THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 MAY 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993816
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 7, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
7 May, 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(11.(2).13)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
7 May 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Lebanon is quieting down and foreign mediators are
now trying to get the government and the fedayeen
to the negotiating table. (Page 1)
West German and Soviet officials are setting the
stage for Brezhnev's visit to Bonn next month.
(Page 2)
Mexican terrorists are now asking for a cash ransom
for the return of US Consul General Leonhardy.
(Page 4)
The latest Mekong River convoy has arrived in Phnom
Penh after losing one ship. (Page 4)
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LEBANON
It took a third cease-fire agreement, but
Lebanon is gradually quieting down, with only
isolated incidents reported yesterday outside of
Beirut. ?A steady stream of mediators from other
Arab states have been arriving in the capital to
help work out a new modus vivendi between the
government and the fedayeen.
The negotiations are likely to take
some time. The government has no in-
tention of trying to expel the fedayeen,
as King Husayn of Jordan did, and it is
reluctant to exert the force that would
be necessary to bring the guerrillas
under full control. It is unwilling,
nevertheless, to allow armed fedayeen
the run of its cities. Presumably,
government negotiators will try to
force the fedayeen to accept tighter
restrictions on their activities.
Government leaders may have difficulty
maintaining a tough negotiating posi-
tion. They will probably be under
pressure from other. Arab states to ease
their policy toward the Palestinians.
The fedayeen appear divided about what
to do next. Fatah leader Yasir Arafat
apparently wants to avoid a confronta-
tion with the government. He probably
fears that under such conditions, his
control over the fedayeen movement
might be weakened. Arafat also appears
to hope that a forthcoming attitude on
his part might induce the Lebanese to
press for fewer restrictions on the
fedayeen.
Others in the movement, however, are
pressing for a return to the arrangement
of 1969, which allowed the fedayeen rela-
tive freedom to operate throughout the
country. This .agreement had been whittled
down by the government because of the
Israeli retaliatory raids into Lebanon.
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WEST GERMANY USSR
? German and Soviet officials are busy setting
the stage for Brezhnev's visit to West Germany later
this month. Considerable emphasis has been placed
on negotiating a number of practical agreements on
economic, environmental, and cultural matters. Offi-
cials of both sides hope that these agreements can
be ready for signature while Brezhnev is in Bonn and
thus serve as tangible evidence of German-Soviet co-
operation.
The negotiations have been troubled. The
Soviets are making difficulties over West
German demands that the agreements apply.
to West Berlin. Chancellor Brandt, how-
ever, is anxious to avoid having to dis-
cuss Berlin problems with Brezhnev. He
apparently believes that if he must ask
Brezhnev to be more flexible on Berlin,
he would be put in the position of having
to make concessions to Moscow on other is-
sues. Brandt, therefore, has instructed
the Foreign Office to have Berlin-related
matters out of the way before Brezhnev
arrives.
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PHILIPPINES-MALAYSIA-INDONESIA
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NOTES
Mexico: After the government met all their
original demands, the kidnapers of Consul General
Leonhardy have asked for more; this time one mil-
lion pesos ($80,000). Mexican officials are col-
lecting the money and will be ready to pay the
ransom this morning.
Cambodia: Despite traveling after dark and
under air cover, the latest Mekong River convoy was
attacked and lost one ship carrying airplane fuel
yesterday. Nine other vessels made it to Phnom
Penh after taking minor damage. Two crewmen were
wounded.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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