THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 28 MAY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993324
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 28, 1972

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The President's Daily Brief
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PDB Cable
28 May 1972
:USSR-VIETNAM
oct?
Two Radio Moscow braedcasts beamed at Vietnamese
listeners on 25 May assert that negotiations are the
only way to end the war, and they both endorse the Viett./61-MS.Q..
C o w 1 s
COM4...--4JAA494_ proposal to reconvene the Paris talks. The
first notes that the Vietnam problem "cannot be solved
by military means." The second defends Moscow's search
for better relations with Washington and reminds unnamed
"friends" that the USSR's peace program entails no sacri-
fice of principle because it pays great attention to
eliminating "dangerous hotbeds of war" in Southeast Asia
and to solving problems there by political means.
This line is in keeping with
SA id
have--adard7 in the recent past, and
what the Soviet
it squares with
Kosgin's remarks duringhis toast Friday night.
broadcasts
beamed specifically at the Vietnamese
Media
Premier
These
and in
their language, are evidently designed to emphasize Moscow's
position to Hanoi. Meanwhile, the Soviet media continue
to ignote recentNNor41 Vietnamese statements denouncing
the President and criticizing attempts to internationalize
the Vietnam issue.
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VIETNAM
The situation at Kontum City has taken a turn for
the worse. New Communist attacks took place early on
27 May and at last word North Vietnamese forces hold two
sections of the city. Enemy pressure has kept the city's
main airport closed. Allied helicopters have been able to
bring in some supplies and evacuate wounded troops by
landing in the western party;of.7the city, but even this 25X1
was becoming hazardous at last report.
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The North Vietnamese are also maintaining pressure
on government lines north of Hue. The Communists have
made little headway and have suffered heavy casualties but
show no signs of pulling back. A prisoner says the in-
creased attacks which began on 21 May will be maintained
for ten days. Communications continue to show the North
Vietnamese 325th Division moving into South Vietnam from
the southern panhandle of North Vietnam. A seconkegiment
of that division has now moved across the DMZ into Quang
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CAMBODIA
With the voting only a week away, former deputy
prime minister In Tam seems to be posing a real threat
to Lon Nol's bid to become the country's first elected
president.
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significant numbers of voters in the Phnom 25X1
and that he is running ahead of
areas of the country-
is making effective use of those issues on
Penh area favor In Tam,
Lon Nol in some of the more populated
side. In Tam
which Lon Nol is most vulnerable--military weakness, cor-
ruption, and authoritarianism. His candidacy has been
especially appealing among Phnom Penh's disgruntled students,
many of whom have volunteered to help in his campaign.
For its part, the regime--with the vigorous backing
of the military establishment--is working to boost Lon Nol
through such means as a massive army parade on 27 May.
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The government will be counting the votes and this, 25X1
of course, gives it the ultimate advantage.
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NOTE
Poland-US: The Polish press, after five weeks of
near silence on President Nixon's forthcoming Warsaw visit,
has now published extensive commentary. The most au-
thoritative article, in the party newspaper Trybuna Ludu
on 27 May, says Poland sees the US as a "valuable partner
for mutually advantageous economic relations." The article
also refers positively to the chance of improved political
relations, but the emphasis throughout is on Poland's con-
tinuing allegiance to socialist principles and its allies.
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Top Secret
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