THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 11 MARCH 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993187
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 11, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP,9T00936A010500110001-8
The President's Daily Brief
11 March 1972
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
11 March 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Chinese diplomats are commenting favorably on Presi-
dent Nixon's trip to Peking. (Page 1)
Recent satellite photography shows ground support
equipment for China's first operational MRBM.
(Page 2)
West German
/ (Page 3)
Cambodian Chief of State Cheng Heng has resigned,
clearing the way for Lon Nol to succeed him and to
promulgate a new constitution. (Page 4)
The secret negotiations between Guatemala and the
UK over troop levels in British Honduras haVecol-
lapsed. (Page 5)
Malta is reported to have accepted the UK-NATO final
offer on base rental payments but Prime Minister
Mintoff still wants a little something extra. (Page 6)
Israel
(Page 7)
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CHINA-US
We are beginning to receive feedback on
President Nixon's trip to China from Chi-
nese diplomats stationed abroad and from
officials assigned to Hong Kong. Most
appear to be repeating instructions re-
ceived from Peking, but even when an offi-
cial claims to have heard nothing from
home his reaction does not vary greatly
from the norm.
In general the Chinese have taken a positive
and optimistic attitude toward the visit and the
communique, but there have been no signs of euphoria.
Officials are not claiming a Chinese "victory" and
one diplomat, when pressed, was emphatic that each
side had made "equal" concessions.
MOSt Officials have stressed as a sign-of prog?
ress the point that the United States has now agreed
to the five principles of peaceful coexistence.
Virtually all have referred to the section of the
communique dealing with Taiwan as an indication of
Changed US attitudes on this subject, but they have
also stressed that the Taiwan problem is not yet -
fully solved. In commenting on this section a num-
ber of officials have stated that a solution to the
problem would _take time, and that China was pre-
pared to wait. One diplomat, noting that no time-
table had been set for the withdrawal of US forces ,
from Taiwan, remarked that the President was, likely:
to come under a variety of pressures on this issue.
He added that China would consider the beginning of
a'US withdrawal as an earnest of Washington's good
intentions in dealing with China.
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CHINA
Recent satellite photography shows ground sup-
port equipment for CSS-1 ballistic missiles at the
Chiu-feng-jun barracks 90 nm. east of Peking.
When the
barracks were last photographed a year ago, no mis-
sile equipment could be clearly identified there.
Since then five buildings, including one which may
be for missile check-out, have been built.
No missiles have been detected at Chiu-feng-jun
and the facility does not appear to contain a launch
area.
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WEST GERMANY
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CAMBODIA
Chief of State Cheng Heng announced yesterday
that he was resigning because he had failed to re-
solve "internal difficulties." He named Lon Nol as
his successor. As chief of state, Lon Nol is in a
position to promulgate a new constitution that would
make him Cambodia's first president. The final
draft of a republican constitution was to be ironed
out this weekend, but Lon Nol has announced that he
is nullifying this draft.
Now that Lon NoZ is chief of state as
well as prime minister, he may want to
dictate the provisions of a new consti-
tution. Additional changes in the gov-
ernment could further delay action on the
constitution.I
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GUATEMALA-UK
The secret negotiations between Foreign Minis-
ter Herrera. and British Minister of State Godber
have collapsed.'
According to a Guatemalan communique, Guatemala
broke off the talks in response to Britain's refusal
to reduce their troop strength in British Honduras.
to normal levels.-- The communique characterized
London's decision as "aggression," and warned that
Guatemala would take the necessary measures to pro-
tect its national interests.
The communique appears to be the opening
sal-'o of a diplomatic and propaganda cam-
paign against Britain's increased military
presence in British Honduras. In view of
Guatemala's earlier effort to keep the
British reinforcements secret, the deci-
sion to publicize the issue indicates
that the Arana government is willing to
engage its prestige in attempting to re-
verse London's stand. Although Herrera
may try to persuade the cabinet to make
a further attempt at compromise, a likely
next step for Guatemala is to raise the
matter in the OAS.
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MALTA
The Maltese cabinet decided on Thursday to ac-
offer of $36.4 million annually,
Prime Minister
Mintoff told his cabinet that he would hold off an-
nouncing Malta's acceptance for ?a day or two in the
hope of obtaining at least part of the one-time pay-
ment of $13 million he has been seeking.
cept the UK-,NATO
The cabinet warned Mintoff of the growing
resentment among the Malta Labor Party's rank and
file at his refusal to sign an agreement and in-
structed him not to break off negotiations over the
extra $13 million.
Mintoff has claimed he needs the $13 mil-
lion because of an understanding he has
to reimburse Libya immediately in the
event of an agreement with the UK. He
presumably was referring to a loan of at
least $3 million he received from Libya
last August.
The Italians have asked West Germany and the
US to join with Rome in putting up the $13 million;
the West Germans have refused. The British have ac-
cepted the idea of such a payment reluctantly and
have warned Rome that time is limited, given the
fact that the final phase of the British pullout is
scheduled to begin on 20 March.
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USSR-EGYPT-ISRAEL
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NOTES
Syria: President Asad has announced Syria's
acceptance of UN Security. Council Resolution 242,
marking the most moderate position Damascus has
taken on Israel since ?the resolution was passed in
November 1967. The Asad regime had been exhibiting
a more flexible policy since ousting its radical
predecessor in November 1970. This change brings
Syria into line with Cairo, as well as with Moscow,
which provides substantial military, and economic
aid to Damascus.
Venezuela: President Caldera's moderate treat-
ment of the oil companies in his state of the union
message this week contrasts with his government's
increasin 1 nationalistic approac
This
shift follows Creole's recent announcement that its
production is again rising and recent US offers to
discuss a broad range of bilateral matters.
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Top Secret
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