THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 4 APRIL 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993788
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 4, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
4 April 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification scheduk of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(11,( 2)13)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
April 4, 1973
SELET
EYES ONLY FOR THE PRESIDENT
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
4 April 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The new Soviet space station orbited yesterday ap-
pears to be functioning satisfactorily. (Page 1)
The EC political committee, in discussing MBFR for
the first time, underscored Western European reser-
vations about force reduction. (Page 2)
The Vietnamese Communists are streamlining their
rear services logistic system in south Laos and
adjacent areas. (Page 3)
A ranking official in the Soviet Foreign Ministry
says that recently there has been neither an im-
provement in Sino-Soviet relations nor any serious
border incident. (Page 5)
The dollar yesterday reached its highest level
since the joint float was introduced in Europe.
(Page 6)
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Soviets Launch Another Space Station
Soviet Sketch of Soyuz Spacecraft Preparing to Dock
With First Salyut Space Station
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USSR
The new Soviet space station orbited yesterday a
pears to be functioning satisfactorily.
Salyut-1., orbited in April 1971,
weighed approximately 46,000 pounds and was about
43 feet long--substantially smaller than the US
Skylab scheduled to be launched next month.
A team of cosmonauts most likely will be launched
to the space station for an extended mission of
two to four weeks. If their mission is successful,
a second team probably will be sent for a Zonger
flight aboard the Salyut-2. The ill-fated crew
of Soyuz-11 spent 23 days aboard the first Salyut
in June 1971 before perishing during the deorbit
of the spacecraft.
The timing of the launch of the cosmonauts is un-
certain
About two weeks of such preparatory
activity would be expected prior to launch. A
number of the Soviet support ships are still a week
away from their monitoring positions in the Atlan-
tic and Pacific oceans, and they normally would
arrive at these positions a few days before launch.
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EC MBFR
The EC political committee, in discussing
MBFR for the first time, underscored
Western European reservations about force
reduction. The committee seems to have
concluded that it should continue to talk
about those aspects of MBFR that bear on
future West European integration while
NATO should deal with MBFR military mat-
ters.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
The Communists are streamlining their rear serv-
ices logistic system in south Laos and adjacent areas.
The regiment-level units (called Binh Trams) that
have,been-the key elements in the'network appear to
be the focus of the reorganization. Until recently
each Binh Tram was, responsible for all aspects of
the logistic and infiltration effort in one rela-
tively small territorial part of the system. They
are now being converted into units with narrower
functions and broader geographic areas of responsi-
bility. For example, one Binh Tram has become an
antiaitoraft regiment and another is now an engineer
regiment.
Hanoi apparently believes it is no longer
necessary to maintain the tight-knit con-
trol structure that developed during the
years of bombing. Such a structure made
easier the constant adjustments that were
necessary to keep up the flow of men and
materiel, but it was also expensive and
inefficient because innumerable trans-
shipments were required as goods moved
south. The Communists probably believe
that without the hazards of air raids,
they can cut down on the number of men in
the system.
The reorganization gives no hint of the
level of resupply that Hanoi is aiming at,
but it does indicate that the Communists
intend to maintain a substantial logistic
capability.
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WESTERN EUROPE
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USSR-CHINA
Michail Kapitsa, one of the leading Sinologists
in the-.USSR,and'a ranking official of the Foreign
Ministry, says that,recently.there has been neither
an improvement in Sino-Soviet relations nor any seri-
ousiporder-incident. Kapitsa acknowledged to a US
Embassy official that the border talks in Peking
arestill:stalemated by the same issues that have
hampered progress since discussions began in 1969.
He claimed Moscow had tried to allay Chinese con-
cerns about negotiating under duress. The Soviet
Union had not only proposed agreements on non-ag-
gression and non-use of nuclear force, but had also
suggested that the. 1950 mutual defense treaty. be
"reconfirmed." According to Kapitsa, the Chinese
rejected or turned aside all these prOpOsals.
This is no surprise, The Soviet offers
were almost certainly phrased to make
them unacceptable to the Chinese, -
Kapitsa predicted that trade negotiations now
under way. in Moscow would lead to an agreement of
at least the same magnitude as last year's--some
$250 million.
Kapitsa's remarks, which generally jibe
with other information on the current
state of Sino-Soviet relations, are
chiefly intended to dissuade the US from
trying to capitalize on Sino-Soviet dif-
ferences.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR-China-UN: Soviet UN delegates have begun
circulating their draft proposal on non-use of force
to non-aligned members of the Security Council, The
USSR plans to seek inscription of the item on this
month's agenda. The Chinese will fight inscription
and will vigorously oppose the resolution if it
reaches the Security Council. On the basis of past
voting records, chances are good that the proposal
will be inscribed. The Soviets apparently hope the
Chinese will eventually be forced to veto the pro-
posal.
International Monetary Developments: The dol-
lar yesterday reached its highest level since the
joint float was introduced in Europe. Some of the
dollar's strength came from the demands of specu-
lators divesting hard currencies acquired during
the crisis, but there was also evidence of a grow-
ing commercial demand. The mark is still the weak-
est currency in the joint float. The Bundesbank
yesterday sold as much as $20 million worth of
French, Norwegian, and Danish currencies, to sup-
port the mark. Italy's lira, which has been float-
ing independently, is showing increasing weakness,
and is now pegged slightly below its Smithsonian
level.
Libya-Egypt:
UN: Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim has as-
sured US officials that he will refuse the request
of the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG)
of South Vietnam for observer status at the UN in
New York. Waldheim has not acknowledged the PRG's
recently appointed UN representative. Waldheim ap-
parently still hopes to establish some contact
which might give the UN a role in Vietnam recon-
struction, and he may be considering granting the
Viet Cong a liaison office in Geneva. The PRG has
notified Waldheim it will soon appoint a Geneva
representative.
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