THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 APRIL 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993805
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 24, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T0093-6A011600010019-8
The President's Daily Brief
24 April 1973
L5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010019-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010019-8
Exempt from general
declassification scheduk of E.O. 11652
exemption category 58( I ),(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010019-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010019-8
, FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
24 April 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The North Vietnamese are repairing numerous small
airfields in South Vietnam and Laos and apparently
intend to use some of them for light transport air-
craft. (Page 1)
The European currency float seems to be working, but
large-scale interventions by central banks have been
necessary. (Page 3)
The arrival of Moroccan troops in Syria to partici-
pate in the "battle" against Israel could raise prob-
lems for the US. (Page 4)
The Cambodian legislature yesterday approved the
creation of the proposed supreme political council
and endorsed its extra-constitutional authority.
(Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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n Nakay Neua
NORTH V NA M
Gulf of Tonkin
VIENTIANE
Dong Hoi
DMZ
ong I-la
he S
THAILAND
BANGKOK
+Loc
Ninh
Thin
Ng ? n
Gulf of Thailand
SAIGON
? Airfield Reconstruction
+ Airfield
+ Airfield under repair
IOC/MILES
South China Sea
554330 4-73 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
INDOCHINA
The North Vietnamese are repairing numerous
small airfields in Communist-controlled territory
in South Vietnam and Laos. In most instances, the
repairs are relatively simple, such as the filling
of bomb craters. The most extensive construction
has taken place at Khe Sanh, where the Communists
have set up a radar site, rebuilt two runways, and
surrounded the base with an elaborate air defense
network.
Intercepts indicate
the North Vietnamese intend to use some of these
fields for light transport aircraft.
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All of the airfields are located along
major infiltration corridors or near large
Communist troop concentrations, and air
service would greatly facilitate the trans-
fer of key personnel between Hanoi and the
field. Moreover, the North Vietnamese
could use the airfields to deliver high
priority cargo such as medicine and special
weapons. Hanoi would probably claim such
flights were by "civilian" aircraft and
did not violate the cease-fire accords.
In recent months the North Vietnamese have
rebuilt a number of airfields in southern
North Vietnam, and transports are now fly-
ing scheduled runs between these bases and
Hanoi. Last January, the North Vietnamese
and Pathet Lao renovated the Sam Neua air-
field in Laos, and it is now used by Com-
munist planes from Hanoi as well as from
Vientiane.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY DEVELOPMENTS
The European currency float seems to be work-
ing, but large-scale interventions by central banks
have been necessary. The Bundesbank, for example,
has sold over $600 million worth of French, Belgian,
and Scandinavian currencies in order to keep the
mark within the band.
Such support plus Bonn's extremely tight
money policy and controls on inflows of
capital, have strengthened the mark,
which is no longer the weakest currency
in the joint float. If West German ex-
ports live up to expectations, the mark
should strengthen even more.
Serious inflation in the Netherlands has hurt
the guilder, now the weakest currency in the float.
Government controls on capital, furthermore, have
encouraged speculators to sell, driving the price
of the guilder down even further. So far in the
float, the central bank has spent $50 million to
support the guilder.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010019-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MOROCCO-SYRIA-ISRAEL
The arrival of Moroccan troops in Syria to partic-
ipate in the "battle" against Israel could raise
problems for the US. The troops could be stationed
in areas used by the fedayeen for staging raids into
Israel. In the past, Israel?holding Syria respon-
sible for letting fedayeen pass through Syrian
lines to attack Israel--has not hesitated to retal-
iate against the Syrian military.
Tel Aviv will not let Morocco's ties with the US
deter it from similar retaliation against Moroccan
troops. But Israeli awareness of the possibility
of retaliation against the 25,000 Jews in Morocco
will place some restraint on Israel, and Tel Aviv
might issue a warning rather than attack at the
first sign of Moroccan support for fedayeen attacks
on Israel. If Moroccan and Israeli forces clash,
the Israelis might ask the US to intercede with
King Hassan to ensure the protection of Moroccan
Jews.
The Moroccan Jewish community, which has tradition-
ally relied on the monarchy for protection, is al-
ready fearful that it will be the target of mob
violence when the first Moroccan soldier is killed
on the Syrian front.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Cambodia: The legislature yesterday approved
the creation of the proposed supreme political coun-
cil and endorsed its extra-constitutional authority.
Pakistan: The government is campaigning ac-
tively to persuade its major creditors to absolve
Pakistan of debts of the former East Pakistan. The
campaign emphasizes Islamabad's position that its
obligation for these debts ends on June 30.
I Islamabad is anxious to resolve the
issue quickly because its major aid donors have made
new pledges of development aid contingent on a set-
tlement.
Libya: President Qadhafi's recent call for a
"new revolution" has triggered fear and uncertainty,
especially among members of the Libyan educated
elite, which appears to be the primary target of
the purge. Security forces have raided the homes
of a number of prominent Libyans, and several re-
portedly have been arrested. By striking at the
\educated middle class, Qadhafi may hope to silence
critical members of the university and professional
communities. He may also hope to stimulate the
lethargic bureaucracy by removing their sense of
personal security. Qadhafi's cultural revolution
has not yet disrupted the operation of foreign oil
companies.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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