THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 19 MARCH 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993774
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 19, 1973

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The President's' Daily Brief
19 March 1973
45
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
19 March 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
A supplement to an earlier COSVN directive on Com-
munist tactics in the cease-fire period indicates
that there is to be heavier military action in
South Vietnam after 28 March when all US prisoners
will have been released. (Page 1)
(Page 3)
In Laos, Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma has report-
edly requested a meeting with Lao Communist leader
Souphanouvong or his personal envoy to work out ar-
rangements for forming a new government. The Pathet
Lao have repeated their accusation that "US-Vien-
tiane aircraft" have violated the peace agreement
by conducting "reconnaissance and bombing" missions.
(Page 4)
Phnom Penh is calm following the bombing of the
presidential palace and brief student disorders on
Saturday. (Page 5)
The nine EC members have agreed to withhold recogni-
tion from Hanoi for the time being because of re-
ports of North Vietnamese cease-fire violations.
(Page 6)
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Demilitarized Zone
Song Bo River
corridor
THAILAND
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SOUTH VIETNAM
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SOUTH VIETNAM
COSVN has issued a supplement to an earlier di-
rective on Communist tactics in the cease-fire pe-
riod The supplement
states that:
--after 2.8 March when all US prisoners will
have been. released, "temporary deadlocks." may
develop in the negotiations, and: Saigon's
forces may. "encroach on our areas";.
---equipment and troops from North. Vietnam will
enable the Communists to "stop" their opponents
and "maintain the limits of the-cease-fire
agreement";
-South Vietnamese operations will give the:
Communists "many good opportunities to initi--
ate'an offensive to tilt the balance of.
strength and move civilians into our areas";.
?---this next "offensive" will be aimed at cap-
turing hamlets and villages rather than larger
areas, and, whenever they can do so, the Com-
munists intend to make.. it appear that they
acted defensively.
The supplement emphasizes that the earlier di-
rective, which proclaimed anew era of political
struggle, .remains in effect.. The latest directive
indicates that military operations are still sec-
ondary,', but itis clearly Saying that they are an
important 'part of the struggle and that there is
to be heavier military action once the prisoner ex-
change: is completed.
Communist troops launched strong attacks dur-
ing the weekend against a government outpost at
Rach Bap and a base camp at Lai Khe in Binh Duong
Province, but these attacks have now eased. Far-
ther north, the Communists are applying heavy mil-
itary pressure against a Ranger camp at Tonle Cham
in Tay Ninh Province. The Rangers still control
1
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the camp, but they have been unable to get supplies
or to evacuate their wounded because of heavy Commu-
nist ground fire. Communist delegates on the Four
Power Joint Military Commission so far have prevented
any investigation of the fighting by the Commission,
according to the US Embassy.
Northwest of Hue, Communist units increased
their ground and artillery attacks along the Song
Bo River corridor. South Vietnamese control of
this area has hindered Communist infiltration and
resupply from their mountain bases.
2
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LAOS-CHINA
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LAOS
Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma
Lao Communist leader Souphanouvong
askin that he
meet directly with Souvanna as soon as pos-
sible to work out arrangements for forming a new
government.
Talks on political arrangements have remained
deadlocked, but the two sides have agreed to ex-
change draft protocols covering such military
matters as prisoner exchange and the withdrawal of
foreign troops.
Preliminary agreement may be reached on
some arrangements. The Communists prob-
ably will withhold acceptance of a mili-
tary protocol, however, until political
issues are resolved.
*
In an official statement broadcast on 17 March,
the Pathet Lao claimed that "US-Vientiane aircraft"
have conducted numerous "reconnaissance and bombing"
missions in violation of the peace agreement. The
statement warned that the US and Vientiane would
have to bear "full responsibility for all conse-
quences" if cease-fire "violations" did not cease.
This is the second official reaction in ten days
to US reconnaissance overflights.
Fighting continued in the south on 17 March as
Communist ground attacks forced government units to
pull back from positions near Paksong and Saravane.
In the central panhandle,
skirmishing near Thakhek and Dong
Force T-28s flew bombing missions in both the cen-
tral and southern regions.
Hene. -Lao Air
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CAMBODIA
Phnom Penh is calm following the bombing of
the presidential palace and brief student disorders
on Saturday. The state of emergency declared by
President .Lon Nol on 17 March remains in effect, as
does a dusk-to-dawn curfew. The city's security
forces are on maximum alert
There is confusion over the identity and mo-
tives of the Cambodian Air FOrce officer responsi-
ble for the bombing of the presidential palace.
He was recently expelled froM flight training for
disciplinary' reasons, but there is no evidence link-
him-and the insurgents. The government claims the
pilot is the husband of one of Sihanouk's daughters,
although the US Embassy cannot confirm this. Sev-
eral relatives of Sihanouk have, been arrested and
a number of other members of the royal family have
been removed from their military positions.
The attack on the palace was preceded by vio-
lence that broke out during a mass meeting of stu-
dents and teachers. The meeting had been called to
decide whether to continue protesting the govern-
ment's economic policies. Following a scuffle be-
tween students and soldiers, several grenades ex-
ploded, killing at least two students and injuring
many others. Reaction to both the bombing and the
student deaths so far has been mild.
5
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NOTE
Western Europe - North Vietnam: The nine EC
members have agreed to withhold recognition from
Hanoi for the time being because of reports of North
Vietnamese cease-fire violations. The delay in some
instances, at least, is likely to be a brief one.
A Dutch official has said The Hague will postpone
an announcement for only a few days. Italy, and
perhaps Belgium, may also grant early recognition.
The UK and West Germany are less eager to move.
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Top Secret
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