THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 31 DECEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993056
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 31, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010260270601-4
The President's Daily Brief
31 December 1971
LA(L
38
Top Secret 50)(1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
31 December 1971'
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Some South Vietnamese forces are returning home
from their operation in eastern Cambodia. (Page 1)
The USSR may soon make a commitment to help revive
the Bangladesh economy. (Page 2)
The North Vietnamese are probing Laotian Government
positions around Long Tieng. (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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/
5,0
Kompong Tho
Miles
0 Government-held location
0 Communist-held location
CAMBODIA
Tang Kou
21
Snuol
Kompong Cha
Chup
Plantation
A/EKON&
SAIGON/
SOUTH ? VIET
RACK CIA
552372 12-71 CIA'
N
t ? iiP 11:1 ?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM - CAMBODIA
Concerned about the reinforcement of COmmunist
forces in the central highlands and an increasing
enemy threat along the western approaches to Saigon,
General Minh is reducing the number of troops oper-
ating in eastern Cambodia. Of the 11,000 committed
to the operation against the Chup plantation, some
3,000 are being withdrawn, and it is likely that
more will follow.. A residual force will stay behind
to maintain important forward bases, however.
South Vietnamese tactics in eastern Cam-
bodia have been cautious and conservative
during the past six weeks. General Minh's
forces, mindful of the heavy losses in-
curred during their withdrawal from Snuol
Zast.May, made no sustained effort to push
deep into enemy bases and storage areas. ,
We have no evidence that the South'Viet-
namese uncovered any sizable caches, and
the only significant contact with the Com-
munists took place in the Dambe area. The
South Vietnamese moved.out of the southern
part of the Chup plantation when it appeared
that several enemy regiments were in po-
sition to. go into action against them.
For their part, enemy units seemed con-
tent merely to,harass South Vietnamese
positions.
Despite the Zack of outstanding successes,
the South Vietnamese operation no doubt
disrupted normal enemy logistics activity
and kept Communist forces in the area off
balance, but the hope that the operation
would help relieve pressure on Cambodian
troops along Route 6 was not realized.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-INDIA-BANGLADESH
The Soviets are negotiating a trade and tech-
nical assistance pact with Bangladesh.
Although the USSR is clearly willing to
help revive the economy of Bangladesh,
these negotiations also appear aimed at
countering Indian and Bengali pressure
for more formal Soviet recognition. Mos-
cow hopes to maintain some presence in
Islamabad and does not want to be too far
out in front in establishing formal rela-
tions with Bangladesh. Much of the So-
viet assistance represents a reinstatement
of projects in Bangladesh disrupted by
civil strife and hostilities.
Soviet assistance supplements that of In-
dia. New Delhi thus far has agreed to
provide financial aid and administrative
expertise. It presumably will play a ma-
jor role in helping to manage the newly
nationalized jute industry.
Moscow and New Delhi, however, cannot meet
Dacca's enormous aid requirements and West-
ern donors eventually will be called on to
provide substantial assistance.
Bangladesh authorities, meanwhile, are reported
to have made some headway in establishing an admin-
istrative structure. Although non-Bengalis are
still having serious difficulties in some localities,
the combined efforts of the government, the Indians,
and some Mukti Bahini units apparently have pre-
vented a widespread collapse of law and order.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: Plaine des Jarres Area
AREA OF
MAIN MAP
Vientia
Na Kha
Botiam Long.
Ban Ban
Muong
Soul
kin 1664,
Ban NP ''
\ Defensive
-...._' Line
\..
\
Sam T Ong 1),hou Phi-Sal
...., .
\-.... N.
Long Tien \ ha Dong
1-
10 20 M es
L 0
0 2k) Kilometers
-s--
552370 12-71 CIA
? Government-held location
Communist-held location I
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Laos: The North Vietnamese are probing and
shelling government positions in the defensive line
northeast of Long Tieng, but have launched no sig-
nificant ground attacks. The enemy also is placing
troops and supplies to the east of Long Tieng. At
Ban Son, a refugee center 20 miles southwest of
Long Tieng, the government is refurbishing an air-
strip to handle T-28 aircraft so that there. will be
an alternate to the Long Tieng strip.
- USSR - North Vietnam: The Soviets are making
-
a propaganda show in reaction to the US'bombings:of
North Vietnam. Yesterday they issued a government
statement condemning the air raids, and later an-
nounced through TASS that: they would give Hanoi
additional free military,assistance4 The main Soviet.
aid-pact for 1972 was signed on 7 October.. .The So-
viets, seem to be trying to keep a step ahead of the
Chinese, who reacted to the bombings with a less
authoritative statementissued by their Foreign
Ministry.
Honduras:
(continued)
3
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LAOTIAN PANHANDLE: Road Construction
40:14% t
?el.??4;
6'49
4.44e. ?
Pass
THAILAND
15
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
Stung Trengr'
Deng Hoi
0
25 5,0 Miles
emilitati,ed Zone
Quong Tri
14
VIETNAM
Kontum
552371 12-71 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Malta-UK: Although he may still hope that he
can pressure the British into a compromise, Mintoff
apparently is taking no and took a quick
trip to Libya yesterday seeking a commitment for
long-term cash aid. The Libyan. Government helped
Mintoff financially prior to and after his election.
Tripoli might be disposed again to come to his as-
sistance, at least partially, even though the Lib-
yans may be disillusioned by Mintoff's preference-
for_dealing. with the British before negotiating
with them. At home,- Mintoff so far retains the
support. of the ruling Maltese Labor Party and the
opposition'remains-indecisive. British forces on
the island face harassment and possibly hostile
demonstrations beginning 1 January,
Laos: Photography of.November and December
shows a 53-mile north-south road almost completed
through the central panhandle that runs parallel
to and between Routes 23 and 99. In the Ban Phone
area, two other roads are under construction east-
ward. from. Se Kong River. These new roads,, and.
additions. that are being made to existing roads,
will improve access to:south Laos, the tri-border
area,:and.Cambodia, and will provide additional
alternates to chOke. points in the central panhandle.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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