THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 SEPTEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993507
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 7, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100070001-6
The President's Daily Brief
7 September 1972
45
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100070001-6
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100070001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
.7 September 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
South Vietnamese forces have been driven from a
hilltop position in Quang Tin Province in MR-1.
The heavy flow of infiltration groups earmarked for
South Vietnam's two northernmost provinces appar-
ently continues. (Page 1)
Finland has become the first Western European coun-
try to initial a treaty for full diplomatic rela-
tions with East Germany. (Page 2)
We have received reports of work stoppages in Mos-
cow factories. (Page 3)
Havana has agreed to release two ships of Panama-
nian registry captured last December and one of the
crewmen. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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DEMILITARIZED ZONE
SOUTH
VIETNAM
SOUTH
CHINA
SEA
Kontum/
'
.Ple Nerririg -'7?V
ft/ 1;1
-
?11
Pleiku r
h An e
I. P ei,M
1 miles
?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
South Vietnamese forces have been driven from
a hilltop position 12 miles west of Tam Ky in Quang
Tin Province. Two companies from the South Vietnam-
ese 2nd Division, who were supporting territorial
forces defending the hill, broke and ran early yes-
terday, allowing the Communists to seize the posi-
tion. The Communists apparently are continuing to
move toward nearby Tien Phuoc district town, which
was the target of an enemy rocket and mortar attack
early yesterday.
In the central highlands, government forces re-
pelled a battalion-size attack near the Ngo Trang
resettlement camp seven miles north of Kontum City.
Early yesterday, North Vietnamese forces shelled
and assaulted a South Vietnamese field position six
miles northeast of Thanh An district town; they
briefly penetrated the defensive perimeter but were
forced to pull back. Elsewhere in Pleiku Province,
the enemy shelled the Plei Me, Duc Co, and Plei Mrong
ranger camps and several artillery bases.
There were no significant developments on the
Quang Tri battlefront or in the Que Son Valley.
In the past few days intercepts from the Vinh
area have reflected the passage of more than a dozen
infiltration groups.
These groups appear to be a continuation
of the unusually heavy flow that began
earlier in the summer. Roughly 40,000
troops are now estimated to have started
the trek south since early July, and ap-
proximately 35,000 of these are earmarked
for South Vietnam's two northernmost prov-
inces. Most of the others are going to
southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia.
These men are in addition to the organized
units that have crossed the DMZ--most re-
cently the 312th Division.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FINLAND EAST GERMANY
Yesterday Finland became the first country in
Western Europe to initial a treaty for full diplo-
matic relations with East Germany.
Finland plans to sign the
agreement early next month and it would come into
force 30 days later. The treaty provides for full
diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level
and East German recognition of Finnish neutrality.
It also calls for bilateral negotiations on "juridi-
cal and economic questions dating from World War
II"--presumably including the touchy subject of
reparations for German war damage in Finland.
Finland and West Germany do not have
diplomatic relations, and Helsinki's de-
cision to push ahead with Pankow reflects
a significant change in policy for which
the USSR has long argued. Moscow may
have enticed the Finns in exchange for a
green light to reach a free trade agree-
ment with the EC.
West Germany had urged the Finns to hold
off until the conclusion of negotiations
between the two German states aimed at
clarifying their own bilateral relations.
This effort having failed, we expect that
Bonn will react only bg reiterating the
policy of not beginning formal negotia-
tions with Finland until an inter-German
treaty is concluded.
Although the Finnish move is not likely
to initiate a flurry of recognition of
Pankow by other Western European coun-
tries, all other Scandinavian governments
are interested. Sweden's Social Demo-
cratic government has hinted that it may
announce an intention to recognize East
Germany at its party congress next month.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
A work stoppage has occurred in one Moscow fac-
tory, according to a report received by the US Em-
bassy in Moscow. In addition, the Belgian commer-
cial counselor told the embassy that strikes are
"rotating" from one factory to another each day.
Slowdowns and stoppages occurred in similar
circumstances in 1962--when meat prices
were increased--and in the following year
after a disastrous harvest. We doubt that
Soviet workers are well enough organized
to stage a "rotating" stoppage. The ap-
pearance of even scattered strikes at this
time suggests worker concern that food sup-
plies this fall and winter will be inade-
quate, despite the government's recent as-
surances.
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CUBA PANAMA
Havana has agreed to release two ships of Pana-
manian registry and one of the crewmen it captured
last December and accused of involvement in exile
operations. Cuba reached the agreement with Pana-
manian University rector Romulo Escobar Betancourt,
who recently led a 63-member student delegation on
an extensive visit to Cuba. An official in the Pana-
manian Embassy in Washington has indicated that the
transfer will take place in mid-October.
Escobar told the Panamanian press that Havana
had agreed to "consider" the status of the two pris-
oners being retained--another crewman and Jose Villa,
the US citizen who was captain of one of the ships.
The agreement fits in with Havana's current
efforts to improve its image in the hemi-
sphere and to increase its links with Latin
American governments. Unofficial ties be-
tween Cuba and Panama have become closer
in recent months, but formal recognition
does not appear imminent.
4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
USSR?Cuba:
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Top Secret
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