THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 19 AUGUST 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993473
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 19, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000170001-6
The President's Daily Brief
19 August 1972
45
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of EU. 11652
exemption category 5B( I
declanified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
19 August 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In South Vietnam,
series of attacks
Communist forces have begun a
in several areas of the central
coastal lowlands.
(Page 1)
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Soviet
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'India
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The Soviets
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(Page 4)
The West Germans have decided to discuss establish-
ing diplomatic relations with Peking in the near
future. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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104
108
Demilitarized Zone
Gulf of
Thailand
104
116
Capital Special Zone
110
16-
14-
MR 2
South
China
Ii
Sea
12-
10-
SOUTH VIETNAM
MILES
19.
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553486 8-72
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Communist forces have begun a series of attacks
in several areas of the central coastal lowlands.
Following heavy shelling, which included the first
use of 130-mm. field guns in these provinces, enemy
forces from the North Vietnamese 711th Division yes-
terday attacked government positions around the dis-
trict town of Que Son and nearby Fire Support Base
Ross. Fighting there is continuing. 'According to
an intercept of 17 August, enemy forces have also
attacked in Hieu Duc District southwest of Da Nang
and claim to be "in complete control" of the area.
The enemy has also been active in coastal areas
to the south. Tam Ky, the capital of Quang Tin Prov-
ince, was shelled with 122-mm. rockets as were gov-
ernment position's north and south of the town. The
shelling was followed by ground attacks against out-
posts in the area, and one road was cut. There were
also a number of clashes in neighboring Quang Ngai
Province, where one outpost north of the provincial
capital was overrun.
There have been numerous reports that Com-
munist military activity in the coastal
provinces would increase in the last half
of August. Some of these reports also
claimed that the enemy intended to employ
armor and heavy artillery in this area.
The appearance of 130-mm. field guns sup-
ports this claim, but no tanks have yet
been observed.
On. the northern front, street fighting between
marine units and enemy defenders continues near the
citadel in Quang Tri City. Enemy shellings in the
area were reduced, but several ground clashes oc-
curred on the northern and southern edges of the
City. South Vietnamese airborne troops have been
involved in two days of heavy fighting about five
miles south of Quang Tri City,. Fighting also con-.
tinues west of Hue as the enemy .probes government
positions guarding the. Route 547 corridor into the
city. The North Vietnamese have now committed ele-
ments of four divisions in an attempt to prevent
ARVN's recapture of Quang Tri.
(continued)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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553485 8-72
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72i :" ?
,
75 Vlies?(
?74
75 Kilometers
41
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-INDIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR:
West Germany - China: The West Germans have in?
-
formed us that they have decided to discuss estab-
lishing diplomatic relations with Peking in the near
future. Although Chancellor Brandt had preferred
holding off on a bid to Peking while negotiations
with 'theEast Germans are still under way, domestic
political pressures have apparently convinced him to
take this step now,. With elections coming this fall,
he wants to neutralize any advantage the opposition
Christian Democrats have gained from the visit to
Peking of one of their leaders last month. Ques-
tioned in an interview on 17 August, Brandt did not
rule out an eventual meeting with Chou En-lai, but
said it would be Foreign Minister Scheel's turn
first. In the same interview, Brandt sought to as-
sure the Soviets that his policy toward China is not
directed against them.
Fedayeen
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Top Secret
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