THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 15 MARCH 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993771
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 15, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
15 March 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of EO. 11652
exemption category 513(1),(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
She Director of Central Intelligence
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
15 March 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Soviets are making preparations for a manned
space mission. (Page 1)
King Husayn's commutation of the death sentences
of 17 Black September terrorists probably will win
him the gratitude of other Arab leaders, but it is
doubtful that this step will reduce fedayeen ani-
mosity toward Jordan. (Page 2)
President Lon Nol has repeated his offer to hold
new legislative elections with the participation
of all political elements--including the insurgents.
(Page 3)
Although the Security Council meeting will not pro-
duce strong international support for Panama's po-
sition on the canal, General Torrijos believes it
will fulfill his purpose of focusing world atten-
tion on Panama's demands. (Page 4)
The Turkish parliament has postponed further pres-
idential balloting until tomorrow. (Page 5)
A USSR military delegation is in Peru this week to
negotiate sales of Soviet equipment. (Page 5)
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USSR
The Soviets are making preparations for
a manned space mission.
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The Soviet manned space program has suf-
fered several setbacks during the past
two years. Since the Soyuz 11 accident
in 1971 that killed three cosmonauts,
the only successful mission in this pro-
gram has been an unmanned Soyuz space-
craft orbited for engineering tests in
June 1972. A later attempt to orbit
another Salyut space station resulted in
failure, and a Soyuz mission scheduled
for last fall was canceled. The forth-
coming mission could begin within the
next several weeks.
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JORDAN-FEDAYEEN
King Husayn commuted the death sentences yes-
terday Of Black September leader Muhammad Awadh and
16 of his folloWers. Husayn said he had issued the
order in the hope that it would bring about a new
understanding between Jordan and the rest of the
Arab states as well as the fedayeen,
The move is almost Certain to win King
Husayn the gratitude of Other Arab lead-
ers, many of whom, appealed to him not
to. execute Awadh. Whether the step will
reduce fedayeen animosity toward the
King is much more dpUbtful.f
/The fedayeen rejected the
King's offer out of hand.
Husayn's leniency may also make it more
difficult' for Sudanese President Numayri
ta deal harshly with the Khartoum terror-
ists.
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CAMBODIA
President Lon Nol has repeated his government's
offer to hold new legislative elections with the
participation of all political elements--including
the insurgents. His statement did not include two
preconditions mentioned in a similar proposal floated
in early February--the prior withdrawal of all Viet-
namese Communist troops from Cambodia and the exclu-
sion of Sihanouk from any political role.
Lon Nol's offer appears partially in line with
a new initiative, now being considered, aimed at
starting peace talks. First Minister Hang Thun Hak
told the US Ambassador on 13 March that this would
include elections, the free formation of political
parties, and the retention of Lon Nol in office.
The question of Sihanouk's participation in a new
government would be sidestepped, although the re-
establishment of the monarchy would be? explicitly
excluded. Hak wanted US help in contacting Peking
and Hanoi to see whether they would act as inter-
mediaries with the insurgents, who so far have
shown no interest in compromise with Lon Nol.
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PAN/WA
The Security Council meeting which opens
today will not produce strong interna-
tional support for Panama's position on
the canal. General Torrijos believes,
however, that the meeting will fulfill
his main purpose of focusing world?and
particularly US--attention on Panama's
demands.
Since only Peru and Cuba seem enthusiastic
about a strong anti-US stance, Panama
has considerably toned down its expecta-
tions, The Council's president--Panama's
Aquilino Boyd--seems resigned to a mildly
worded summary of the first two days of
general debate.
The last two days are reserved for Latin Amer-
ican topics. A, paper apparently prepared by Panama
and Peru, which has been circulated to selected
delegations, calls for ending the US presence in
the Canal Zone, closing all Military bases not re-
lated to Canal defense, and neutralizing the Panama
Canal. It also demands an end to the economic and
political isolation of Cuba and an acceleration of
"decolonialization" in Latin America in. compliance
with an earlier General Assembly resolution.
Although this paper. may be softened by
Torrijos?who seems to, realize that in-
Volving the United Nations in ,a bilateral
negotiation would be unacceptable to the
US-.-considerable anti-US rhetoric is
still bound to develop. Nevertheless,
the final outcome is likely to be a bland
citation of the "spirit of the charter"
as a guide for further bilateral talks.
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NOTES
USSR:
Turkey: Parliament has postponed further pres-
idential balloting until 16 March. The 48-hour de-
lay gives the politicians and generals time to find
a way out of the impasse that developed on 13 March
when no candidates won the required majority after
four ballots. The Turkish press is speculating
that party leaders are trying to come up with a new
candidate who would be acceptable to both the par-
liament and the military high command.
USSR-Peru: A Soviet military delegation headed
by Deputy Defense Minister Sokolov is in Peru this
week to negotiate sales of Soviet equipment. Peru
appears to be most interested at present in T-54
tanks. Top-level Peruvian military officers, in-
cluding General Edgardo Mercado, who is prime min-
ister and acting president, have inspected many
other types of Soviet hardware
The Peruvians have
often vented their displeasure at the US for its
one-year suspension of military sales last Decem-
ber and have alleged that other free world suppliers
have not matched the credit terms offered by the
USSR.
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