THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 2 FEBRUARY 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993732
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 2, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T60936A011500010028-9
The President's Daily Brief
^
2 February 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(1),12),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
2 February 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Fighting near Quang Tri has subsided and military
action elsewhere in Vietnam remains light.
Hanoi has told the Viet Cong they are going to be
much more on their own. (Page 1)
//Reports on the first session of the Laotian peace
talks suggest that the two sides are moving toward
agreement on an early cease-fire.// (Page 3) At the
same time, Hanoi is preparing to send record quan-
tities of supplies to northern Laos in the next
three weeks. (Page 4)
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Both Sihanouk and President Lon Nol have taken new
steps to end the fighting in Cambodia. (Page 5) 25X1
Japan
(Page 6)
Morocco's King Hassan is said to be pleased with
his recent talks with Ambassador Murphy, but the
King intends to send emissaries to probe Washing-
-ton's..intentions in supporting his country.
(Page 7)
In Uruguay, military leaders are developing contin-
gencyjplans to keep up ..their campaign against the
Tupamaro terrorists even if Congress fails to renew
the suspension of constitutional guarantees.'
(Page 8)
The Chinese are building a new spur in their road-
net in northwestern Laos, (Page 9)
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NORTH VIETNAM
DEMILITARIZED
ZONE
? Gio Li h
South Vietnamese
arine Defense Line GULF OF TONKIN
Cam Lo
QUAN TRI
Quang Tri
THUA THIE .. - ...".
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MILES
554075 2-73 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Most of the fighting on the Quang Tri battle-
front has subsided and military action elsewhere
remains light. 1 South Vietnamese Marines, who were
driven back from their forward positions on the
south bank of the Cua Viet River, have regrouped
along previous defensive lines well south of the
river. Airborne units have apparently contained
the North Vietnamese in their newly established
beachhead on the east bank of the Thach Han River
west of Quang Tri City.
The over-all Communist intention in the
attacks appears to have been primarily
to restore the basic pre-cease-fire lines
of control. An intercepted Communist
message of 30 January states that "in a
short time we destroyed the enemy's force
and protected the liberated areas."
Hanoi has told the Viet Cong they are going to be
much more on their own.
Hanoi's
public statements indicating that "so-
cialist construction" at home will now
be North Vietnam's chief concern.
(continued)
1
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the Viet
Cong are having trouble deciding what to do about
the neutralists, whom the Communists have consist-
ently demanded be included in any administration.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Initial reporting on the first session of the
peace talks in Vientiane on Wednesday suggests that
the two sides are beginning to move toward an agree-
ment. According to a highly sensitive diplomatic
source, it was agreed that a cease-fire should pro-
vide for an end of bombing and the withdrawal of
"all foreign forces" without specifically identify-
ing their nationalities. A joint military subcom-
mittee will be found to work out the specific mo-
dalities of a cease-fire agreement. The negotiators
reportedly did not discuss whether the cease-fire
would leave the forces in place or provide for a re-
grouping as the government had previously suggested.
The two sides came to no final decisions on
political matters. The Communist demand for a Po-
litical Consultative Council to oversee implementa-
tion of a political settlement was discussed but
left open. The Communists agreed to the formation
of a new tripartite coalition government along the
lines established by the 1961-62 agreements. They
did suggest, however, that such a government be
expanded--an apparent effort to find seats for their
"Patriotic Neutralist" allies.
This account of the first private session
suggests that agreement on a cease-fire
and at least the outlines of a political
settlement can be reached in short order.
Prime Minister Souvanna returned to Vien-
tiane yesterday from his trip to New Delhi
and Bangkok and can be expected to push
for further progress at the next private
meeting scheduled for today.
Another sensitive diplomatic source reports
that Phoumi Vongvichit, the high-ranking "special
adviser" to the Lao Communist team, will return to
Vientiane from Sam Neua tomorrow.
Presumably Phoumi intends to enter into
direct discussions with Souvanna. In
late October when Phoumi was last in
Vientiane he met once with Souvanna.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
North Vietnam is planning to send record quan-
tities- of supplies to northern Laos during the next
three weeks. According to an. intercepted North Viet-
namese message of 1 February, the Communists intend
to ship some 6,500 tons of cargo westward on Route
7 from Vinh by 22 February.
These shipments would be the largest ever
sent to this area, and would raise to al-
most 10,000 tons the amount sent so far
during the current dry season. During all
of last year's dry season onZy 5,800 tons
were detected moving to northern Laos.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
In a continuation of his "re-examination" of
the Cambodian situation, Sihanouk proposed on 31
January that Khmer insurgent forces in Cambodia
"lower the tone" of their military operations and
"not launch offensive actions." In talking with
French journalists in Hanoi, Sihanouk emphasized
that his approach had the "total support" of both
China and North Vietnam. Its purpose, he said, was
to "avoid inconveniencing Cambodia's neighbors who
must observe the cease-fire." Sihanouk cautioned
that this proposal had not yet been agreed to by
insurgent leaders who would have the "last word."
If Hanoi is indeed supporting Sihanouk's-
proposal, the insurgents surely will fall
in line and reciprocate Phnom Penh's cur-
rent stand-down in offensive operations.
Military activity is now at a low level
throughout Cambodia, and the insurgents
may already have been preparing for.a
cease-fire in advance of Sihanouk's pro-
posal. In the past few days their propa-
ganda has omitted threats of continued
fighting.
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Lon Nol was expected to meet In Tam yester- 25X1
day to make a more detailed review of the proposal.
Although both Sihanouk and Lon Nol have
taken steps toward ending the fighting,
prospects for a quick settlement still
appear dim. Each of the leaders insists
that he will not treat with the other and
that his opponent be excluded from any
role in Cambodia.
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JAPAN
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MOROCCO
King Hassan is very pleased with the outcome
of his talks with Ambassador Robert Murphy on 29
January.
Hassan is now convinced that President
Nixon is sincerely concerned and interested in
Morocco and its monarchy. The King nonetheless in-
tends to send special emissaries to Washington later
this month in an attempt to find out how closely
the US is prepared to commit itself toward his
country.
Hassan
evidently wants a firm commitment of
US support before he begins negotiating
on the future of the Kenitra base and
other issues outstanding with the US. His
recent overtures toward Moscow seem to
have been timed for their effect ?on the
VS.
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URUGUAY
Armed services leaders are developing plans
to use military judges to sign arrest and search
warrants if Congress fails to renew the suspension
of constitutional guarantees beyond 15 February.
They will argue that constitutional restrictions
imposed on civil judges would make it impossible
to continue the highly successful military cam-
paign against the Tupamaro terrorists.
The plan would be sure to provoke stiff
opposition from civilian politicians, who
are alarmed over the growing military role
in government and the military's contin-
uing drive to stamp out corruption in
civil government agencies. A congres-
sional vote to renew the suspension of
guarantees would, of course, buttress
the military's continued political role
in Uruguay even though it would obviate
the need for the military plan now under
consideration.
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Northwest Laos
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--Prelimib .,,,,bry # roads , Khoua
road work /.6, ,
Vieng Pou Khaig4