THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 AUGUST 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993449
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 5, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000050001-9
The President's Daily Brief
5 August 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E0. 11652
exemption category 58(1),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000050001-9
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000050001-9
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
5 August 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS'
South Vietnamese Marines are nearing the Quang Tri
City citadel on two sides, but continue to be ham-
pered by heavy Communist artillery fire and solidly
fortified enemy positions. Recent photography shows
that most of the bomb damage to North Vietnamese
dikes has been repaired. (Page 1)
The Israelis believe that Egypt's expulsion of So-
viet military personnel vindicates their hard nego-
tiating stance and that the Egyptians will eventu-
ally be forced into direct talks. (Page 2)
The South Koreans are seeking improved relations
with Communist states including China. (Page 3)
Cambodian President Lon Nol may call off the na-
tional assembly elections set for early next month.
(Page 4)
Japan considering importing Chinese
crude oil as "partial" payment for the sale of a
synthetic fiber plant to China. (Page 5)
It appears likely that the European Communities sum-
mit will take place as scheduled in October. (Page 6)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
South Vietnamese Marines are nearing the Quang
Tri City citadel on two sides, but continue to be
hampered by heavy Communist artillery fire and sol-
idly fortified enemy positions. Late reports indi-
cate that the South Vietnamese are attempting to
flank the citadel on the west to block the flow of
supplies to North Vietnamese forces in the city.
There are signs that the Communists areexperi-
encing some supply and morale problems in their ef-
forts?to hold the city. An intercept of 3 August
from a unit within Quang Tri indicated that supplies
were running short; other Messages from a unit north
of the city reflected inability to complete its com-
bat mission.
Farther south, the Communists are continuing
to shell major government strongpoints west of Hue.
In western Quang Ngai Province, Son Ha district cap-
ital was finally occupied by the enemy on Thursday
after changing hands at least twice.
This action may signal the return to com-
bat of the North Vietnamese 2nd Division,
whose major elements had moved to this
area from Kontum Province during the past
few weeks. The division has not seen ac-
tion in almost two months.
Photographic coverage of 29 and 30 July shows
that most of the bomb damage to North Vietnamese
dikes that had been identified two weeks earlier
has been repaired. No flooding has occurred
at any of the locations hit, and the minor damage
remaining unrepaired is unlikely to cause flooding
from the seasonal high water due during the next
few weeks. Although undetected damage to the dikes
from the 1971 floods may cause future trouble, man-
power, equipment, and materials for repair work are
available.
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ISRAEL
The Israeli Government believes Egypt's
expulsion of Soviet military personnel
vindicates its hard negotiating stance.
Moreover, it believes that a wait-and-see
attitude will eventually force Egypt into
direct negotiations.
Foreign Minister Eban told US Chargg Zurhellen
on 2 August that no one had ever expected to see
the "extraordinary vision" of the Soviets leaving
Egypt. It would now be no more dramatic, he said,
if Egypt were to accept "the Rhodes formula" (during
the 1948 negotiations at Rhodes the Egyptians and
Israelis talked in the presence of a mediator).
Eban also said that the US and Israel now should
try to bring Egypt to recognize that it has only two
options: accept a deadlock or negotiate with Israel.
He continued to oppose the resumption of UN mediator
Jarring's mission on the grounds that Egypt uses
Jarring only as a shield to avoid giving serious
thought to developing a "negotiating technique."
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
KOREA
Speaking to the National Assembly on 8 July,
South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Yong-shik under-
scored Seoul's intent to "widen diplomatic horizons"
through improved relations with Communist states in-
cluding, for the first time, China. He admitted to
US officials in Seoul that one of the purposes of
his coming trip to India and the Philippines is to
request their help in getting into communication
with Moscow and Pekina.
Seoul's efforts have met with little suc-
cess thus far, but the South Koreans are
determined to keep trying. They sense
that, just as Pyongyang has been able to
use the improved atmosphere in North-South
relations to broaden its diplomatic base,
the possibilities for South Korean con-
tacts with Communist states are also im-
proved.
Pyongyang, meanwhile, is now seeking to delay
the Red Cross discussions. In recent meetings with
their South Korean counterparts, North Korean Red
Cross officials reneged on their original agreement
to begin plenary talks on 5 August and instead
raised new proposals that will delay the opening of
the plenary sessions for several weeks.
One important motive for the North's foot
dragging may be to delay the opening of
the talks until consideration of the
Korean question in the UN next month.
Pyongyang believes that rapid progress
would bolster Seoul 's argument that the
UN should not debate the issue at this
time.
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CAMBODIA
President Lon Nol is considering calling off
the national assembly elections scheduled for 3
September.
indicated that he would do
so if he could find a plausible excuse. He had re-
ceived reports that his efforts to ensure a sweeping
victory, for his Socio-Republican Party might fall
short.
At the same time, one of the two opposition
parties, the Republican Party organized by Lon Nol's
former close associate Sink Matak, has announced
that it will boycott the elections because the gov-
ernment is rigging them. The other opposition party
is also threatening to withdraw.
The opposition moves increase the chances
that Lon Nol will cancel the elections
for quite a different reason--he would
not want to face the embarrassing pros-
pect of having his party run without op-
position. The Republican boycott also
deepens the shadow over the troubled re-
lationship between Lon Nol and Matak,
who had been considering an offer by Lon
Nol to participate in a "coalition" gov-
ernment.
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JAPAN-CHINA
Prime Minister Tanaka is considering importing
Chinese crude oil as "partial" payment for the sale
of a synthetic fiber plant to China
Tokyo recently approved Export-Import
Bank credits for the plants but the Chi-
nese prefer to pay with exports. If the
deal is concluded, it will be China's
first export of crude oil.
This volume, which China could perhaps
supply by 1975, would represent more
than 20 percent of China's production
and would meet about three percent of
Japan's projected requirements.
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EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
It appears likely that the EC summit will take
place as scheduled in October. Recent French lobby-
ing with present and prospective EC members has won
agreement to focus attention at the summit on mone-
tary matters, as the French have been seeking. Pros-
pects for the summit had dimmed last month when West
German Chancellor Brandt refused to go along with
French demands in the monetary field. Differences
still remain, but the persistent concern over the
effects in Europe of possible new large dollar flows
has aided Paris! argument that monetary questions
must be paramount at a summit.
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Top Secret
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