THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 14 AUGUST 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993902
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 14, 1973

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700020012-3
The President's Daily Brief
14 August 1973
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700020012-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011700020012-3
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(1).12).(3)
deelassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
14 August 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Although intercepted Khmer insurgent messages call
for simultaneous attacks in the Phnom Penh area on
the night of August 14, a major offensive against
the capital is probably beyond present insurgent
capabilities. (Page 1)
In Chile, the chief effect of the military's return
to the cabinet last week is to buy President Allende
time. (Page 2)
Some progress has been made in talks between the
Syrian and Lebanese foreign ministers on reopening
the border between their two countries, and the mat-
ter has now been referred to higher levels. (Page 3)
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh may show enough
flexibility on the key issue of war crimes trials
to permit further progress in the negotiations
scheduled to resume in New Delhi on August 18,
(Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Phnom Penh
defense line
.1)
SECRET SPOKE
SPOKE
554519-8-73 CIA
5
10
Statute Miles
0 Probable area of Communist attack
C 4 ?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Khmer insurgent units on Phnom Penh's southern
front have been instructed "to attack swiftly and
strongly" during the night of August 14 and to enter
Phnom Penh "if the situation favors it." An inter-
cepted message of August 13 also calls for simulta-
neous attacks on the capital's northern defenses.
Other messages of August 12 and 13 mention plans for
attacks on several fronts immediately following the
bombing halt.
The Khmer insurgents probably will attempt
widespread shellings and small-scale ground
assaults to exploit the psychological im-
pact of the bombing halt, but it is doubt-
ful that they will make an all-out effort
to capture the city within the next few
days. Insurgent units withdrew from the
southern front last week for rest and re-
fitting, and fighting on the northern front
and along Route 1 has slackened signifi-
cantly. Many of these insurgent units
are short of supplies and have taken heavy
casualties from air strikes. A major of-
fensive against Phnom Penh on such short
notice is probably beyond their present
capabilities.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHILE
The chief effect of the military's return
to the cabinet last week is to buy Presi-
dent Allende time. Although some coup
plotting continues, chances for success of
any actual attempt have been further re-
duced. Even among those officers who dis-
approved of military re-entry into the cab-
inet, the general reaction has been to sup-
port the four service commanders who as-
sumed portfolios.
The military, however, lacks the authority to
restore order and get the transportation system work-
ing. Although military commanders have been appointed
for each province, they have not been given emergency
powers. The under secretary of transportation, a
radical Socialist, has in fact sabotaged military
efforts to end the truck strike.
Discord continues within the opposition Chris-
tian Democratic Party (PDC). Party President Aylwin
has announced that the PDC favors the continuation
of the truckers' strike in defiance of the government,
but there are indications that other elements in the
party are ready to explore some compromise with Al-
lende.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SYRIA-LEBANON
Some progress has been made in the talks be-
tween the Syrian and Lebanese foreign ministers on
reopening the border between their two countries,
and the matter has now been referred to higher lev-
els.
Syria closed the border in May to bring
economic pressure to bear on the Lebanese
Government, which was then embroiled in
a fight with the fedayeen. Damascus hoped
then to achieve better terms for the guer-
rillas, force Lebanese policies into closer
alignment with Syria's, and keep the feda-
yeen on the other side of the border. In
the present talks, Syria apparently is
trying to get Lebanon to crack down on
its political opponents living there.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
BANGLADESH
Prime Minister Mujibur Rahman may show enough
flexibility on the key issue of war crimes trials
to permit further headway in the negotiations set
to resume in New Delhi on August 18.
Last month, India and Pakistan agreed to
a formula under which Bengalees in Paki-
stan and Pakistani prisoners of war in
India would be repatriated immediately.
Excluded would be 195 Pakistanis charged
with war crimes and 203 Bengalees accused
of treason whose fate would be decided
later. If Mujib agrees to this formula,
Pakistan says it will end its opposition
to Bangladesh's admission to the UN.
Mujib probably will not compromise on the
principle of holding trials eventually.
But the government is having trouble pre-
paring cases and is not yet in a position
to obtain convictions. Moreover, Mujib
wants to appear in a good light at the
nonaligned conference in Algiers next
month; he also knows early trials would
preclude UN membership this fall.
Mujib will gauge public opinion carefully
before making a decision. Both his deep
personal convictions and public actions
by his government--such as the passage of
legislation authorizing the trials?limit
his ability to maneuver.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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