-
ing of the government's extralegal "special coordi-
nating committee." The committee, which is headed
by the Prime Minister's brother, Lon Non, has ob-
tained Matak's approval in principle to establish
anew ad hoc committee, ostensibly to facilitate
action against government corruption and incompe-
tence. The committee's recommendations may also be
designed to increase its own power, which appears
to have been in eclipse since Lon Nol's illness.
(continued)
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In addition to these immediate manifesta-
tions of political unease, a more funda-
mental issue?namely, the question of Lon
NoZ's ultimate successor--may be involved.
Chief of State Cheng Heng and National
Assembly President In Tam have recently
said _ _ that they are convinced
that Lon Nol will have to step down soon.
Some top military officers, who have been
given an uncommon degree of freedom by
Matak, have also expressed the view that
even if Lon Nol returns, he will not be
able to exercise as much authority as be-
fore his illness. Under these circum-
stances, political rumormongering and
maneuvering for power have intensified and
are likely to continue as long as Lon Nol
is out of the country and his physical
well-being is in doubt.
3
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CHINA
AREA OF MAP
NORTH
VIETNAM
BURMA
,THAILAND
CAMBODIA
NORTHERN LAOS: Communist Chinese Road Construction
S0.1
VIET
NAM
011
BURMA
THAILAND
CHI
?
Sing
Motorable
Paiaieng
Statute Mile
Phong Saly
?-?
NORTH
VIETNAM
-22
01-
/" **???
40"
Die
Bie
Read being widened \,
aftd improved Muong\ 19
Batene
u
45
4/
Muong La
1J 1
LAOS 46
Muong)
Sai
Road improvemen
...nearing complef
Muong Noun
Mekong uang
bang
/ 102
-20-
ElCommunist controlled area
Contested territory
551121 3-71 CIA
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COMMUNIST CHINA - LAOS
Chinese road
builders in northern Laos are widening and improving
Route 45, the northeast branch of their road, between
Muong La and the Nam Ou River. In order to link up
with Route 19, which leads to North Vietnam, the Chi-
nese will have to cross the wide Nam Ou barrier-.
There is no evidence of bridge or ferry construction
at this: location.
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/ It seems clear, how-
ever, that the Chinese consider the road a
priority project and intend to push ahead
,with improvements before the rainy season
begins in May.
On the other hand, there is still no indication
that Route 46, the southwest branch toward the Mekong,
is being extended beyond its present terminus at
Muong Houn, some 25 miles from the river. Improve-
ments on. the existing road between Muong Sal and
Muong Houn are almost complete, however, and storage
facilities and upgraded air defenses have been ex-
panded in the Muong Houn area.
4
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INDIA
Prime Minister Gandhi's party jumped to an
early: lead in the national elections, Winning 200
out of the first 271 results announced. Her party
also is leading in a majority of the remaining
elections for parliamentary seats. The vote thus
far reflects strong.support,for Mrs. Gandhi from
the young, the poor, and the minorities and should
result in a comfortable majority in Parliament for
her patty.
Mrs. Gandhi's campaign focused on the
need for a more equitable distribution
of wealth and better conditions for the
poverty-stricken masses of India. Her
party's victory will endorse the Ruling
Congress as India's only truly national
party and will provide the central gov-
ernment with the stability to develop
moderate socialism at home while main-
taining India's traditional independent
foreign policy.
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ARGENT INA
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TURKEY
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CEYLON
The American Embassy in Colombo received a new
warning in the mail yesterday which threatened "to
'exterminate all concerned at the appropriate places."
It was signed by the "Maoist Youth Front," the signa-
ture on leaflets left at the embassy when it was at-
tacked on 6 March.
a group within
the Ceylon Communist Party/Peking (CCP/P) was to meet
yesterday to discuss possible attacks on homes of US
Embassy personnel. This group is said to have a lay-
out of the residence of the US ambassador, who is
currently in Washington. a
rebel group within the CCP/P was responsible for the
attack on 6 March, but other revo-
lutionary groups may attempt to outdo each other in
staging incidents against US property.
The CCP/P is a badly splintered organiza-
tion which has two main wings and an un-
determined number of so-called "Che Guevar-
ist" revolutionary groups. In addition,
there are other similar revolutionary
groups in Ceylon not connected with the
CCP/P, and the competition among all these
elements makes it difficult to pin down
the responsibility for any given incident.
The Ceylonese Government, apparently concerned
over the implications for its security, has invoked
emergency powers. The Ceylonese Navy, which is con-
sidered a more disciplined force than the army or
police, has assumed responsibility for guarding some
of the US property in Colombo.
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NOTES
USSR-Cuba: The Soviet guided-missile cruiser
and a tanker that have been visiting Cuba are now
southeast of Bermuda, apparently heading for home
waters. The submarine tender returned to Cuba yes-
terday and entered the port of Antilla,
Two Soviet nu-
clear submarine support barges and a rescue tug are
still in Cienfuegos.
USSRV
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Top Secret
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