THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 26 JANUARY 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993726
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 26, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011500010022-5
The President's Daily Brief
26 January 1973
45
Top Secret
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
26 January 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In South Vietnam Communist offensive activity still
consists chiefly of light shellings, but indications
persist that heavier fighting is planned before the
cease-fire becomes effective. The South Vietnamese
cabinet is discussing plans to counter the Commu-
nists after the cease-fire by strengthening Saigon's
image as an economically and politically viable gov-
ernment. (Page 1)
Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma believes that an end
to the fighting in Laos could be arranged by 12 ,
February. He intends to go to India tomorrow where
he will request greater Indian cooperation in set-
tling the conflict and in supervising the eventual
cease-fire. (Page 3)
New Soviet regulations, which require emigrants to
reimburse the state for their education, apparently
are in effect. (Page 5)
??
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Communist offensive activity as of 0530 EST--
including that directed against Bien Hoa and Da
Nang air bases--still consists chiefly of light
shellings, but indications persist that heavier
fighting is planned before the cease-fire becomes
effective.
Some Communist combat units may be waiting
until nearer the time of the cease-fire
to launch their attacks. This strategy
apparently would be designed to drive
people into Communist-controlled areas
and reduce the time available to the
South Vietnamese for counteraction.
There are additional indications of moves by
Communist main force units which bring them closer
to major population centers.
Although these movements may be a prelude
to a last-minute enemy push, they could
be simply the Communists' final effort
to have their troops in a favorable loca-
tion when the fighting stops.
On Tuesday, immediately after President Thieu
had briefed his cabinet on the cease-fire agreement,
its members met under Prime Minister Khiem to dis-
cuss plans to counter the Communists by strengthen-
ing .Saigon's image as an economically and politi-
cally viable government.
Khiem directed the ministers to complete
their plans within the next two weeks. Programs to
be emphasized include the resettlement of refugees,
the building of new hamlets, and the reconstruction
of schools and roads. Khiem noted that these plans
will be the basis for President Thieu's request for
continuing US economic aid "during a forthcoming
trip to Washington."
(continued)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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The prime minister asserted that the army must
be diligent in protecting areas under government
control, but that no attempt should be made to go
into Communist-controlled areas.
Khiem directed the Ministries of Education and
Interior to involve students in the. government's
programs to help ensure that they are not used by
the Viet Cong. Khiem also pointed out that harsh
measures to control street demonstrations and other
civil disturbances would not benefit the government;
order must be maintained without repression, he
said.
2
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LAOS
/7)
ang Prabang
? Government-held location
?Communist-held location
0 Miles 20
6(
01--
61
doua' Long
Muong Soui
Sala Phou Khou
-
NORTH
VIETNAM
uong Kassy
Long Tieng
Pho
eong
Ban Son
MILES 50
yang Vien
DEMILITARIZED
ZONE
u itdisper
VIETNAM.
oravone
THAILAND
ientiane
Bolovens
Plateau
THAILAND
554042 1-73 CIA
CAMBODIA
.11 ?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma repeated to a
session of the National Assembly
yesterday his publicly expressed belief that an
end to fighting in Laos could be arranged by 12
February. He said that within 90 days of a cease-
fire a national election should be held, but cau-
tioned that this deadline might slip and that ev-
erything depended on the attitude of the Lao Com-
munist peace negotiators.
Souvanna also told the deputies that he still
intends to leave on 27 January for his scheduled
trip to India, where he plans to ask Mrs. Gandhi
for greater Indian cooperation on the International
Control Commission.
Souvanna apparently attaches a good deal
of importance to this trip, which, with
a stop in Thailand, will take a week.
In the meantime, the Communist negotia-
tors will return from their headquarters
at Sam Neua on Sunday, and the next ses-
sion of the peace talks--the first since
the announcement of the Vietnam cease-
fire?will take place next Tuesday.
Souvanna is also going away at a time
when there is evidence that North Viet-
namese units in southern Laos are moving
into positions for renewed offensive op-
erations. One and possibly two North
Vietnamese regiments have reinforced a
third in the central panhandle. Some
of the fresh troops have been engaged
in the recent heavy fighting near Muong
Phalane. Farther south, a large enemy
force is still defending Saravane, and
has driven Lao troops from positions
west of the city. At least one Commu-
nist regiment has moved onto the Bolovens
Plateau near the government-held town of
Paksong.
(continued)
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Skirmishing continues east of Thakhek,
a provincial capital on the Mekong, but
there is no evidence at this time that
the enemy intends to move on the town in
force. In the north, Communist shelling
and ground attacks are still going on
against government positions in and around
Bouam Long, but no change has occurred.
4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
In late December, the Soviet Government pub-
lished in its official record the decree requiring
emigrants to reimburse the state for the cost of
their educations. The fee scale was published
early this month.
men over 60, women over 55, and in-
valids are fully exempt from the reimbursement tax,
and that a scale had been set excusing emigrants
from refunding portions of their educational costs
based on the number of years that they had been em-
ployed.1
Publication of the decree and the fee
schedule is a strong indication that this
is as far as the Soviets intend to go in
mollifying Western critics of Soviet em-
igration policies. Under the new softened
emigration procedures, the number of Jew-
ish emigrants for the first three weeks
of January (1,672) is comparable to last
year's January rate. The educational
level of recent emigrants, however, is
considerably lower.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011500010022-5