THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 APRIL 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993223
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 1, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
The President's Daily Brief
1 April 1972
14
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
1 April 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
South Vietnamese forces remained under heavy attack
today. (Page 1)
In Laos, the seesaw battle for Skyline Ridge may
go on for some days. (Page 2)
Chile's President Allende is being pre-empted by
Socialists in his government who wish to capitalize
on radical agrarian reforms for their own political
benefit. (Page 5)
The Soviet press has played down air defense chief
Batitskiy's recent trip to North Vietnam. (Page 6)
Pakistan, (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
SOUTH VIETNAM
?
e1..ri,.:1?1* ORTH1?8
'VIETNAM DEMIL
A 4 ITARIZED ZONE 0 50
.....1 AIN ti ,- . d
Area of N VA artillery blanket MILES
' r r ? ? _ ".
L.- ' Dong Ha? -/Quang
Tchepone 4/ N... TN
? . 0 U.sA. N.?(7/46, 1", ?????./ . ,
Iv4'.4'-',...-,FSB Barge f
I. '? ,-1, 1 \
r
1
5
dan Nft
L NG
0.400 ? ?
am Thong
Reoccupied by irre
31 March
Fire suppor
r?-?
Tha Tam
Bleu
0`iceb
ong Tieng
Phou Se
DESi
uong Pot \ JRRES
w
Ohou Pha Sal
Attacked by irregulars
,387,31 March
?
ha Khao
Khang KID
'I, 1
1
Pha Dongo
[Ban
So
Phone
Sa.
52
Trail
)
552758 4-72 CIA
?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Government forces yesterday recaptured two
strongpoints on the western end of Skyline Ridge
that had been in North Vietnamese hands for nearly
two weeks. They are pressing attacks against two
other positions, one of which had fallen to the
enemy within the last 48 hours. The North Vietnam-
ese still hold three positions on the ridge. While
giving ground on Skyline, the North Vietnamese have
kept up artillery fire on irregular positions on
the ridge as well as in the Long Tieng Valley.
They have not, however, launched any major ground
action since irregulars turned back a tank and in-
fantry assault on the western sector of the ridge
on 29 March. As of this morning, there were still
enemy tanks in this sector.
North Vietnamese intercepts give no in-
dication that the Communists are ready
to give up their attempt to capture the
base. Neither side has been able to
throw a decisive blow, and the current
round of punch and counterpunch seems
likely to continue for at least some days
to come.
To the north and northeast of the Plaine des
Jarres, yang Pao's two irregular task forces re-
main stalled near enemy supply lines. The 2,600
troops have not inflicted any significant damage
nor have they succeeded in diverting troops from
Long Tieng.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-CHINA
Soviet negotiator Ilichev
will revive several proposals made in
earlier rounds of the negotiations on frontier de-
lineation. One, first tabled last year, called
for an agreement on nonaggression. Ilichev will
also restate Soviet willingness to accept minor
territorial adjustments in the interest of settling
the border dispute and make other "concrete" offers
for increased trade and bilateral exchanges.
the USSR was "fed up" with
China's intransigence and will make the Soviet po-
sition in the talks public if the Chinese reject
Ilichev's proposals.
Moscow probably does not expect a positive
response to the proposals since the Chi-
nese have rejected similar ones in the
_oast. j
It is likely, however, that
the Soviets want to avoid disrupting the
talks, at least prior to President Nixon's
visit to Moscow.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
KOREA
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHILE
The Socialist Party,
has created a "revolutionary command" in
Nuble Province, 150 miles south of Santiago. The
command boasts of encouraging land seizures and
claims to have obtained arms from the extremist
Movement of the Revolutionary Left, The Socialists'
objective is to speed agrarian reform and to create
a mass peasant organization under their control.
The government has not yet found a formula
whereby it can carry out its agrarian re-
form plans fast enough to satisfy its own
hotheads. It also has not convinced land-
owners that it will respect their residual
rights. President Allende objects not
only to the Socialists' refusal to await
action by the government of which they
are a part, but to their establishment of
another independent organizational base.
He has sent cabinet ministers to the area
to investigate and plans to visit the
province himself next week to cool tempers.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR - North Vietnam: Moscow, in contrast to
Hanoi, gave little publicity to Air Defense Chief
Batitskiy's recent visit to North Vietnam/
Soviet me la
merely noted the marshal's presence in Hanoi and
made no mention of the substantial delegation of
air defense experts who accompanied him. Moscow
thus bypassed an opportunity to play up Soviet back-
ing and make points against Peking. In playing down
Batitskiy's visit, Moscow may be making a deliberate
effort to underplay its military support of North
Vietnam lest this become a troublesome issue before
President Nixon's visit to Moscow.
India-Pakistan:
Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh may meet
with -a Pakistani representative during Singh's cur-
rent visit to Kabul en route to Moscow. New Delhi
is puzzled by frequent shifts and. inconsistencies
in Bhutto's public position--such as his insistence
that he wants to meet with Mrs. Gandhi while also
demanding the return of some 94,000 Pakistani pris-
oners in advance of negotiations--and may feel the
time has come for exploratory talks.
West Germany:
(continued)
6
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-Iraq-Syria: The USSR and Iraq are likely
to conclude a friendship treaty this month.(
'the two sides were then putting fin-
ishing touches on the document. In neighboring
Syria, meanwhile, Soviet politburo member Kirill
Mazurov hinted broadly during a visit in February
that Moscow wants a friendship treaty with Damascus.
Mazurov did not actually propose a treaty but noted
that such an agreement could facilitate a favorable
Soviet response to Syrian aid requests. The Soviet
ambassador in Damascus
that Syria eventually will sign a treaty with the
USSR, although at this time a majority of the Syrian
leaders are opposed to the idea.
USSR:
USSR: The Soviets failed on 30 March in an
attempt to send .a space probe toward Venus. It
was to be. a follow-up to another Venus probe--des-
ignated Venus 8--launched from Tyuratam on 2.6 March,
which is expected to reach the planet in late July
and, according to the Soviets, will attempt to make.
a soft landing. Favorable Opportunities for launches
to Venus will exist until late April, and the So-
viets may attempt a third probe.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A01-0600010001-8
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600010001-8