THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 MARCH 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993185
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 10, 1972

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The President's Daily Brief
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10 March 1972
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
10 March 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
There is some evidence that Peking has taken steps
to reassure Hanoi, and perhaps also Pyongyang, in
the wake of the President's visit to China. (Page 1)
Continuing analysis of satellite photography indi-
cates that the Chinese are developing a submarine-
launched ballistic missile system at a coastal fa-
cility in northeast China. (Page 2)
Prime Minister Lon Nol is apparently preparing to
move ahead with governmental changes that would
make him Cambodia's president. (Page 3)
Israel
LE_gypt
(Page 4)
Guatemala(
(Page 5)
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CHINA - NORTH VIETNAM
Cambodia's Prince Sihanouk has told Western
newsmen that Premier Chou En-lai recently assured
him and North Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong that
Peking would not act, even secretly, as an interme-
diary in resolving the Indochina war. Chou is said
to have stated that this position had been communi-
cated to President Nixon. Sihanouk refused to say
where his meeting with Chou had taken place.
There have been reports from Hanoi this
week that the Chinese Premier visited the
North Vietnamese capital on 3-4 March.
The persistent criticism of the Sino-US
talks coming out of Hanoi suggests that
the North Vietnamese are not mollified
so far by any Chinese assurances. On 8
March--some days after Chou's reported
meeting with Pham Van Dong--an authorita-
tive article in the North Vietnamese
Army's daily newspaper continued Hanoi's
practice of quoting liberally from the
Sino-US communique and statements made
by the President during his visit and
commenting sarcastically on them. The
communique issued by Sihanouk and the
North Vietnamese on 5 March?presumably
also after Chou's reported meeting with
Dong and Sihanouk?also contained ad-
verse comments on portions of the Sino-
US communique.
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CHINA
Our continuing analysis of satellite photography of
the last several years reveals what appears to be a
land-based facility for the development of a sub-
marine-Launched ballistic missile sustem at Chin-hsi
on the Gulf of_Liao-tung.
2
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CAMBODIA
Following his expected return to Phnom Penh
on 9 March after a month's vacation in Kompong Som,
Prime Minister Lon Nol.is likely to press ahead
with his projedt of making himself president. He
presumably intends to seek a provision in the new
constitution naming himself interim president pend-
ing national elections. Chief of State Cheng Heng,
however., is balking on grounds that this would be
illegal. An alternative may be to bypass.Cheng
Heng by having a reconstituted National Assembly--
rather than the chief of state--promulgate the new
constitution.
Some doubt also still surrounds the makeup of
the new government. Constituent Assembly President
In Tam, slated to become prime minister, may be
having second thoughts. He is now telling US Em-
bassy officials that Lon Nol has not actually of-
fered him the job.
Meanwhile, members of the Constituent Assembly
drafting the constitution have been meeting with
government officials to resolve such controversial
questions as military voting rights and the eligi-
bility of royalty for public office. The latter
issue is particularly sensitive since it bears di-
rectly on Prime Minister - Delegate Sink Matak's
ability to remain in the government.
Apart from Cheng Heng, there is little
evidence of opposition in important mil-
itary or civilian circles to the impend-
ing political changes. Although a flurry
of anti-government activity by some stu-
dents in Phnom Penh is causing the regime
some concern, government Leaders appear
determined to deal with student dissatis-
faction with restraint. The students'
opposition to Matak may, nevertheless,
provide some ammunition to those among
Lon Nol's entourage who would like to
see Matak's influence curtailed.
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EGYPT ISRAEL
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GUATEMALA-UK
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NOTES
South Vietnam(
North. Vietnam,/
(continued)
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Arab States - West Germany/
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Top Secret
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