THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 15 APRIL 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993248
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 15, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600130001-5
The President's Daily Brief
15 April 1972
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
15 April 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The military situation in South Vietnam is reported
on Page 1.
Strains within Thailand's top leadership are causing
indecision and drift in the government. (Page 2)
West German opposition leader Barzel has reaffirmed
his opposition to the Eastern treaties following
his meeting with Chancellor Brandt. (Page 3)
The Soviets have been making more extended naval
visits to Cuba since late 1971. (Page 4)
Uruguay's president is using the terrorist killings
yesterday to reinforce his request for strong new
security legislation. (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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11,19RT
WET
108 110
Demilitarized Zone
Tehepo e
?
Sava nakhet
A Shea
p ? V
QUANr
Da N.p.pg
MR 1
Q ang Ngai
Atte pe
BINH
DINH
19
?
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Tonle
Sap
P H u?;1,
BON
?
MR 2
? try Hoa
DANL. C
,
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em ng Cham
:rUY EN
Da Lat?
00
AM
,RANM
rang
? , PHNOM PENH
LONG
KN.
Sony Rico
CHAU
DOC
lUEN
TUONG
PHUOC
TUY
284.
K
?10
?
U Minh Forest
Gulf of
Thailand
174
5528524-72
IEN
G1ANG
AN
UYEN
?
VINH
BiNH
MR 4
R3
Capital Special Zone
176 178
South
China
Sea
SOUTH VIETNAM
170
MILES
16-
14-
12-
10-
110
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
The Communists have renewed their drive against
An Loc in Binh Long Province north of Saigon. They
have been moving in heavy equipment, and numerous
tracked vehicles and trucks have been spotted near
the southern end of the city. There was a sharp
clash on the southwestern edge of the city yester-
day, but government forces are still reported to be
holding most of the city. Intense bombing of Commu-
nist positions has apparently inflicted heavy casual-
ties and has accounted for a number of enemy tanks
destroyed.
The government has succeeded in airlifting more
than two battalions into An Loc and is now flying
in all of the airborne brigade that has been spear-
heading the relief column stalled on Route 13. The
21st Division, which makes up the balance of the
column, will now remain well to the south of the
city where it is now digging in.
The convergence in Binh Long Province of
over two Communist divisions, together
with the appearance of substantial numbers
of enemy tanks, leaves little doubt that
the Communists mean to make the fight for
An Loc one of the main battles of their
current offensive. They apparently are
willing to accept a showdown engagement
in Binh Long in the hope that they can in-
flict sufficient punishment on South Viet-
namese forces to shake ARUN morale and
arouse new misgivings toward the Thieu
government.
South Vietnamese commanders in the delta be-
lieve that the thinning out of their forces there
following the 21st Division's withdrawal to Binh
Long has encouraged the Communists to become more
aggressive. With the addition of two regiments
from Cambodia in the upper delta, heavy attacks are
expected in Kien Hoa and Dinh Tuong provinces. Far-
ther south, Communist units staging from the U Minh
Forest have overrun 20 of 24 outposts in one dis-
trict of Chuong Thien Province and there is concern
for the provincial capital. On the Cambodian side
of the border, the Communists have struck hard at
South Vietnamese Rangers and armored troops operat-
ing near Kompong Trach. The South Vietnamese have
sustained heavy casualties, their artillery has been
knocked out, and they have so far been prevented
from retreating.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND
General Praphat, number two man in the govern-
ment, has been publicly at odds with his superior,
Marshal Thanom, over the issue of when a new consti-
tution should be promulgated.
Praphat and Thanom have frequently dif-
fered on policy issues during the almost
eight years they have ruled Thailand, but
now their cordial personal relationship
appears to be breaking down. Praphat
would like to stall on the new constitu-
tion until Thanom's term as supreme mili-
tary commander expires at the end of Sep-
tember, a delay which would open the way
for Praphat's assumption of the top mili-
tary post.
The infighting at the top has already Zed
to inefficiency and a sense of drift
throughout the government. This indeci-
siveness and the worsening relations be-
tween Thanom and Praphat could stir up
latent discontent among younger officers
who are longing for a greater share of
leadership.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
WEST GERMANY
Following his meeting with Chancellor Brandt
on Wednesday, opposition leader Barzel put the
Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social
Union formally on the record as opposed to ratifi-
cation of the Eastern treaties. Barzel said that
recent Communist concessions and clarifications were
not enough. He again urged the government to rene-
gotiate with the Soviets, arguing that additional
improvements, particularly affecting freedom of
movement between the two Germanies, could be achieved.
Barzel claimed that failure to ratify the treaties
would not cause the Soviets to block the Four Power
Berlin Accord because Moscow wishes thus to open
the way for a Conference on European security.
Barzel's statement was unanimously approved by the
CDU-CSU parliamentary deputies.
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Soviet Naval Visits to Cuba
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-CUBA
Beginning in late 1971, the Soviets appear to
have begun more extended naval visits to Cuba The
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Soviets
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR:
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Uruguay; President Bordaberry is using the
killing of four men by Tupamaro terrorists yesterday
to bolster his requests for broad security legisla-
tion. Present emergency measures expire on 30 April,
and his proposed new law--particularly a provision
giving the military wide authority to deal with ter-
rorism--has been encountering considerable congres-
sional opposition. The latest outbreak of violence,
which has now led to the death of at least eight
Tupamaros and the capture of many more, seems to be
eliciting support from some influential military
and political quarters for Bordaberry's call for im-
mediate congressional approval of his proposals.
(continued)
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Chinese
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China?Laos:
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"7.
Top Secret
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