THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 AUGUST 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993908
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 21, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030004-1
The President's Daily Brief
21 August 1973
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A611706030004-1
Exempt from general
declassification scheduk of E.O. 11652
exemption category 58( 11.125.131
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030004-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 August 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Disaffected Chilean Air Force officers have backed
down and accepted the replacement of their commander,
but Allende now faces an apparently worsening strike
situation. (Page 1)
The collapse of General Ma's attempt to overthrow
the Laotian Government should strengthen Souvanna's
hand in wrapping up a settlement with the Communists.
(Page 2)
The South Koreans are exploring alternate sources of
military equipment in anticipation of the eventual
termination of US grant assistance. (Page 3)
A note on Juan Peron's speech kicking off his cam-
paign for the presidency appears on Page 4.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHILE
Yesterday evening, air force officers accepted
the replacement of their commander, General Ruiz,
after a tense day of defying the move as a trick by
President Allende. It is not clear why the disaf-
fected officers finally backed down.
The acquiescence of the military has be-
come a major asset to the President, who
appears increasingly to have accepted the
argument of his hardline allies that he
must destroy opponents of his government.
Allende's troubles are far from over, how-
ever, and today he faces an apparently
worsening strike situation. Just as nego-
tiators claimed yesterday that the crip-
pling 26-day truckers' strike was near
solution, shopkeepers, professionals, and
other union members announced that they
were starting strikes of varying duration.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
The collapse of General Ma's effort to
overturn the government should strengthen
Prime Minister Souvanna's hand in wrapping
up a settlement in Laos. Souvanna will
use the new momentum he has gained from
this incident to urge a quick end to right-
wing opposition to the draft accord. More-
over, the rightists now have no illusions
as to the firmness of US backing for Sou-
vanna and his efforts to form a new coali-
tion government.
Senior Communist negotiator Phoumi Vongvichit
expressed his gratitude to the US charge for the sup-
port which the US and the rightists had provided
Souvanna. Phoumi stated that the incident "had
clarified the situation" for the Communists.
Souvanna suspects that Ma's abortive coup was
part of a plot
to return former rightist strongman Phoumi Nosavan
to power.
Phoumi, an inveterate plotter, has been
living in exile in Bangkok since 1965 and
may well have been involved or given his
blessing to Ma's action. There is no
evidence, however, suggesting official
Thai complicity.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH KOREA
Seoul is exploring alternate sources of military
equipment in anticipation of the termination of US
grant assistance in the next few years. The South
Koreans appear primarily interested in developing a
domestic arms industry utilizing foreign technology
and capital.
South Korea began pilot munitions projects in
1972. These plants will probably start production
this year. During the Consultative Defense Meeting
in Seoul next month, President Pak plans to seek US
technical support for these projects as well as, tech-
nical training for the manufacture of heavy weapons.
During the annual meeting in Tokyo next month
of Korean and Japanese ministers, 25X1
to explore direct negotiations with the 25X1
Japanese Government for arms purchases and rights to
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Tokyo has a strict policy against providing
military equipment to divided countries and
even a decision to grant the South Koreans
licenses to produce Japanese weapons would
probably arouse considerable domestic po-
litical opposition. Moreover, Tokyo's
irritation with the kidnaping of Korean
political exile Kim Tae-chung in Japan
last week is likely to cast a pall over
the ministerial meeting, if it is held at
all. The South Koreans admire Japanese
military equipment and technology, however,
and will not be easily discouraged.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700030004-1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Argentina: In a speech formally accepting his
presidential nomination and kicking off his campaign,
Juan Peron made a strong pitch for the support of
moderates who form the backbone of his diverse move-
ment. Peron urged the youth wing which has recently
grown disillusioned with him, his advisers, and his
policies--all of which they regard as too "right
wing"--to be patient until "we are firmly in power."
He also stressed that reconstruction cannot be ac-
complished overnight.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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L.
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Top Secret
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