THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 DECEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993040
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 21, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T02936A010200190001-3
The President's Daily Brief
21 December 1971
27
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200190001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200190001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 December 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Pakistan's new President, Z. A. Bhutto, used his
first speech to consolidate his support on several
fronts. (Page 1)
On Page 2 we discuss the military situation in
northern Laos.
The Yugoslav Communist Party has quickly responded
to President Tito's call for a shake-up to cope
with regional nationalism. (Page 3)
Evidence is mounting that Panama's intelligence
chief is protecting the drug traffic he is respon-
sible for suppressing. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200190001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200190001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PAKISTAN
President Bhutto used his first speech to the
nation to consolidate support on several fronts.
--He vowed to "fight on" and refused to recog-
nize the independence of Bangla Desh, thus bow-
ing to demonstrators' demands for a continua-
tion of the war but without actually risking a
renewal of hostilities.
--He promised to restore democracy and to pre-
sent a constitution for popular approval, but
committed himself to no timetable.
--On the critical matter of military support,
he indirectly 'criticized ,senior, military of
by placing blame for Pakistan's plight on
past authoritarian methods of government, and
-directed his praise of the military toward his
"young friends in the armed forces."
In a conversation with Ambassador Farland ear-
lier in the day, Bhutto said he might go to Peking
soon, explaining that China had not fulfilled its.
promises. At the,same time he was effusive in his
appreciation for assistance that Pakistan had re-
ceived from the US. On domestic issues, he said
that he would release any political prisoners.
The new President did not specifically
mention his intentions in respect to
Mujibur Rahman--a subject he also ignored
in his speech. Bhutto is reported to
have told a press conference that he
needed more time to deal with the Mujib
issue, while affirming that the Bengali
leader is "alive and well."
In the East, some bus and rail transport has
been restored and office staffs are beginning to
resume their duties in Dacca. Many vengeance-seek-
ing guerrilla fighters now have been disarmed and
joint Mukti Bahini - Indian Army patrols have been
established in many parts of the city. The press
quotes a high Bangla Desh official as saying that
the arrival of government ministers from India has
been delayed due to "certain exigencies."
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200190001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200190001-3
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