THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 FEBRUARY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993125
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 7, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
The President's Daily Brief
7 February 1972
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
Declassified in Part Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
7 February 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Lao Army has abandoned forward positions on
Route 23 on the western approach to the Bolovens
Plateau. East of Long Tieng, General yang Pao
has assembled a force of over 5,000 men and some
have started moving northeast toward Route 4.
(Page 1)
A shipment ?of Czechoslovak arms has arrived on
Cyprus, stirring sharp protests from Athens and
Ankara. (Page 2)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
LAOS
Area of
maps
? Government-held location
? Communist-held location
28
MILES
50
Paksong
23 Government evactiat
.
Bolovens
Plateau
55251 3 2-72 CIA
OP '
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Significant military action over the weekend
was confined to the south where government units con-
tinue to be pushed back from the western approaches
to the Bolovens Plateau. On 4 February, two Lao
Army battalions abandoned their forward positions on
Route 23, about two miles west of Ban Gnik. The bat-
talion commanders reported receiving heavy weapons
fire and being surrounded before leaving their posts.
The loss of these positions narrows the
distance between Communist-held territory
and the key river town of Pakse to 15 miles.
We still doubt, however, that the enemy
has serious designs on Pakse. The Commu-
nists appear to be widening their margin
of protection for the BoZovens and most
likely will continue to do so. Their cur-
rent objective may be the road junction of
Routes 23 and 231, about three to four
miles farther west.
South of the Plaine des Jarres enemy action was
limited to brief clashes and artillery fire on govern-
ment troops. The Communists' shelling was heaviest
in the Sam Thong sector.
General yang Pao is continuing to assemble a
substantial guerrilla force at Pha Dong, 12 miles
east ?of Long Tieng. The airlift of at least 3,600
irregulars to the base over the past few days raises
the total government strength there to more than
5,000 men. On Saturday approximately 1,000 of these
troops began to move northeast toward Route 4. No
significant contact with the enemy has been reported
thus far.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP-79T00936A010400070001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CYPRUS
A shipment of arms and ammunition arrived from
Czechoslovakia in late January. /
parently plans to use most
2,000-man force personally
counter what he views as a
supporters.
/President ?Makarios ap-
of the weapons to form a
loyal to him in order to
threat from General Grivas'
Press accounts of the shipment have stirred
sharp protests from Athens and Ankara. Because of
the origin of the arms, Athens suspects that they
will be given to the Communists on the island
rather than to the Greek-controlled National Guard.
Turkish Foreign Minister Bayulken told Ambassador
Handley that because the new Czech shipment might
eventually be used against Turkish Cypriots, Ankara
in turn might consider sending arms to the Turkish
minority.
Adverse reaction to the arms shipment
could disrupt recent progress toward
resuming intercommunal talks. Even
while expressing his dismay over the
arms shipment, however, BayuZken told
Ambassador Handley that he hoped the
talks could begin by the end of Feb-
ruary.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010400070001-4