THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 15 MARCH 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992529
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 15, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
15 March 1971
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
15 March 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The implications of the Social Democratic Party's
setback in the West Berlin elections are discussed
on Page 1.
In Cambodia, an officer of the elite Khmer Krom forces
says he and some of his colleagues believe that Sink
Matak is planning to move against Lon Nol's followers.
(Page 2)
/South Vietnair
(Page 4)
The no-confidence motions introduced against Israeli
Prime Minister Meir have virtually no chance of being
carried. (Page 6)
Mujibur Rahman told the press today that he is taking
over the administration of nearly all of East Pakistan.
(Page 7)
Turkish President Sunay met with military and polit-
ical leaders over the weekend in his search for an
acceptable coalition government. (Page 8)
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WEST BERLIN
The ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) suf-
fered a substantial decline in yesterday's municipal
election. The party barely maintained its majority
with 50.4 percent of the vote, a loss of 6.5 percent.
The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
gained over five percent at the polls, and the small
Free Democratic Party also made advances. West Ber-
lin voters again repudiated the Communist Party, al-
though its 2.3 percent did represent a fractional
gain.
Some of the SPD losses are probably attri-
butable to the uninspiring leadership of
Schuetz, whose job may now be in some
jeopardy. The election outcome is likely
to refuel the strife between moderate and
left-wing factions of the SPD, who will
blame each other for the setback.
The Free Democratic Party, which during
the campaign had cited its restraining in-
fluence on Ostpolitik in government coun-
cils, has strengthened its position as a
coalition partner of the SPD in both Bonn
and Berlin.
The chances for a better SPD showing yes-
terday were impaired by the failure of the
West Berlin and East German negotiators to
reach agreement on 12 March on Easter visits
through the wall. The East German repre-
sentative continued to press for a broad
bilateral agreement on relations, which
would derogate from the four-power Berlin
talks, but he did not categorically reject
a one-time Easter visit arrangement.
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CAMBODIA
An o of the elite Khmer Krom (KK) forces
told a US attache in Phnom Penh on Saturday
that he an er KK officers believe that Matak is
planning on 18 March to arrest all of Lon Nol's key
followers--including KK leaders. The officer claimed
that such a "royalist" move had been expected for
several weeks, and described detailed plans to use
KK units in and around Phnom Penh to contest such a
coup.
The officer went on to say that various KK com-
manders regard the government's recent orders to
send their troops on field combat assignments as a
ploy to tie down those forces so that they could not
interfere with Matak's anticipated power play. As
a result of this suspicion, some KK units in Kompong
Cham have balked at orders to go on operations along
Route 7 in that province.
Since Lon Nol's absence the Khmer Krom
units apparently have been largely ignored
by Matak and the military establishment.
This communications gap, and the growing
uncertainty about Lon Nol's future, appear
to have fired KK apprehensions and suspi-
cions about Matak's political intentions.
There is no evidence to support the rumors
about a Matak coup. It is possible that
the KK leaders themselves are spreading
rumors to justify a move against Matak or,
short of that, to impress on him that they
intend to play a significant political,
as well as military role. It is also pos-
sible that the Communists may have planted
these rumors to sow dissension.
Whatever the case, Matak may have already
allayed KK fears on this matter. Another
KK officer told the same US attache that
several KK officers were to meet with
Matak last Saturday to discuss their con-
cern about possible events on the 18th.
Ambassador Swank's representations to
some KK leaders, via the attache, that they
have nothing to fear from Matak and that
the US fully supports the present govern-
ment apparently has had some calming ef-
fect on the situation. These leaders in-
dicated to the attache that they were
fully prepared to accept Matak's orders.
(continued)
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Nevertheless, the danger still exists that
in this charged atmosphere some KK ele-
ments could misinterpret government inten-
tions. A number of KK units are located
in areas from which they could converge
rapidly on Phnom Penh, and they thus have
the capability of reacting quickly to any
real or fancied threat to Lon Nol and them-
selves.
Besides the present KK imbroglio, there are
indications of other political restiveness
in Phnom Penh. Rumors of additional plots
and counterplots recently have begun to
circulate in the capital. Most, if not
all, of these rumors contain elements that
make them hard to credit. At a minimum,
however, their persistence does indicate
some form of maneuvering and jockeying for
position among political factions is afoot.
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SOUTH VIETNAM
(continued)
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ISRAEL
Right-wing opposition' parties introduced no-
confidence motions yesterday to protest proposals
made by Prime Minister Meir on ultimate borders.
They were reacting to. the interview published in
the London Times on Saturday, in whichjqrs.-Meir
Called for an Israeli presence at Sharm ash7shalikh
and retention of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights,
but implied that much of the West Bank would be re-
turned to Jordan.
The Gahal and Free-Center parties, which
introduced the no-confidence motions,
favor retention of most of the occupied
territories.
At a cabinet meeting yesterday, Mrs. Meir is
reported to have said that her statement reflected
only personal suggestions and did not commit the
government. Nevertheless, the National Religious
Party (NRP), which is a member of the government,
announced afterward that it was not satisfied with
her explanations and would call for further clarifi-
cation.
There is practically no chance that the
no-confidence motions will be adopted
when they are debated on Tuesday. In the
unlikely event that the NRP, which advo-
cates retention of the West Bank for re-
ligious and historical reasons, should
leave the government and vote for the
motions, Mrs. Meir's Israel Labor Party
and other parties affiliated with it
would still control a majority of the
Knesset votes. The political tumult
caused by Mrs. Meir's statements, however,
is an indication of the type of crisis
which might occur once the government at-
tempts to adopt an official policy with
regard to the disposition of the occupied
territories.
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PAKISTAN
According to press reports, Mujibur Rahman claimed
early, today that he has taken over administration
of East Pakistan, except for the cities of Dacca,
Comilla, and Jessore. This assumption of power-fol-
lows one week of a noncooperation campaign called
by Mujib, during which he became the de facto ruler
of East Pakistan. His announcement may be an at-
tempt to force the West Pakistan - dominated central
government to accede to his demand that power in
East Pakistan be turned over to elected representa-
tives of the people as a preliminary step before
the recently elected National Assembly meets to
write a new constitution.
Mujib 's action is the closest step he has taken to-
ward a declaration of independence for East Pakistan.
It is not yet certain that he prefers such a declara-
tion, except as a last resort. His preference seems
to be for some type of confederation between East
and West Pakistan in which the eastern province-
would be virtually autonomous. The central govern-
ment is unlikely to find a confederation scheme ac-
ceptable and will probably resist Mujib's announced
take-over attempt.
President Yahya flew to Dacca today to confer with
Mujib. The East Pakistani leader has reiterated
that he is willing to meet with Yahya without pre-
conditions.
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TURKEY
With Demirel continuing in office on a care-
taker basis, President Sunay met over the weekend
with military leaders and with representatives Of
ten political parties in,his search for a coalition
government that would secure passage of. reform leg-
islation and prepare for early elections.. Both
houses of Parliament have suSpended their sessions
for the present.
The military are demanding a broad coali-
tion in which members would eschew pari-
san politics, and they may well insist on
naming at least One minister.. They would
likely endorse Suat Urguplu/
I The 67-year-old
senator has no political affiliation, and
his nine months as interim premier in 1965
were relatively unmarked by political
strife.
Sunay could announce the make-up of the
interim government today when he is sched-
uled to address the nation, although it
will likely take more time to find an ar-
ray of acceptable figures who meet the
requirements of the military.
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NOTE
USSR:/
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Top Secret
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