THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 JUNE 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993841
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: June 5, 1973

Declassified in Part-Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA:RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
The President's Daily Brief
5 June 1973
L5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Exempt from general
declassification scheduk of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I 5,12).131
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
5 June 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The current visit of top North Vietnamese leaders
to Peking is described as an official "friendly"
occasion, but major substantive discussions are ex-
pected. (Page 1)
The Provisional Revolutionary Government may soon
set up a capital in South Vietnam, possibly in con-
nection with its 4th Anniversary on June 6. (Page 2)
All
major European currencies have recently appreci-
ated
sharply against the dollar, and European bank-
ers
are now fearful
that
the dollar will continue
to move downward for
some
time. (Page 3)
In Libya, the take-over of radio and television
stations by government-backed popular committees
last weekend is part of Qadhafi's continuing effort
to promote his "cultural revolution" and to silence
domestic critics of the scheduled merger with Egypt.
(Page 4)
Several recent incidents are troubling the generally
warm relations between Moscow and Baghdad. (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NORTH VIETNAM - CHINA
North Vietnamese party boss Le Duan and Premier Pham
Van Dong received a warm but not exceptional welcome
when they arrived in Peking yesterday. The visit
is described as an official "friendly" occasion,
but major substantive discussions are expected.
Le Duan has seldom gone abroad--and never before to
China on an official visit--even when matters of
great importance to North Vietnam have been under
discussion in foreign capitals. His participation
thus indicates that Hanoi attaches great importance
to the visit.
The two sides will probably review the whole range
of their relationship in the light of the Paris
Agreement and the US-Chinese rapprochement. The
North Vietnamese undoubtedly wish to assess what
effect the US-Chinese relationship will have on
Chinese long-term political, military, and economic
support for North Vietnam. Inclusion in Hanoi's
delegation of people responsible for economic and
military assistance negotiations with Peking indi-
cates that Chinese aid is an important topic.
Another question of major importance is the current
effort to strengthen and redefine the Paris Agree-
ment--an effort that more than once has sparked
expressions of unhappiness in Hanoi over pressure
from its big-power patrons. The two sides might,
for example, examine the possible forms of a nego-
tiated settlement in Cambodia. The Chinese may
also be pressing Hanoi to reduce its military pres-
ence in Cambodia and Laos.
Unofficial sources indicate that the North Viet-
namese will be going on to "other socialist coun-
tries," but this is not confirmed.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
V entle e
.1Jdon Thani
A
1NORTH
VIETNAM
Mu Gia Pats
? ;,,Dong Hoi
rvr
' Elan Karel Pee
?ii;
TCherkin.
/
A 1.7
I)
'-' L .A;O'S
- ? ?._
i:77 f a
l'e* ' 4'ltit'ila:`.:1
Pak/
: ?
, ? . 4, , 6.'14
- / :'.
Gulf of Tonkin
DEA HUTA. RIZ ED ZONE
()Pang Tri
??
OUANG
A, ?
....e??pa Nang
HAINAN
4
Stung re
X, ?Siern Reap
...,......? ? r
CAMBODIA
Tonle ,
a
. Kornpong Thorn
1 Phnom
*Penh
Ar,
TAY
NINH
Saigon* 44 ace' ?4
r
/ ?
Can Th
Jr-
South China Sea
190
NILES
554405 6-73
Declassified in Pal; - Sanittzed Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RD79T006'36A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
The Provisional Revolutionary Government may
soon set up a capital in South Vietnam, possibly in
connection with its 4th Anniversary on June 6.
Moscow announced yesterday that its am-
bassador to Burma will now also be accredited to
the PRG.
The Communists apparently have considered
a number of sites for a capital including
Binh Long and Tay Ninh provinces, but
some location in Quang Tri Province seems
most likely. The Communists reportedly
are rebuilding Dong Ha, north of Quang
Tri City, as a "provincial capital," but
the town could also serve at least tem-
porarily as a "national" capital.
Establishment of a capital, of course,
would be designed to underscore the PRG's
"legitimacy" in international circles as
well as to counter the argument that the
PRG has none of the formal trappings of
a government.
The level of military violence throughout the
country has increased significantly during the past
three days, with action especially heavy in the delta.
A major battle was fought about 40 miles southwest
of Saigon in Dinh Tuong Province, where the South
Vietnamese suffered 29 killed, 53 wounded, and 15
missing.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY DEVELOPMENTS
The dollar continued its sharp decline yester-
day in light trading on European markets. In West
Germany the dollar closed 6 percent below the mark-
dollar rate of a week earlier. The pound sterling
also rose sharply against the dollar and gold con-
tinued its marked advance to $123.50 on the London
market, up $5.75 since last Friday.
All of the major European currencies have
now appreciated sharply against the dol-
lar. The German mark has made the strong-
est gain, advancing 8.5 percent since
March 19. The Japanese yen, on the other
hand, has risen only 0.3 percent since
March.
Despite the substantial appreciation of
European currencies, there has been lit-
tle official reaction. The strength of
the present economic boom in Europe has
lessened European concern about the im-
pact of falling dollar prices on their
trade position. Growing domestic demand
will presumably be adequate to compensate
for losses in foreign sales. The present
system of floating exchange rates has
also eliminated the need for unpopular
central bank intervention in support of
the dollar.
European bankers are now fearful that the
dollar will continue to move downward for
some time. Even though economic indica-
tors have disclosed no substantial new
negative factors recently, concern over
US political and economic stability, ris-
ing speculative interest in gold, and
ebbing confidence in the dollar as a re-
serve and trading vehicle are continuing
to weaken the dollar.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LIBYA
The take-over of radio and television stations by
government-backed popular committees last weekend
is part of Qadhafi's continuing effort to promote
his "cultural revolution" and to silence domestic
critics of the scheduled merger with Egypt on
September 1. Qadhafi has *long been concerned that
the stations did not have sufficient revolutionary
fervor; his move may have been triggered by their
coverage of an interview in which Tunisian Presi-
dent Bourguiba expressed skepticism about the merger.
Since Qadhafi launched his campaign in April to
give the people a greater sense of participation in
the "revolution," popular committees have been
formed in most government institutions, public
utilities, and private companies. Some, in fact,
seem solely concerned with rooting out "subversives."
In the largely American-owned oil companies they
have demanded the dismissal of certain employees
and the promotion of others. Qadhafi has promised
to arm the committees, but has not yet done so.
The US Embassy reports that the cultural revolution
has disrupted life in the capital and that govern-
ment functionaries avoid making decisions for fear
of making the wrong one. Rumors of arrests have
contributed to the confusion and uncertainty,
although Qadhafi claims that only a few students,
Communists, and members of the Muslim Brotherhood
have actually been jailed.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-IRAQ
Several recent incidents are troubling the
generally warm relations between Moscow and Baghdad.
--An Iraqi official has publicly advocated
closer ties with international oil companies
and consumer countries.
--Two weeks ago Iraq closed the Soviet, East
German, and Czechoslovak cultural centers be-
cause reciprocal rights had not been granted.
The Soviet and Czechoslovak centers have now
reopened
These moves seem mainly to mark Iraqi
efforts to remind Moscow of Baghdad's
continuing independence, despite closer
economic and military relations. Bagh-
dad may also be miffed by Soviet efforts
to court Iran--most recently shown by
the reception given the Iranian war min-
ister in Moscow yesterday.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-R?DP79T-0-0936A011600010055-8
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010055-8