THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 JULY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993421
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 20, 1972

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The President's Daily Brief
20 July 1972
47
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Exempt train general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5I3( I
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
20 July 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Moscow has confirmed the recall of Soviet military
personnel from Egypt.
(Page 1)
Ground fighting tapered off in Quang Tri Province
yesterday, but there are indications that the Commu-
nists are preparing for an attempt to disrupt the
South Vietnamese attack on Quang Tri City. North
Vietnam apparently has embarked on a policy of harsh
treatment for captured American pilots. (Page 3)
The Chinese
North Vietnam
(Page 5)
The USSR is making another major purchase of grain
from Canada which, together with other recent pur-
chases, may double its imports in the next year.
(Page 6)
Finland's minority government resigned yesterday
rather than accept responsibility for signing the
economic arrangement that had been worked out with
the EC. (Page 7)
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EGYPT-USSR
Moscow has confirmed the recall of Soviet mili-
tary personnel from Egypt. In language associating
the USSR with President Sadat's decision to termi-
nate the Soviet military advisory presence, TASS
yesterday announced that Soviet instructors and ad-
visers in Egypt had "completed their functions" and
would "shortly return" to the USSR. Moscow explained
that these forces were intended to remain in Egypt
for only a "limited period" and that, following an
exchange of opinions, both sides had "deemed it ex-
pedient" to bring them home. Thus the Soviets have
chosen conciliatory language in order to minimize
the damage both to their prestige and their presence
in Egypt.
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Demilitarized Zone
Gulf of
Thailand
104 1l6
Capital Special Zone
SOUTH VIETNAM
I 98
MILES
150
14-
12--
10-
1110
553i62 7-72
4, ? ? ?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Ground fighting tapered off in Quang Tri Prov-
ince yesterday, but Communist shellings increased.
The heavier shellings suggest that enemy artillery
units in Quang Tri have regrouped and have been re-
supplied. Recent troop movements and reconnaissance
activity west of Quang Tri City indicate that the
North Vietnamese are preparing to strike South Viet-
namese forces on their flank to disrupt their attack
on the city.
Two more elements of North Vietnam's 312th Di-
vision have moved farther south toward the DMZ.
Radio direction-finding of 19 July placed the divi-
sion headquarters in northern Quang Binh Province
and one of its regiments in the central part of the
province.
These two units appear to be following close
behind another regiment from the 312th that crossed
the DMZ into South Vietnam a few days ago. The two
elements are in staging areas only a few days march
from the DMZ and could cross into northern South Viet-
nam with little warning.
It appears that North Vietnam has embarked on
a policy of harsh treatment for captured American
pilots. According to an intercept of 18 July, the
headquarters of an enemy radar regiment located near
Quang Khe, about 60 miles north of the DMZ, told sub-
ordinate units that "the crew of any B-52 shot down
will be annihilated along with the crew of any A-6
aircraft." The action was touted in the message as
a "reprisal" against the US for its "clandestine" at-
tacks on North Vietnamese dikes and would also serve
to raise the "hatred" of the populace toward the US.
The latest enemy instruction concerning
captured pilots follows directives to kill
American prisoners that were intercepted
on 5 and 6 July from Communist units in
Quang Tri Province of South Vietnam. The
message of 5 July claimed that two pilots
from an F-4 aircraft were executed on the
previous day, while the second intercept
contained instructions to a North Vietnam-
ese air defense unit in Quang Tri Province
to "kill the ten Americans." These kill-
ings were apparently done in haste by units
withdrawing to avoid allied combat opera-
tions.
(continued)
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Hanoi has issued a labor mobilization order
under which all able-bodied citizens must register
and be available for state-directed tasks. This
mobilization order--which is similar to decrees is-
sued during the 1965-68 bombing period--lays the
groundwork for the rapid call-up of labor as needed
to cope with current problems and future emergencies.
For several weeks, government officials have ex-
pressed anxiety about coping with the effects of
heavy bomb damage to the transportation system, the
condition of the dike system, and possible recur-
rence of last year's disastrous floods.
Efforts to repair bomb damage or to .meet
a new flood crisis could require the en-
listment of several hundred thousand work-
ers. During the 1965-68 period, some
400,000 people throughout the country were
engaged in repairing damaged bridges, rail-
roads and highways. While such an effort
would create some temporary labor short-
ages, the over-all labor force--nearly ten
million people?is large enough to meet
such a demand. Much of the mobilized
labor would come out of the seven million
agricultural labor force, a segment of the
economy which traditionally has surplus
labor at various times in the planting-
harvesting cycle. Such a slack period will
begin in a few weeks.
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CHINA
NORTH VIETNAM
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USSR
Moscow is making another major purchase of
grain from Canada. The deal calls for delivery dur-
ing the next 12 months of 1.5 million metric tons of
Canadian wheat and 200,000 tons of barley.
This purchase is in addition to the 3.5
million metric tons of Canadian wheat con-
tracted for in February, and follows
closely the big contract to buy US grain
over the next three years.
four million tons of
wheat and five million tons of corn
worth $500 million have already been
bought under the $750-million US pact for
delivery by mid-1973.
Soviet imports during the next 12 months
may double and reach a total of 15 mil-
lion tons, making the USSR a large net
importer of grains for the first time
since the disastrous harvests of 1963 and
1965. In the past 12 months the Soviets
apparently balanced their grain trade,
importing about eight million tons while
exporting a similar amount to Eastern
Europe and other client states. Despite
increased demands due to crop damage in
Eastern Europe and new commitments to
countries such as Bangladesh and ChiZe,
we expect exports to be more than offset
by the increase in imports. The net im-
ports will be used mainly to increase
meat production.
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NOTE
Finland-EC: The minority Social Democratic gov-
ernment resigned yesterday rather than accept respon-
sibility for signing the economic arrangement that
had been worked out with the EC. Prime Minister
Paasio based this move on his belief that "only a
majority government" should take action on this con-
troversial issue. Finland, along with five other
West European countries, was to have initialed the
agreement today, as a step toward formal signing on
22 July. The Finnish parliament had been expected
to ratify the agreement this fall, barring Soviet
opposition. Although Moscow has shown some under-
standing for Helsinki's need for economic ties with
the EC, it remains leery of their possible political
implications and presumably welcomes Paasio's hesi-
tation.
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