THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 30 MARCH 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993784
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 30, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
30 March 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(l ).(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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EYES ONLYi?F,DR T}-IE PRESIDENT
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
March 30, 1973
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
30 March 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The EC political committee will be discussing MBFR
for the first time today. This could lead to the
committee's eventually developing a distinctive
European position. (Page 1)
Soviets
(Page 2)
Tanaka has recommended liberalizing controls on
agricultural imports from the US, but is not push-
ing them against tough opposition. (Page 3)
Laos
(Page 4)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MBFR-EC
For the first time MBFR will be on the agenda
of the EC political committee when it meets today.
The committee will informally explore how MBFR
problems might later be formally considered without
harming the NATO consultations. Withdrawal of pre-
vious French and West German opposition is making
the discussion possible.
Bonn says it hopes that the French are
searching for a way of joining the MBFR
talks without losing face, but it is
more likely that Paris sees an opportu-
nity to impress its negative view on
other EC members.
The two-month disagreement over Hungary's
role has tended to exacerbate the Euro-
peans' fears that MBFR might turn into
a bilateral US-USSR exchange that would
not pay sufficient attention to their
security. Opening the door to MBFR dis-
cussions in the EC committee could trans-
form it into a forum for developing a
distinctive European position.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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USSR - YEMEN (ADEN)
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JAPAN
Prime Minister Tanaka has recommended liberal-
ization of controls on agricultural imports from
the US, but he is not pressing hard against recal-
citrant elements of his government. The Minister
of Agriculture and Forestry appears totally opposed
to relaxed restrictions, and opposition remains
strong elsewhere in the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party.
Even, if Tanaka should want to override
his minister, it is doubtful that he
could get the necessary support from the
Diet.
The prime minister is already under heavy
domestic criticism for his failure to
control inflation and correct domestic
ills. The expansion of agricultural im-
ports would provoke increased criticism,
and would cost Tanaka further crucial
support.
3
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AREA OF
MAIN MAP
Vientiane
LAOS: Plaine des
47.17, a
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Jarres Area
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Intercepted Communist messages indicate that
North Vietnamese units are planning to launch ,a
major effort within the next few days to dislodge
a government force from positions near Tha Viang,
southeast of the Plaine des Jarres. Several gov-
ernment battalions moved into this area late last
month when the Communists forced them out of posi-
tions farther north. yang Pao has since reinforced
the units and now has some 2,000 men in the vicinity
of Tha Viang.
The North Vietnamese apparently view the
buildup of government forces near Tha.
Viang.as an encroachment on territory that
was nominally under Communist control at
the time of the cease-fire.
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North Korea: Pyongyang has purchased at least
600,000 tons of corn, wheat, and flour from the
West for delivery this year. This is double its
normal grain imports from all sources and well
above the previous record high of 500,000 tons in
1966. The purchases may reflect a poor harvest
last year as well as a possible drop in imports
from the USSR, which has usually supplied about
half of North Korea's foreign grain.
East -, West Germany: Despite the warmer at-
mosphere of the latest bilateral talks on March 22,
little progress was made. West German State Sec-
retary Grabert came away with the impression that
Pankow still wants to slow the pace of negotiations.
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Top Secret
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