CEASE FIRE DEVELOPMENTS (FEBRUARY 20, 4:30 P.M. EST)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-31-1-16-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: February 20, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM
INFORMATION
BE L; R-L-T NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
February 20, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER
SUBJECT:
WILLIAM L. STEARMAN
Ceasefire Developments
(February 20, 4:30 p.m. EST)
-- The military situation did not change significantly, although
there are some initial reports that ARVN is making further progress
in the battle around Sa Huynh in southern Quang Ngai Province.
-- The focus of activity in MR II continues to be primarily along
Highway 14 between Pleiku and Kontum Provinces.
-- The level of activity in MR's III and IV is reportedly light.
-- There were 33 major and 145 minor violations reported during
the 24-hour period ending 0700 EST February 20.
Political
The following is a report on current ceasefire developments in South
Vietnam and on the present situation in Laos and Cambodia. This
report includes information received from State, Defense and CIA
as of 4:30 p.m. EST February 20, 1973.
Vietnam
Military
-- Initial Vietnamese political reactions to the President's new
"popular Front" have been predictably mixed. The opppsitionist
An Quang Buddhists are somewhat disturbed by the implication that
attendance at the February 17 meeting by four An Quang associated
senators meant that An Quang was formally represented. -~
-- Nguyen Ngoc Huy, respected head of the moderately oppositioni.st
Progressive Nationalist Movement, has told our Embassy officials
that he has agreed to participate, but remains deeply distrustful of
Thieu's intentions.
GDS
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nCRET
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Ceasefire Control
Four Party Joint Military Corrmmission
-- Reports from U. S. Region Chiefs indicate that ARVN commanders
and Province Chiefs are aware of thie joint appeal on the enforcement of
the ceasefire, but have received no official instructions in regard to the
appeal or its dissemination.
-- Team sites in Regions I, II and III were visited by the Ad Hoc
Committee inspection teams yesterday.
ICCS
-- As a result of the FPJMC Chief's meeting of 19 February, an
ICCS team from Region V was to conduct an investigation of the downing
of a U. S. helicopter on 16 February; however, reports indicate that only
the ICCS Region V Canadian representative accompanied the FPJMC
investigating team to the crash site.
POWs
-- There are 19, 808 enemy POWs interned in five operational
camps in South Vietnam.
-- As of February 20, a total of 6, 600 POWs have been repatriated
to the Communist side. An additional 10, 980 VC POWs were previously
released by the GVN under the "New Life" program.
-- On February 20 the ICCS POW Teams observed the out-processing
of 604 PRG prisoners from Phu Quoc Island. POW teams also observed
the release of 320 RVN prisoners at Loc Ninh and 204 PRG prisoners at
the Stell Bridge (Quang Tri) release post.
SECRET
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'SECRET
Withdrawal and Redeployment of U. S. /FWMAF
-- From anin-country total of 23, 516 U. S. troops on January 27,
9, 385 (about 40%) were reported withdrawn by 20 February.
-- From an in-country total of 35, 396 ROK troops on January 27,
15, 852 (about 45%) were reported withdrawn by February 20.
-- The Prime Minister's office announced that a ceasefire agree-
ment had been reached and would be signed at 2300*EST on February 20,
to take effect at 2400 EST on February 21.
-- The official text of the agreement has not yet been released. It is
presumably based on the Communist proposal of February 19 calling
for an immediate -ceasefire and bombing halt to be followed by discus-
sions on a political settlement and withdrawal of foreign forces. Reports
of rightist discontent with Souvanna's concessions continue.
-- Enemy forces attacking in the Bolovens Plateau have recovered
hillside positions two miles north of Pakse and a concerted attack on
the town is expected prior to the ceasefire. In the central panhandle,
North Vietnamese attacks'have forced friendly irregulars to pull back
from the immediate area of Muong Phalane. To the north, Communist
artillery has slowed government units seeking to move toward the edge
of the Plaine des Jarres, and with the reported move of major new NVA
elements into the area, Vang Pao's tenuous foothold east of the Plaine is
endangered.
-- A DRV press attache in Vientiane has told a journalist that after an
agreement Chinese troops would be withdrawn from Laos along with all
foreign troops. PRC Second Secretary, on the other hand, has indicated
that, in pursuance of bilateral agreements, the PRC will complete the
road being built to Ban Houei Sai on the Thai border.
Cambodia
-= The press is reporting that Lon Nol wants Sirik Matak to take over
as Vice President so that the Marshall can take his medical treatment
abroad. However, there is still no indication when the log jam concerning
the Vice Presidency will be broken, with Lon Non and Hang Thun Hak still
reported opposed to the idea.
SECRET
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SECRET
-- Press reports indicate that some 2, 000 teachers have gone on strike
in Phnom Penh to reinforce their demands for a cost of living allowance.
In Battambang, demonstrations and some looting are reported by the press.
These actions are in response to the Government's boost in fuel prices and
price rises for most other commodities.
-- Lon Nol addressed the nation by radio to request calm and to urge
that protests be channeled through authorized channels.
and the Mekong.
-- FANK:now appears to have sufficient troops to clear enemy units
from around Neak Luong and to reopen Route 1 between Phnom Penh
SECRET
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