THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 MARCH 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993207
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 23, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500210001-7
The President's Daily Brief
23 March 1972
20
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
23 March 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In the Laos fighting, irregular forces retook two
positions on Skyline Ridge yesterday but later were
forced back by enemy mortar and artillery fire.
(Page 1)
The Cypriot bishops have repeated in strong terms
their request that President Makarios resign and
the threat of violence on the island again is in-
creasing. (Page 2)
Pressure is building on the Israeli Government to
define its ultimate aims with regard to the occu-
pied territories. (Page 3)
Pakistani President Bhutto's visit to Moscow appears
to have reduced some of the bitterness between the
two governments. (Page 4)
Rising anti-American sentiment in Bangladesh may
lead to violence this weekend. (Page 4)
Yugoslav
China
(Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
Miles 10
? 0 Government-held location
0 Communist-held location
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Irregular forces retook two positions at the
western end of Skyline Ridge on Wednesday, but
hours later were forced back by enemy mortar and
artillery fire. Government artillery fire and air
strikes forced the Communists to withdraw from the
center of the ridge, but irregulars have not re-
occupied the area. This leaves the government
forces holding five positions and the Communists
two, while two are unoccupied.
Over 600 fresh troops were airlifted into Long
Tieng yesterday.
The arrival of this force should bolster
the morale of the irregulars defending
the base and improve Vang Pao's capability
for defense and counterattack. About 550
troops driven from the Sam Thong area
have also arrived, but they presumably
will need some rest before they can par-
ticipate in combat.
To the east of the Plaine des Jarres, advance
elements of one of yang Pao's task forces are about
three miles from Phong Sayan, once a major enemy
storage area. Elements from the other force have
reached high ground overlooking Nong Pet., at the
junction of two important supply roads. A ground
observer reports that five tanks are north of Nong
Pet, and intercepts indicate that elements from the
North Vietnamese 866th and 174th regiments are pre-
paring to,engage the irregulars
There is as yet no evidence that yang
Pao's new operations have diverted any
Communist troops from the siege at Long
Tieng.
1
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CYPRUS
Athens appears to be increasing its pressure
on Pre'sident Makarios. At a meeting yesterday,- the
Cypriot bishops rejected Makarios' contention that
his resignation could lead to a "national disaster"
and repeated in strong termstheir request that-he
step down as president..
Although Makarios had earlier told the
bishops that he would quit if they in-
sisted, his more likely course is to ap-
peal for public support in an effort to
demonstrate that the people will not per-
mit him to resign. The police in Limas-
sol, a city in southern Cyprus where two
of the bishops are staying, are on full
alert in anticipation of mass demonstra-
tions, and ? the threat of violence on the
island again isincreasing.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL
Pressure is building on the government to de-
fine more specifically its ultimate aims with regard
to the occupied territories. The main impulse for
this activity, which involves leaders of political
parties, senior government officials, and the press,
seems to be a fear that the US might strike a deal
with the USSR affecting Israel's borders during
President Nixon's visit to Moscow.
According to an adviser to Prime Minister Meir
who talked with US officials, senior Israeli offi-
cials suspect that the Soviets, as part of their
strategy to neutralize a US-Chinese rapprochement,
will inform the President that Moscow now accepts
the Rogers plan, which calls for only minimal changes
in the pre-1967 borders as part of a peace settle-
ment. The Israelis fear this move would force the
US to choose between opposing Israel or abandoning
a long-standing policy and incurring serious losses
in the Arab world.
In addition to this concern, King Husayn's un-
veiling of his proposal for the West Bank has helped
to focus attention on the border problem. This has
led Deputy Prime Minister Alon to reintroduce his
1967 plan for a settlement with Jordan. Alon claims
that it is now possible to mobilize a large majority
in the Knesset in support of his plan, which in-
cludes a 10- to 15-mile defensive strip held by Is-
rael in the Jordan Valley, an Israeli-controlled con-
necting corridor with East Jordan, and other border
adjustments in strategic areas. Speaking to the
press on 21 March, Mrs. Meir said the "Alon Plan"
is the minimum any cabinet minister would accept.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR-Pakistan: President Bhutto's visit to
Moscow appears to have reduced some of the bitter-
ness between the two governments. Moscow agreed
to resume work on aid projects suspended during
the war last December but apparently deferred to
India on the question of peace negotiations by say-
ing it would abstain from a role in such talks.
Bangladesh: US officials in. Dacca have re-
ceived reports from Bengali sources that rising-
anti-American sentiment in Bangladesh may lead to,
violence on-25-26 March during celebrations marking
the first anniversary of the independence movement.
Speeches by local politicians alleging "imperialist
conspiracies" against Bangladesh are aggravating_
anti-US-feeling, as are American news reports, re-
played in the local press, which many Bengalis be-
lieve reflect poorly on their country. Dacca is
swollen with large numbers of unemployed- displaced
persons who may be responsive to. an appeal to vio-
lence..
Yugoslavia-China:
4
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