THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 17 MAY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992643
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 17, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
17 May 1971
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
17 May? 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Communist attacks in Laos have forced the abandon-
ment of a number of government bases on the Bolovens
Plateau. (Page 1)
Developments in Egypt are discussed on Page 3.
The Communist Chinese are making an effort to cul-
tivate the Malaysians and Filipinos. (Page 4)
The Pakistani Army is reported to be pursuing a
policy of extermination against Hindus in East Pak-
istan. (Page 5)
A Soviet submarine tender appears headed toward the
Caribbean. (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Communist Gains on the Bolovens Plateau
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LAOS
A series of sharp coordinated Communist attacks
on 16 May forced the government to abandon a number
of strategically located bases on the. Bolovens Pla-
teau. Among the positions lost were Ban Houei Sai,
which guarded the northern approaches to the plateau,
and Ban Phak Kout, whose loss cuts land access to
Paksong town.. via Route 23. So far, no attack has
been reported against Ban HOuei Kong; the last major
irregular base on the plateau, but Communist troops
have been seen in the vicinity.
At lastreport, Communist troops have captured
Paksong itself and the government defenders were
forced to abandon their positions nearby. Reinforce-
ments are being moved in from Pakse
to establish blocking positions
at the junction of Routes 23 .and 231A., This is the
first time the Communists have hit Paksong, the
largest. population center on the Bolovens, although
it has been cited as a possible target. for several
years,
The Bolovens has been relatively quiet
since February and March, when the Commu-
nists forced government irregulars to
abandon bases on the eastern rim overlook-
ing the Se Kong infiltration corridor. A
renewed offensive has been expected for
several weeks, but government commanders
thought there might be further delays be-
cause of recent Pathet Lao defections in
the area.
The current drive is the latest phase of
a general campaign in the Bolovens area
that began in 1968 when the Communists re-
entered the Se Done Valley and cut off the
provincial capital of Saravane. Since then
the Communists have taken Saravane, Attopeu,
and other government positions around the
edge of the plateau while eroding the gov-
ernment's once firm control of the Bolovens
itself.
It is still too early to tell whether the
present Bolovens offensive is part of a
developing wider offensive in south Laos.
Reinforced Communist units have been in-
creasingly active along Route 9, where they
are currently threatening the government
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towns of Dong Hene and Keng Kok. Such an offensive
presumably would be designed to drive government
troops farther from the Communists' infiltration
corridor, perhaps as a belated response to irregular
harassment operations during Lam Son 719. The Com-
munists launched a ground assault against Dong Hene
early today but it is not yet clear whether this is
anything more than a probing action.
The coincidence of the attacks in the south with the
recent Communist-proposed cease-.fire raises' the pos-
sibility that a southern offensive would have polit-
ical objectives as well. The Communists might hope
that a threat in the south would increase pressure
on the government to negotiate on their terms. The
short-term impact, however, is likely to have the
opposite effect. Prime Minister Souvanna is likely
to react negatively to the Communist military pres-
sure in a letter he is preparing to send Pathet Lao
leader Souphanouvong later this week.
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EGYPT
All of the principals in the purge, as well as
a number of members of the. Arab Socialist. Union and
lesser government officials, are reported to have
been jailed or placed under, house arrest
The opening of investigations by Egyptian:
authorities yesterday tend to confirm ear-
lier indications that Sadat plans to bring
to trial some of those deposed. With his
swift action, Sadat has squelched,any coun-
termoves from his opponents, and his posi-
tion, at least in the short run, appears
to' have been strengthened.
War Minister Sadiq's prompt pledge of the
military's support suggests that Sadat had
the tacit blessing of the armed forces be-
fore his decisive moves last Thursday. One
of the purposes of his trip to the canal
zone on 11-12 May may have been to ensure
the indispensable backing of his key command-
level officers. Senior police officials,
whose former chief was the deposed minister
of interior Goma, have also pledged their
allegiance to Sadat.
Meanwhile, Egyptian officials have held a round
of meetings withleaders and representatives of sev-
eral Arab states, presumably for the purpose of-brief-
ing. them on the latest changes. Sudan and Syria have
issued statements of support. In Tel Aviv, Israeli
Defense Minister Dayan assessed developments in Egypt
as "very significant," but added that he did not be-
lieve that the upheaval was related to Cairo's policy
toward Israel. The Soviet press has carried a factual
account of the situation without comment.
There is no evidence to support press re-
ports that Moscow has suspended military
and economic assistance to Cairo, or that
it has recalled merchant ships en route
to Alexandria with military cargoes. Soviet
seaborne military deliveries to Egypt during
April and the first half of May have been
steady, although below the levels in Feb-
ruary and March when the Soviets were de-
livering additional advanced equipment to
improve Egypt's air defenses.
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COMMUNIST CHINA
In The President's Daily Brief of 14 May
we reported the favorable impact in Japan
of some deft diplomacy by the political
leader of the visiting Communist Chinese
ping pong team. The Chinese also seem to
be making a special effort to be friendly
to the Malaysians and the Filipinos.
A Malaysian trade delegation was recently ac-
corded a warm reception in Peking, including a meeting
with Chou En-lai. The visit followed several months
of diplomatic gesturing by both Kuala Lumpur and
Peking. The Chinese handling of the visit--including
the use of the term Malaysia without quotes for the
first time in official media--suggests Peking's- first
implicit acceptance of the legitimacy of the almost
eight-year-old federation.
A private Filipino trade delegation was also
received by Chou En-la! in Peking last week, and
Chou is reported to have commented on the possibility
of developing closer relations with Manila. Peking
extended typhoon relief aid to the Philippines last
November and has been refraining from direct attacks
on President Marcos in its official media.
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INDIA-PAKISTAN
The US consulate general in Dacca has received
a growing number of reports that the Pakistani Army
is systematically searching out and killing Hindu
males in East Pakistan.
This may be part of a,plan to rid East
Pakistan as completely as possibleof the
Hindu community which the army considers
to be'a subversive element. There were
at least ten million Hindus in East Pak-
istan before-the military crackdown'in-
late March; the army may hope that a cam-
paign of terror against them will force
most to flee to India.
These reports do not augur well for rela-
tions between Hindu and Muslim communities
in. neighboring Indian states. The refugee
influx, which now exceeds 2.6 million and
is continuing at the rate of 100,000 per-
sons daily., has already generated friction
between local.residents and refugees,- many'
of Whom are Muslim. News of fresh atroci-
ties against Hindus in East. Pakistan could
spark savage communal.violence:that Indian
authorities would find hard to control.
The Indians are also worried that the ref-
ugee camps will become centers of discon-
tent vulnerable to leftist agitation,
thereby aggravating the already serious
problem posed by Naxalite extremists in
eastern India.
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NOTE
USSR: A Soviet submarine tender currently
about 900 miles southwest of the Canary Islands ap-
pears to be heading toward the Caribbean and could
arrive in Cuba late this week. The tender has been
in the Mediterranean and is the same ship that was
operating in Cuban waters until early April.
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The President's Daily Brief
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On the military front, government forces today abandoned a
Cable
base on the northern Bolovens Plateau--Ban Houei Sai--in the face
of stiff enemy pressure. Nearby, the town of Paksong has been
entered by Communist troops, and Lao commanders on the scene see
little hope of holding Paksong without massive air support. This
is the first time Paksong has been attacked by the Communists,
although it has been mentioned as a potential target for several
years. In addition to being at one time the largest popu3ation
center on the Bolovens, Paksong was used by the Communists to
purchase foodstuffs and other goods.
An offensive on the Bolovens has been expected for several
weeks, although government commanders thought that there might
be further delay because of recent Pathet Lao defections in the.
area. It appears to be part of a wider Communist offensive in
South Laos, that is also targeted against government positions
farther north near Dong Hene along. Route 9. The situation there
has been relatively quiet for the past several days, but the
Communists are making preparations for offensive operations.
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PDB SUNDAY CABLE
16 May 1971
LAOS
On the military front, the Communists early today
hit two government positions on the Bolovens Plateau.
(3 MAY 197i
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SUNDAY CABLE
16 May 1971
EGYPT
The atmosphere in Cairo two days after the purge re-
mains untroubled and Sadat still appears to have the situ-
ation well in hand. It is now clear that all of the
principals in the shakeup as well as a number of members
of. the Arab Socialist Union and lesser government officials
have been either jailed or placed under house arrest. In
so doing, Sadat has moved swiftly to prevent any counter-
moves from his opponents. His actions undoubtedly had at
least the tacit blessing of the military. One of the pur-
poses of his trip to the Canal Zone on Wednesday may have
been to ensure the indispensable backing of his key com-
mand-level officers.
Popular reaction in support of Sadat continues. Cairo
radio repojted yesterday that various groups of citizens
were demonstrating in. the capital and other parts of the
country throughout the day.
Meanwhile, Egyptian officials have held a round of
meetings in the past few days with representatives from
several Arab states, presumably for the purpose of explain-
ing the latest changes in Cairo. In Tel Aviv, Israeli De-
fense Minister Dayan assessed developments in Egypt as
"very significant" but expressed his belief that the up-
heaval was not related to Cairo's policy toward Israel.
The Soviet press has carried a factual account of the sit-
uation without comment.
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