THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 27 MARCH 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977370
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 27, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
The President's Daily Brief
27 March 1970
47
Top Secret 50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
27 March 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
56Xil
(Page 1)
the Communists have begun
The government
using troops to maintain order
2)
- South Vietnamese
to organize pro-
is apprehen-
in affected
In Cambodia,
Sihanouk demonstrations.
sive and is
areas. (Page
Cambodian
(Page 3)
North Vietnam-
ese troops in
experiencing
(Page 4)
West German
the vicinity of Long Tieng appear to be
difficulty in sustaining their offensive.
(Page
5)
Lebanon is still tense, with Christian opposition to
fedayeen operations continuing.
50X1
(Page 6) 50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL-USSR-EGYPT
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
ii
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
The first signs of organized pro-Sihanouk sen-
timent appeared yesterday when Communist elements
stirred up anti-government demonstrations in four
provinces to the east of Phnom Penh, all of which
border on South Vietnam. Government apprehension
about the situation is reflected in orders to with-
draw some troops from the South Vietnamese frontier
in order to defend affected provincial capitals.
All military regions have been ordered to halt traf-
fic headed for Phnom Penh. The national capital air-
port was closed again today, and two bridges spanning
the Mekong connecting Phnom Penh with eastern prov-
inces were sealed with tanks.
In the capital and other areas of the country the
situation is still quiet as the new leaders tighten
their control.
North Vietnamese and Viet Cong diplomatic repre-
sentatives in Phnom Penh were called in by ?the new
government for talks yesterday. Neither side has
formally broken relations yet
Despite the seemingly substantial degree
of Communist Chinese inspiration for Siha-
nouk's recent pronouncements, Peking, un-
like Hanoi, has not explicitly given public
support for Sihanouk's return to power.
The Chinese are thus in a position to sup-
port and perhaps help arrange a modus viv-
endi between the Vietnamese Communists and
the new Cambodian Government. If this
should prove impossible, the Chinese prob-
ably would back Hanoi and Sihanouk in more
forceful measures.
The Soviets are clearly unhappy over the
prospects of a wider Indo-Chinese war, as
indicated by their failure even to acknowl-
edge Sihanouk's recent inflammatory state-
ments. They are also concerned Zest China
turn the situation in Cambodia to its ad-
vantage. Until the situation clarifies,
Moscow will probably remain on the side-
lines.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
50X1
)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM - CAMBODIA
There is increasing evidence of cooperation be-
tween South Vietnamese and Cambodian forces in cross-
border operations against Communist base areas.
\Since last weekend's large South
Vietnamese incursion into Cambodia, efforts have
been made to seal theborder where possible so that
Communist units can be entrapped if they attempt to
leave Cambodia,
The Communists, meanwhile, are apparently still
adjusting to the uncertainties of the situation in
Cambodia. The, enemy headquarters in South Vietnam
(COSVN) has reportedly ordered all Communist military
units in border areas to remain stationary, avoid
clashes with Cambodian troops, and.help create an
atmosphere_conducive to negotiations .with the new
government in Phnom Penh. In some areas along the
border, however, COSVN has called' for the transfer
of ordnance, foodstuffs, and medicalfacilities to
South Vietnam to prevent critical supplies from fall-
ing into the hands of.Cambodian military forces.
Although there has been no hard evidence
to date of any significant enemy troop
withdrawals from Cambodia into Vietnam,
reports of COSVN's intention to relocate
its headquarters facilities from Cambodia
northward to the sanctuary of the Lao pan-
handle persist. In most areas along the
border, however, the Communists appear to
be adopting a wait-and-see attitude pend-
ing instructions from Hanoi on precisely
how to cope with the new situation.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
50X1
)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Prime Minister Souvanna is canvassing various
political and regional factions in an attempt to de-
velop a consensus on how best to deal officiall
with the Lao Communist seace ?ro osal.
On the military front, the North Vietnamese ap-
pear to be experiencing some difficulty in sustain-
ing operations in the vicinity of Long Tieng,
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
? FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
WEST GERMANY
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
/1 .
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LEBANON
Tension remains high in Beirut. Sporadic firing
continued yesterday around the headquarters of the
Christian Phalanges Party, while the commandos were
reported to be mobilizing Palestinian militia in
various refugee camps.
6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100230001-2