THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 9 MARCH 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992519
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 9, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
9 March 1971
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
9 March-I97L
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
On Page 1, we discuss recent developments in Commu-
nist Chinese - UK relations which reflect Peking's
current efforts to project a conciliatory interna-
tional posture.
The North Vietnamese have not yet made a serious
attempt to dislodge South Vietnamese forces from
positions overlooking the Tchepone Valley in Laos.
(Page 3)
Soviet/
/ (Page 4)
(J-'age b)
The proposal by Japan's defense chief to inspect
Okinawa for nuclear stocks may gain enough support
to prove embarrassing to the Sato government.
(Page 6)
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COMMUNIST CHINA - UNITED KINGDOM
Recent developments in Sino-UK relations give some
insight into the pace and progress of Peking's cur-
rent campaign of international amiability. The
patterns that can be seen in this area are likely
to be repeated elsewhere as the Chinese seek to
maintain the momentum of their diplomatic drive.
Both London and Peking have been moving cautiously
toward some improvement in their mutual relations
since at least last summer, but neither side ini-
tially seemed anxious to force the pace. Each re-
tained deep suspicions of the other, reinforced on
the British side by memories of the "storming" of
the British Embassy in Peking by uncontrolled Red
Guards in the summer of 1967. These suspicions
were supplemented by specific grievances: on the
British side by the fact that a number of British
subjects were languishing in Chinese jails, and on
the Chinese side by the fact that authorities in
Hong Kong had jailed a considerable number of Chi-
nese "dptivists" following the riots in the Crown
CoZony (in 1967 and that London continued to main-
tain a consulate in Taipei.
British interest in an apparent change in atmosphere
in Peking was evident by late last spring, and Lon-
don attempted to "test the water" by releasing a
number of Hong Kong prisoners before their jail
terms expired; the Chinese responded in kind. After
several such exchanges, all British subjects in Chi-
nese jails have been released, and only a handful
of "activists" remain in Hong Kong jails.
The turning point came when a Chinese official in
London "informally" told the Foreign Office shortly
before Chinese representation came to a vote in the
United Nations last autumn that Peking was prepared
to overlook the British consulate on Taiwan if Lon-
don wouZd vote against the Important Question reso-
lution in the UN. This would permit raising diplo-
matic representation between the two countries to
ambassadorial level--something London had sought in
vain since recognizing Peking in 1950.
(continued)
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Although the Foreign Office did not further explore
this feeler prior to the UN vote, the Chinese have
since returned to the attack and are now pressing
the British hard on this issue. The coupled ques-
tions of Chinese representation in the UN and a mu-
tual exchange of ambassadors were a major ingredient
in the conversation Chou En-Zai had with the British
chargg in Peking last week; Chinese officials in Lon-
don are to take up the subject again shortly. The
British, with a chance to take an important step
forward in Sino-UK relations, are strongly inclined
to seize the moment by the forelock, but are faced
with the problem that US policy on the UN represen-
tation issue is still under review. As the head of
the Far Eastern department in the Foreign Office re-
marked last week, London's "difficulties" in keeping
in tune with the US on the representation issue in-
crease with every step toward better UK-PRC rela-
tions.
Lord Cromer told Undersecretary Irwin last Friday
that the British would take no irrevocable step on
the representation issue without first consulting
with Washington, but pointed out that the Chinese
were in a position to set the pace on improvement
of relations?particularly on the question of am-
bassadorial exchange. Peking is certain to press
its case hard and quickly, and the tone of Foreign
Office comment suggests that London is hardlu in
any mood to resist.
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Operation LAM SON 719 Situation Map
551113 3-71 CIA
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VIETNAM-LAOS
Enemy antiaircraft fire in the Lam Son 719 area
remains intense, but Communist ground action in re-
cent days has been limited largely to harassment of
advancing South Vietnamese units and of allied rear
areas. ?The enemy has not yet made a serious attempt
to drive the South Vietnamese from their westernmost
positions--landing zones Sophia and Hope--overlook-
ing the Tchepone Valley.
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USSR
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AUSTRALIA
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JAPAN
Defense chief Nakasone said in the Diet on 4
March that he planned to send Self-Defense Force
personnel to Okinawa after reversion next year to
make sure that nuclear weapons and poison as had
been removed.
Accord-
ing to later press reports, Nakasone said he would
attempt to obtain US approval of his plan shortly.
Nakasone's statements could be an offi-
cially sanctioned trial balloon, but more
than likely they are designed simply to
get himself back in the political lime-
light. In any case, the opposition par-
ties and the media will probably pick up
the theme since many Japanese doubt that
nuclear weapons will not be kept on
?Okinawa after reversion, despite Prime
Minister Sato's promises.
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Soviet Infantry Combat Vehicle
Main armament._ 76mm gun
...-Sagger antitank guided missile
Weight about 15 tons
vehicle crew, 8 man squad
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NOTES
USSR: A new Soviet infantry combat vehicle has
been seen for the first time in East Germany./
Communist China - North Vietnam: Hanoi has re-
ported on the delegation accompanying Chou En-lai on
his trip to North.Vietnam In addition to the Chi-
nese .ambassador to Hanoi and Chou, five Chinese of"
ficialsmade the trip: a politburo member who has
been, reported to have Wide responsibilities in or?
ganizing aid to North Vietnam; a politburo member
who is also head of the armed forces "rear services
department" (i.e., the military: logistics arm); the
officer in charge of.the equipment section of the
rear services department; and two civilians-who have
foreign affairs responsibilities in the party and
government respectively.' The composition of the
delegation strongly suggests that an increase in
military supply was high on the agenda of the Sino-
Vietnamese talks over the weekend.
Arab States - Israel: No military clashes have
been reported since the expiration ?of the formal
cease-fire between Egypt and Israel on Sunday, al-
though the armed forces of Israel and the surround-
ing Arab states remain in a high state of alert.
Air reconnaissance activity continued yesterday, but
no signs of preparations for imminent offensive ac-
tion were apparent. As a follow-up to Sadat's warn-
ing on Sunday that his people should be prepared for
"blows" from the enemy, Egyptian officials have put
into effect various civil defense measures.
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Top Secret
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