THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 MAY 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993828
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 21, 1973

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010042-2
The President's Daily Brief
21 May 1973
'45
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Exempt (mm general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category .5B( 11.f 21.(3)
declassified only on approval of ?
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011600010042-2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 May 1973
.PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT
The Khmer Communists have initiated little military
activity in the last several days, but evidently
plan to put heavy pressure on Phnom Penh in coming
weeks. (Page 1)
Soviet officials say they expect the level of trade
with China this year to remain about the same as in
? 1972, when it reached $250 million, a five-fold in-
crease from the low point of two years earlier.
(Page 2)
? FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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stung Chinii
Kompong Chhnang
Sale Lek Pram
0 4,
PHN M PENH
1
Thnal Totun
Neak
uong
Takeo
BA TE DE
KOMPONG SOM
Ki5mpong Som
SOUTH JET A
MILES 25
554377 5-73 CIA
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25X1
...I I
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
There has been a general lull in Communist-
initiated military activity over the last several
days, probably because of the need to resupply and
move forces before the rainy season.
Recent intercepted Khmer Communist messages
indicate that many units are low on ammunition and
food, and sickness has weakened others. Other mes-
sages indicate that the Communists are shifting
some forces from the Takeo area to assist in the
campaign along Route 3 and to prepare for attacks
on Route 4 west of Phnom Penh. According to an
intercept of May 17, the Communists intend to cut
Route 4, which has been open since April 9, east
of the town of Thnal Totung, and to put heavy
pressure on Phnom Penh in the coming weeks.
The Communists continued to give attention to
the Mekong River supply route between Phnom Penh
and Neak Luong last week as they tried to stop con-
voys from reaching the capital. Communist fire hit
most of the eight ships in the convoy that arrived
in Phnom Penh on May 18.
The government is trying to take advantage of
the lull to reopen Routes 3 and 5. On May 18, gov-
ernment forces began moving south along Route 3
toward Tram Khnar, but at last report had advanced
only about three miles against light Communist re-
sistance. No progress has been reported in a multi-
battalion effort to reopen Route 5, which began on
Saturday.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHINA-USSR
Sino-Soviet trade last year reached $250 mil-
lion, recovering from a low of $47 million in 1970.
Despite this increase, the USSR accounts for only
3 percent of total Chinese trade, compared with 40
to 50 percent during the 1950s.
A Chinese trade delegation arrived in Moscow
early last month to negotiate this year's trade
agreement. Soviet officials say they expect about
the same level of trade this year as last.
There are good economic as well as polit-
ical reasons why trade is unlikely to
increase significantly. The USSR has
long since lost the favored trading posi-
tion it had in the 1950s, and now must
compete for the China market with Japan,
the industrial nations of Western Europe,
and the US. China's access to Western
aviation equipment, for example, has
eliminated Moscow's virtual monopoly on
sales of these items.
Peking also is giving priority attention
to acquiring advanced technology from
abroad--the kinds of technology that the
Soviets are producing for themselves only
with the greatest difficulty.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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s_
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Japan-US: Japan's trade surplus with the US
in April was less than half that for the same month
last year. Exports to the US decreased slightly--
only the second monthly decline in the last six
years--and imports, led by foodstuffs, rose by 43
percent. While exports to the US should pick up
somewhat in the coming months, imports will continue
to grow at a much higher rate, thus continuing the
trend of reduced surpluses that began last December.
MBFR: An informal working group of six NATO
and four Warsaw countries will begin discussion of
the MBFR agenda today. At the plenary session last
Thursday, the Polish delegate proposed that the
agenda be limited to three items: a description of
the scope of the negotiations, the geographic area
that will be covered, and the "leading principle"
of undiminished security for all participants. NATO
participants now seem agreed that it is best to
avoid detailed substantive discussions at this time,
and the Polish concepts should cause no major prob-
lems unless phrases such as "undiminished security"
are formulated in an objectionable way.
Lebanon: Prime Minister Hafiz' decision to re-
main in officeshould provide a breathing spell in
domestic politics. Some minor reshuffling in the
cabinet may occur later to accommodate the Muslim
community which, according to Hafiz, wants greater
representation.
Laos: The cease-fire continues to hold up
well. There has been no major fighting since the
North Vietnamese attack on Tha Viang over a month
ago. Minor skirmishes have occurred southeast of
Thakhek in the central panhandle and near Phiafay
in the far south. Most major North Vietnamese com-
bat units remain in their normal areas of operation.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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