THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 SEPTEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992878
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 24, 1971

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900220001-4
The President's Daily Brief
24 September 1971
47
Top Secret
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900220001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
24 September 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Several new reports strengthen the impression that
Peking is in the midst of a leadership crisis.
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Lon Nol yesterday sacked In Tam, his energetic First
Deputy Prime Minister. (Page 4)
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COMMUNIST CHINA
reports strengthen
. the impressiOn that Peking is in the midst
of a leadership. crisis..
the
leadership in Peking held an urgent meet-
ing there on or about 12 September. The
meeting may have begun on the 12th and .
perhaps lasted for several days, since
Chou En-lai interrupted meetings with
foreign visitors from 12 to 15 September.
If Mao is dead or incapacitated, China's
unsettled leadership would have difficulty
in immediately rallying around Defense
Minister Lin Piao. Despite Lin's designa-
tion as Mao's successor, there are serious
questions about the extent and depth of
support for him in important military and
civilian circles. Although Lin's position
as head of the military establishment is
an important one, his ultimate source of
authority has always been Mao.
There continues to be no evidence of a
deterioration of security in the capital
or elsewhere in the nation.
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USSR
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CAMBODIA
Lon Nol yesterday dismissed First Deputy Prime
Minister In Tam.i
In Tam was neglecting his duties in the capital and
that his frequent trips to the countryside were pri-
marily designed to build his own political base
among the peasantryi
The able and energetic In Tam was the lead-
ing force behind the government's efforts
to extend its control in the countryside.
Several times he threatened to resign when
Lon Nol and Matak blocked his efforts to
mount an effective pacification program.
Now In Tam presumably will return to the
National Assembly, where he may well use
his influence to stir up further opposition
to the government and its policies.
The next important head to roll may be that
of Third Deputy Prime Minister Hang Thun
Hak, whom Lon Nol has accused of trying to
deniarate Matak./
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NOTE
USSR: The Soviets are preparing for another
unmanned lunar landing mission that is likely to be
launched next week. The only other Soviet lunar
launch this year--Luna 18--crashed while attempting
a soft landing on the moon earlier this month. Luna
18 apparently was intended to return lunar, soil sam-
ples; the mission of the upcoming probe cannot yet
be determined.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900220001-4
_
Top Secret
,
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