THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 6 DECEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993663
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 6, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011400050001-5
The President's Daily Brief
6 December 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of ED. 11652
exemption category 5B(I).(2),(3)
declanified 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-RDP79T00936A011400050001-5
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
6 December 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Some important South Vietnamese oppositionists are
seeking to unite with President Thieu in an anti-
Communist stand during a cease-fire. (Page 1)
Soviet military leaders have muted the usual "anti-
imperialist" themes in recent public speeches.
(Page 2)
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SOUTH VIETNAM
Some important opposition elements are seeking
a united anti-Communist stand in the cease-fire
period, a key
group of Catholics led by Senate Chairman Nguyen
Van Huyen, who earlier this year was among the most
outspoken critics of the government, now believes
that all opposition groups must support the govern-
ment in order to prevent a Communist take-over after
the fighting stops. Huyen has put out feelers to
the government concerning a reconciliation. His
group appears to have abandoned an alliance with
other opposition senators and recently voted with
the progovernment forces in support of President
Thieu's peace stand.
Another major opposition group that is recon-
sidering its position is the An Quang Buddhist ele-
ment. Many of its leading members favor toning
down criticism of the government, at least for the
time being. They are said to be more concerned
with the survival of an anti-Communist government
than with Thieu's shortcomings, and some indicate
that they would like to cooperate with Thieu. Other
Buddhists, however, such as those in the National
Assembly, continue to attack the government and
prefer that Thieu step down.
Many of those who favor cooperation with Thieu
also believe that the government must broaden its
base if it is to survive a political contest with
the Communists. This view was recently expressed
by influential independent Senator Dang Van Sung,
who told US Embassy officers that he fears the
Thieu government will be unable to cope with "peace
time" problems because of the "military outlook"
of Thieu's entourage.
It remains to be seen whether Thieu will
take advantage of these opposition senti-
ments to strengthen his government for
the long haul. He has already considered
and decided against formally bringing
opposition elements into his government,
but he might be willing to consider some
less formal arrangement. Basically, how-
ever, he has little respect for most South
Vietnamese politicians or for their po-
litical significance.
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USSR
The improved state of Soviet-US relations was exem-
plified in the recent statements of Soviet military
leaders on the annual occasion of Rocket Forces and
Artillery Day. Traditionally, this day has been
reserved for bellicose bravado stressing the "im-
perialist threat" and the destructive power of Soviet
strategic weapons.
This year such themes were muted, and one of the ma-
jor speakers had mild praise for the SALT agreement
instead. He cited the accord as a "favorable basis
for further reZaxation of tension," but voiced Mos-
cow's perennial caution that better relations with
the USSR can only be built on the basis of strategic
equality, with no unilateral military, advantages.
Even Marshal Grechko, who last year spoke of "admin-
istering a resolute rebuff to any aggressor," was
non-polemical. Grechko did not mention SALT, but
he went on record in favor of the agreement in his
speech to the Supreme Soviet on 29 September, when
the treaty was ratified.
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USSR-INDIA
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NOTES
India: The government is going to be short one
million more tons of grain than it had anticipated,
necessitating the import of between two and three
million tons. Due to worldwide shortages of rice
and wheat,, India will have to come to the US for the
major share of its foreign purchases of substitute
grains. This state of affairs may have something
to do with Foreign Minister Swaran Singh's recent
statement to parliament in favor of better relations
with the US. Singh was backed up this week by Prime
Minister Gandhi during one of her informal press
conferences.
Fedayeen: Fatah groups, chafing under restric-
tions imposed on them by Lebanon's government and
perhaps Syria's as well, are increasingly turning
to fratricidal factionalism. The scapegoat in this
situation is Yasir Arafat, whose leadership post is
being sought by at least six contenders, the most
dangerous of whom is Khalil al Wazir, Syria's candi-
date.
\ If Arafat is deposed
or killed there would be little chance that his
successor 'could unify Fatah.
Jordan:
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Top Secret
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