THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 2 APRIL 1975

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006014761
• 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 2, 1975

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010040-4
The President's Daily Brief
April 2, 1975
5
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category,511(1).(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
April 2, 1975
Table of Contents
South Vietnam: Vietnamese communist forces now con-
trol virtually all of Military Region 2. Sai-
gon is rife with rumors of a major political
change. (Page 1)
Cambodia: Neak Luong and Banam have fallen, and
there are signs that the Khmer communists are
planning to step up their attack on Phnom Penh.
The Thai government is having second thoughts
about the airlift to Pochentong. (Page 2)
Egypt-Israel:
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(Page 4) 25X1
Saudi Arabia:- King Khalid has announced his inten-
tion to reorganize the government by forming
a "consultative council." (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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NORTH
VIETNAM ,
Demilitarized Zone
.??
???,^ ``,,
Da Naniie
MR I
CAM BOD
Nakano
,PHNOM PENH?
GON
Can Tho
, --MR 3
tfvt-A;1-rau
Capital Special Zone
Gulf of
Thailand
1'4
WNH
HUAN
/--Sr
? Nhon
MR 2
,A?
.Nha Trang
.Cam Ranh
NINH
THUAN
South
China
Sea
190
MILES
.2
557596 4-75
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Vietnamese communist forces now con-
trol virtually all of Military Region 2,
including its southern provinces. Rumors
of a major political change are rife in
Saigon.
Since the loss of Qui Nhon and Nha Trang yes-
terday, the government has apparently abandoned the
coastal provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan.
There are no South Vietnamese regulars in Tuyen
Duc Province, including the resort city of Da Lat,
and much of the population has fled.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Cam Ranh
also has fallen. The fate: of the civilian refugees
recently taken to. Cam Ranh is unclear following the
movement on to Vung Tau-of the approximately 9,000
marines just evacuated from Da Nang.- These marine
units are to be reorganized for deployment near
Saigon by the end of next week. Efforts to: refit
and reorganize some 4,000 troops from the South
Vietnamese 2nd Division, now heading for Military
Region 3; are being slowed by the lack of replace-
ment equipment.
In the delta provinces, the communists are
giving new priority to cutting the major highways
in order to block the movement of military supplies
south from Saigon and foodstuffs north to the cap-
ital. This operation may have delayed planned at-
tacks against Can Tho and My Tho cities. Neverthe-
less, some units of the communist 8th Division are
in position to attack these major urban centers at
any time.
Rumors of an imminent, major political change
have begun to circulate in Saigon. I 25X1
I a group of generals has given 25X1
President Thieu 48 hours to step down. Another
claims that Prime Minister Khiem has handed in his
resignation in protest over Thieu's handling of
the war. Thieu has privately denied the latter and
said he would not step down. Despite government
efforts to spike such reports, it is likely that
the rumors will increase as news of defeats con-
tinue to disturb the capital.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Cambodia: Lower Mekong
51
Tuol Leap,
PHNOM
PENH,
VV"
overnnient
abandons
Island
'24-0
15
Pr k T
eak Luong ?
Overrun by
ommurusts
30
\\?
SOUTH VIETNAM
Miles . 10
? '???
557598
4-75 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
The Khmer communists have overrun
the government enclave that included
Neak Luong and nearby Banam, the last
government holdings on the Mekong be-
tween Phnom Penh and the South Vietnam-
ese border. The two neighboring towns
were defended by over 4,000 troops. The
loss is a major defeat.
After the communists have eliminated remaining
pockets of resistance in the Neak Luong - Banam area,
they will be able to redeploy toward Phnom Penh a
substantial number of the 6,000 to 7,000 troops they
now have along the lower Mekong.
An-intercepted message of April 1 discloses
that the communists are calling in units--at least
four battalions so far--from northern provinces for
use against Phnom Penh. The message indicates that
the orders had come from the Khmer communist cen-
tral committee, which earlier-had been informed of
President Lon Nol's departure.
If units from the northi'and-from outlying prov-
inces in other areas of the country, begin moving
immediately, it would take them at least two days
to reach the Phnom Penh area. Preparations for. com-
bat might take several more days-. It-is:clear from
the intercepted message that the communists see-Lon
Nol's departure as a sign that the government is
weak, and they are trying to make a greater effort to
achieve military victory.
Inconclusive fighting continued on most other
battlefronts around Phnom Penh, except along the
Bassac River to the southeast, where government
units abandoned positions on an island some four
miles from the capital's outskirts. Communist-re-
inforcements moved into this sector last week and
government units have been gradually losing ground
ever since. Communists forces yesterday fired over
30 rockets at Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport, but
again failed to affect airlift operations.
(continued)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
The Thai government is having second
thoughts about continuing to permit the
airlift of military supplies from Thai-
land to Cambodia.
Last week, after first coming out publicly
against the flights, the Thais decided to look the
other way and allow them to continue. Now, however,
Foreign Minister Chatchai Chunhawan is reported to
fear that a Cambodian collapse may be imminent and
that ammunition sent to Cambodia might end up even-
tually being used against Thailand. Bangkok has no
alternative, Chatchai said, but to seek accommoda-
tion with those in power in the region.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT?ISRAEL
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SAUDI ARABIA
King Khalid announced on Monday
night, in the first major policy state-
ment of his reign, his intention to
"reorganize" the government's relation-
ship to the people by forming a "con-
sultative council."
The statement, broadcast by the Saudi radio,
was read by Crown Prince Fahd, who continues to
stand as the country's preeminent political leader
now that Faysal is gone. The plan was attributed
to the late King. Khalid alleged that Faysal
would have established such a council had he lived.
In March 1974, Prince Fahd told Ambassador
Akins that he was actively pushing within ruling
circles for the adoption of several fundamental
political changes in the kingdom, including a con-
sultative assembly, the modernization of provincial
government, and ultimately, the drafting of a con-
stitution,dismissing the claim that the Koran was
the only constitution Saudi Arabia needed. Fahd
indicated, during the conversation, that he was op-
posed to an elective body, but favored an appoin-
tive assembly whose. powerswould be purely advisory'.
He implied that he would pick modernists and would
keep the. numberof tribal sheikhs and religious
leaders in an assembly to a minimum.
King Khalid's recommendation in his statement
Monday night for changes in provincial government
has also been discussed before. In fact, a thorough
revamping of provincial government was drafted in
1963, at the direction of Faysal,,who was then crown
prince. It was, however, never implemented.
Elsewhere in the statement--which generally
stressed continuity with Faysal 's policies--Khalid
made a point of emphasizing Saudi Arabia's commit-
ment to the liberation of Jerusalem "from the claws
of Zionism." By stressing that Jerusalem must be
the first step in dealing with the Palestine ques-
tion--not something to be taken up when everything
else is out of the way--the new leaders probably
intend to signal their support for a firm Arab posi-
tion following the end of the step-by-step negotia-
tions. They presumably want to stiffen Egypt's
resolve to hold out for an Arab, not just Egyptian,
settlement.
(continued)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Khalid mentioned in passing that his government
would continue to strengthen its armed forces and
provide them with the necessary equipment to defend
Saudi Arabia and the "Arab nation."
Khalid also called for Islamic solidarity, Arab
unity, and the recovery of the occupied territories.
With respect to the country's oil reserves, he talked
about avoiding confrontation and not letting "self-
ishness" affect world prosperity; he supported the
resolutions of the OPEC summit conference in Algiers.
The appointment of Prince Saud, the
34-year-old fourth son ofthe late King,
as minister of state for foreign affairs
should bring some improvement to the con,
duct of Saudi Arabian foreign affairs.
Our embassy in Jidda reports that the appoint-
ment could be of some benefit to the US, because
Saud's "inside" knowledge of national policy should
provide us better access to the decision-making
processes of the government.--The embassy points
out, however, that the extent of Saud's authority
in foreign affairs will not be clear-until Crown
Prince Fahd's overall responsibilities become-known.
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Top Secret
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