THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 MARCH 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993765
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 8, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
8 March 1973
5
op
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I ),( 2).(3 )
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASH I NGTON:?.9,...,C., 9.505
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8 March 1973
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EYES ONLY FOR THE PRESIDENT
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
8 March 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The North Vietnamese are still moving large quanti-
ties of supplies into South Vietnam. (Page 1) 25X1
China is trying to improve relations with India and
Bangladesh. (Page 2)
On Page 4, we present our latest estimate of Soviet '
winter grain production.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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,Ban Nape
!'ass
VIETNAM
Dong
Hene
Phalane
Savannlikhet
.se gong Hien
s Shoe
MR1 Do Nang
THAILAND
Pakse
23?Paksong- 16
Bolovens
.Plateau
Attopeu
554206 3-73
ge" C.*
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
INDOCHINA
aerial photography confirm that large quantities
of supplies continue moving into and through the
Lao panhandle as the North Vietnamese take advantage
of the bombing halt there to resupply units in all
regions ?of South Vietnam. Traffic is heaviest
through the Ban Karai Pass where the rate of truck
travel appears to be equal to peak levels of past
dry seasons.
There are indications of continuing heavy move-
ment of supplies from Vinh south to the DMZ, albeit
at a pace lower than before the cease-fire. Heavy
barge traffic was noted near Vinh on 23 February,
probably along the Song Ca River
1
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CHINA-INDIA-BANGLADESH
China once more is signaling its
improving relations with India.
the Chinese Foreign Ministry
has shifted from its earlier tactic of raising a
wide spectrum of Sino-Indian problems.
a return of the 90,000
Pakistani prisoners held in India would result in
the restoration of normal relations between Peking
The Chinese have also apparently de-
cided to send a counselor as charge in New Delhi--
an increase in rank over the present level.
interest in
The Chinese, because of their support for
Pakistan, cannot go much further until the
status of the prisoners is settled. Pros-
pects for movement on the prisoner-of-war
issue could improve now that yesterday's
elections in Bangladesh are out of the
way.
Mujib's victory now leaves him free to
tackle this emotional issue. He has said
many times that he wants better relations
with Peking.
Ail three countries have a stake in
mutual relations. Bangladesh wants to
lessen its heavy dependence on India and
the USSR. India may hope to loosen its
uncomfortably close ties with Moscow. Pe-
king is well aware that India is the major
power in South Asia and that if it is to
counter Soviet influence in the region, it
can do so best in New Delhi.
2
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WEST GERMANY
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NOTES
?USSR: It now appears that the surviving winter
grain area in the Soviet Union will be about 23 mil-
lion hectares, compared with 23.5 million last year
and an average annual figure of 31 million between
1966 and 1970. Winter grains normally provide about
one third of total grain production. A major ef-
fort will be required to plant spring grains in
winterkill areas. Moreover, according to a Central
Committee member, Soviet agricultural specialists
are worried because much of the seed grain is of
such poor quality that it may not germinate and be-
cause some varieties imported for seed are unsuit-
able for Soviet conditions.
UN: Secretary-General Waldheim is thinking
of giTrIng the Provisional. Revolutionary Government
of South Vietnam some sort of official status in
New York. On WedneSday, Waldheim told the perma-
nent members of the Security Council that the estab-
lishment of a PRG "liaison office" at the UN would
be useful in discussions of humanitarian aid to
Vietnam and provide A way to "contact all parties"
if it proved necessary to reconvene the Paris Peace
Conference, Earlier, he told the press that he
had the authority to grant "observer" status to the
Viet Cong's "government." Establishment of a "liai-
son office" would not necessarily imply UN recogni-
tion that the PRG :represented a state, but "observer"
status has historically meant UN recognition of
statehood.
4
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e`e
Top Secret
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