THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 26 MAY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993320
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 26, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700240001-2
The President's Daily Brief
26 May 1972
47
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700240001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700240001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
26 May 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In Vietnam, the Communists are increasing pressure
on government positions in several areas. (Page 1)
Japanese Prime Minister Sato has explicitly acknowl-
edged that Peking is the "sole legitimate" govern-
ment of China--the clearest public signal to date
that Tokyo is ready to move ahead in normalizing
ties with Peking. (Page 2)
(Page 3)
? Romanian President Ceausescu's sudden postponement
of trips to Japan and West Germany appears to stem
from domestic political difficulties. (Page 4)
Chile
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Soviet leader Shelest has lost his job as party boss
in the Ukraine. (Page 6)
India
(Page 6)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
The Communists are increasing pressure on gov-
ernment positions in several areas.
Around Kontum City, heavy and accurate Commu-
nist shelling has knocked out a number of govern-
ment artillery positions and temporarily closed the
airfield. South Vietnamese defenders, however, in-
flicted heavy losses on a large enemy sapper force
that briefly penetrated the city yesterday. There
are elements of at least ten Communist infantry and
combat support regiments now ringing Kontum City
within a radius of 15 miles.
In Quang Tri Province; South Vietnamese Marines
are meeting only light resistance and are expected
to wind up their three-day spoiling operation on
schedule sometime today. The heavy equipment and
foodstuff losses reportedly inflicted on the Com-
munists during this operation will, however, tend
to be offset by ?the substantial quantities of sup-
plies the enemy is continuing to move into northern
South Vietnam from Laos. Intercepted Communist
messages indicate that as much as 450 tons of sup-
plies are en route to this region, and there are
signs that this high level of logistics activity
will continue in the near future.
In North Vietnam, the regime is apparently
still dissatisfied with the performance of its cadre
in supporting the offensive in the South in the face
of increased US bombing. The first hint that the
regime may be considering a purge appeared in an
article on 16 May in the Hanoi city newspaper by an
official of the local party committee. He claimed
that, ?in a combat situation, the "small segment" of
party members who are unequal to the new tasks are
"no longer worthy of being party members" ?and must
be ostracized "in time" in order to keep the party
"clean and steadfast."
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700240001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700240001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JAPAN-CHINA
In a Diet debate on 24 May, Prime Minister
Sato explicitly acknowledged that Peking is the
"sole legitimate" government of China.
This statement meets one of Peking's
three conditions for the restoration of
relations and is the clearest public
signal to date that Japan is prepared
to move ahead in normalizing ties With
Peking. Sato skirted China's other two
demands?acknowledgement that Taiwan
belongs to the mainland and renuncia-
tion of the peace treaty Tokyo signed
with Taipei in 1952--by repeating his
position that Tokyo cannot comment on
the territorial status of Taiwan and
stating that the treaty should be dealt
with in governmental negotiations.
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ROMANIA
President. Ceausescu .has suddenly postponed
trips to Japan and West Germany that were scheduled
for next month.
Domestic politics appear to have been the
reason for the postponement. Recent high-
level personnel shifts that have received
little public explanation have caused un-
easiness--and perhaps opposition--among
party members, who seem to fear that more
extensive changes may be made at a party
conference in July. Ceausescu's recent
trip to eight African and Arab countries
also has caused some criticism at home,
particularly his promise of aid to de-
veloping nations, given at a time when
Romania is struggling with a large for-
eign debt.
None of these problems, either singly or
collectively, constitutes a threat to
Ceausescu's leadership at the moment.
Given his autocratic nature, however,
Ceausescu will not overlook even a minor
challenge. Apparently he has decided to
take the initiative against internal
grumblings by staying at home, defending
his policies, and personally overseeing
preparations for the party conference
in July.
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CHILE
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NOTES
USSR: Yesterday Vladimir Shcherbitsky was
elected party first secretary of the Ukraine, re-
placing Petr Shelest. Shcherbitsky has been pre-
mier of the Ukrainian government since October 1965
and was elected a full member of the party polit-
buro in March 1971. His election to the policy-
making politburo was engineered by Brezhnev and
suggested that he was being groomed as Shelest's
successor. The speedy change following the demo-
tion of Shelest last week will spare Ukrainian
leaders the embarrassment of having President
Nixon received by Shelest, a critic of detente,
when he visits Kiev.
India:
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