THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 SEPTEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977692
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 21, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
21 September 1970
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 September 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The situation in Jordan is discussed on Page 1.
In Cambodia, the reinforced government column remains
stalled in its efforts to drive north to Kompong
Thom. (Page -3)
Peace advocates in South Vietnam are again moving to
challenge the Saigon government. (Page 4)
In Laos, the Communists continue their hard line on
opening peace talks with Vientiane. (Page 5)
Prague has publicly asserted that talks with Bonn
are scheduled to open next month. (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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JORDAN: Current Situation
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JORDAN
King Husayn has appealed for US military assist-
ance to counter an invasion of Syrian tanks into
northern Jordan. Early this morning he requested
immediate air strikes on the Syrian forces. Later
he added that although he felt an air strike would
tip the balance, in the event that communications
broke down the US would have his "advice and author-
ity to land." The King asserted that as a result
of the "massive" Syrian invasion northern forces
were disjointed and Irbid occupied, with a "disas-
trous" effect on tired troops in and around Amman.
? A Syrian armored brigade first crossed the Jor-
danian border at Ramtha yesterday morning. Accord-
ing to Jordanian Governor General Majali, Jordanian
armor pushed the brigade back across the border
after knocking out some 30 Syrian tanks, but later
in the day Syrian forces made a second push toward
Irbid. Jordanian armor engaged them at a cross-
roads about five miles south of Ramtha. The Jor-
danians have apparently also used Hunter aircraft
in the fighting.
Although the Jordanians are extremely nervous
that the Iraqis may also intervene, so far the
Iraqis have avoided any involvement in the fighting.
(continued)
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Much of Amman, meanwhile, seems to be under
army control. The army is using tanks against
snipers, and heavy fighting continues in the area
of several refugee camps. The army has been unable
to get through to the area of the US Embassy.
The Egyptians are apparently continuing their
efforts to bring calm to Jordan. They have told US
officials that they contacted Syrian President Atasi
and informed him that Egypt did not agree with Syr-
ian intervention; the Syrians, however, merely de-
nied that they had intervened.
A cease-fire arranged through Egyptian media-
tion halted the fighting in Amman briefly Saturday.
There is still no word on the whereabouts or
condition of the hostages. Negotiations for their
release continue; according to Red Cross representa-
tives in Beirut, the Popular Front for the Libera-
tion of Palestine (PFLP) wants a formal US or four-
power guarantee that Israel will release a certain
number of fedayeen it now holds. The representa-
tives believe that the release of the hostages could
quickly follow such a guarantee, along with agree-
ments between the PFLP and Israel on the prisoners
to be released.
2
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Current Situation
THAILAND
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550045 9-70 -CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
The Cambodian Army task force, faced with Com-
munist harassing action, continues to put off re-
suming its northward drive to Kompong Thom. During
the weekend the main column, about 13 miles north
of Skoun, was subjected to several mortar attacks
and one limited ground assault.
The government force, now built up to 16 bat-
talions, can expect even greater resistance if it
breaks out of its present area and approaches ?its
first major objective, the village of Tang Kouk.
Cambodian communications indicate that large num-
bers of Communist troops are moving from Kompong
Thom and Prek Kak to reinforce elements of the Viet
Cong 275th Regiment in its defense of the village.
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
A prominent southern member of the opposition
in the Lower House of the National Assembly, Ngo
Cong Duc, has called for a provisional government
to organize elections in an effort to get a peace
settlement.. Duc, editor of the widely read-news-
paper Tin Sang:, is.personally'respected by many of
his more moderate Assembly colleagues, even though
they disagree with his extreme positions. His pro-
posals are being widely publicized and are likely
to trouble the government.
In addition, the militant An Quang Buddhists
have sent a delegation to a peace conference to be
held in Kyoto, Japan.
So far, the Saigon government has main-
tained a hard Zine against independent
peace proposals, and it has generally
succeeded in discouraging would-be peace
proponents, such as retiring Senator Don,
from appealing to the widespread war
weariness in South Vietnam. The success
of the An Quang - backed slate in the re-
cent Senate elections, however, may have
encouraged both Due and the An Quang to
test the government's firmness again.
In the first official reaction to Duc's pro-
posal, a government TV commentator said its advo-
cates "have unmasked themselves as Communist agents
Some moderate politicians have also condemned Duc's
proposal as beneficial only to the Communists. If
the government takes harsh measures toward Duc,
however, new frictions could arise between the re-
gime and the Assembly.
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LAOS
Communist chief Souphanouvong has rejected
Vientiane's latest proposal on the designation of
its chief representative to any discussions on the
Communists' six-month old offer to open peace talks.
The government had offered Pheng Phongsavan as the
personal representative of Prince Souvanna Phouma
in his capacity as prime minister. This fell short
of Pathet Lao demands fora, personal plenipotentiary
in Souvanna's capacity as a prince of the realm
?
rather than as head of a government they do not
recognize.
Despite this continued verbal fencing,
either side could still find compelling
reasons to compromise. The government's
forces are in a poorer tactical position
than at this time last year, and could
come under heavy pressure with the open-
ing of the dry season next month. Hanoi,
for its part, may be loath to enter into
another season of costly struggle in Laos
when it has more important wars to fight
elsewhere. It thus may still wish a
limited settlement that would lower the
level of its involvement.
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CZECHOSLOVAKIA - WEST GERMANY
Prague has asserted that official talks with
Bonn are scheduled to begin next month. Rude Pravo,
the main party daily, cited unnamed sources in Bonn
to support the claim. The paper asserted that nego-
tiations should proceed smoothly because there are
no territorial problems between the two countries,
and because Bonn had already indicated its willing-
ness to nullify the 1938 Munich agreement carving up
Czechoslovakia.
In pressing for early political talks, Prague
has in effect now jettisoned East Germany as a si-
lent negotiating partner. The US Embassy in Prague
notes that until recently Pankow had succeeded in
blocking a Czech - West German settlement. Rude
Pravo now predicts the "greatest difficulties" in
normalizing relations between the two Germanies,
and seems to recommend that Pankow look to the re-
cent Moscow-Bonn nonaggression pact for guidance.
Although West German sources in Prague
say that no official contacts have yet
been made, there are signs that either
government intends to take the initia-
tive soon on opening formal talks. When-
ever talks begin, they probably will not
make much headway before a Polish - West
German accord, expected in November.
Bonn's Minister for All-German Affairs
has publicly warned, for example, that
numerous practical and legal problems
remain to be resolved before the Munich
agreement can be nullified.
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Top Secret
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