THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 NOVEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993618
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 10, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300090001-2
The President's Daily Brief
10 November 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of EO. 11652
exemption category 5B( 1).125.(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
10 November 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In South Vietnam, Communist forces appear to be
having some morale problems, partly because of un-
certainty about a cease-fire date. Both they and
the South Vietnamese are cutting down on military
action. (Page 1)
Bangkok is moving ahead toward improved relations
with China despite deep skepticism regarding Pe-
king's intentions. (Page 2)
We have indications that the fedayeen may take some
anti-Israeli action on Cyprus. (Page 3)
Cambodian government forces have ousted the Commu-
nists who have been blocking Route 5 since last
August. (Page 4)
Some of Chilean President Allende's political allies
appear to be challenging Interior Minister Prats
over handling the recent strikers. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Reports of declining enemy morale are cropping
up with increasing frequency. Many captured enemy
soldiers appear disillusioned and confused, com-
plaining of food and supply shortages and hardships
caused by allied air and artillery power. The slip-
page in the expected cease-fire deadline has con-
tributed to the demoralization. The Communist hier-
archy is trying to counter this problem by portray-
ing the agreement worked out with the US as a "fun-
damental victory" for the Communists. A recently
captured COSVN document providing guidance to cadres
and soldiers claimed that the cease-fire should be
understood as a "transitional period" that will lead
to "greater victories."
Uncertainty about a cease-fire date has prompted
some military commands in the northern provinces to
withdraw troops from the battlefield and send them
to rear areas for political indoctrination.
The recent trend away from frequent use
of artillery to less expensive mortars
may also reflect indecision on the part
of some local commanders. These command-
ers had received orders to stage large-
scale attacks immediately preceding and
just following the announcement of a
cease-fire j but the unexpected delays in
the cease-fire timetable may have forced
them to alter their tactics and to con-
serve ammunition.
The South Vietnamese are also letting up. Al-
though some commanders are claiming victories in
keeping the enemy away from Saigon's doorstep, much
of the territory that has fallen to the Communists
since last spring has not been retaken. A South
Vietnamese Marine operation launched last week
against enemy defenses west of Quang Tri City was
beaten back, and units in other areas have had dif-
ficulty in keeping the major roads open.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND-CHINA
Thai envoy Prasit Kanchanawat, who headed the
Thai delegation to the Canton Trade Fair last month
following an earlier visit to Peking, told Ambassa-
dor Unger early this week that Thailand would begin
trading with China as soon as arrangements for a
formal mechanism are worked out. Prasit indicated
that Bangkok prefers to set up a state trading or-
ganization, a process he believed would take at
least two months.
In discussing general relations with Peking,
Prasit tried to sound out the US reaction to any
loosening of Thailand's ties with Taiwan along the
lines of the recent Japanese move in that direction.
Despite deep skepticism regarding Chinese
intentions, Bangkok appears to be moving
steadily ahead in improving relations.
When and if the Thai decide to establish
diplomatic links, we do not see them
letting the Taiwan issue stand in the
way.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FEDAYEEN-CYPRUS
The Israeli ambassador in Nicosia has told Am-
bassador Popper he has fragmentary information that
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
will soon attack the Israeli Embassy. His concern
is heightened by what he considers to be an unsat-
isfactory response from the Cypriot police to his
requests for stronger protection for official Is-
raeli installations.
So far the fedayeen have refrained from
direct action on Cyprus so that the is-
land would not be denied to them as a
transit stop and contact point for oper-
ations elsewhere. They may now believe,
however, that a spectacular action against
the Israelis in Cyprus would outweigh the
risks to their local assets.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Cambodia: Government forces have dislodged the
Communists fromthe section of Route 5 south of Kom-
pong Chhnang City they had occupied for nearly three
months. The highway must undergo repairs, however,
before it can be reopened to regular commercial traf-
fic from Battambang in the northwest. Other forces
trying to clear Route 4 continue to meet heavy re-
sistance. In the south, the government is preparing
to launch a new operation to reopen Route 2 to Takeo,
which is under increasing Communist pressure.
Chile: Socialist Party leader Altamirano is
demanding severe punishment for those who took part
in the long protest movement that ended on Monday.
Moreover, some of the merchants who took part in the
strike are now unable to secure goods fromthe gov-
ernment-dominated distribution System-- General
Prats, when he became interior minister last week,
guaranteed that there would be no reprisals against
the strikers He thus seems to be facing a direct
challenge by some of President Allende's political
allies.
Guatemala:
East Germany - ' West Germany: The increased
flight of East German refugees to West Germany could
create difficulties- in improving East-West German
relations. The number of refugees has tripled since
the implementation last June of the Four Power and
inter-German transit agreements on Berlin. More
than 200 refugees have registered with West Berlin
authorities since June. One of Pankow's principal
concerns regarding the Berlin accords was that they
would result in a sharp increase in illegal depar-
tures. The East Germans have not yet raised the is-
sue with Bonn, perhaps because they want to avoid
adding to Brandt's re-election problems.
(continued)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Israel-Syria: An Israeli military spokesman
has announced that the Israeli air attack yesterday
on two Syrian Army posts near the Golan Heights was
in retaliation for an attempted guerrilla ambush
yesterday and a mining incident the previous day in
which an Israeli civilian was wounded. The attack
drew a Syrian artillery response and this in turn
led to further heavy Israeli air strikes against
Syrian artillery positions. The Syrians admit to
the loss of two MIG-21s. Despite Syrian claims,
no Israeli aircraft appear to have been lost.
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Top Secret
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