THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001800010035-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2012
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: April 7, 1967
• Content Type: MEMO

VVW %W* Top Secret C_~
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
-Top Secret
110
7 April 1967
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7 April 1967
HIGHLIGHTS
Indications continue to mount that the Communists
may be planning further major military activities in
the northern provinces of South Vietnam.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
tailed information on Communist maritime infiltration
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The Constituent Assembly will probably be able to
resolve the dispute which has sprung up over the
exclusion of the phrase "supreme being" from the
constitution without rewording the constitution
itself (Paras. 1-3). Former premier Tran Van Huong
is expected to.announce his presidential candidacy
officially this weekend (Para. 4).
IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There
is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: There is
nothing of significance to report.
VI. Other Major Aspects: Photography confirms
that Route 922 is now motorable into South Vietnam
as far as A Shau (Para. 1).
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MAIN MR 5
RESUPPLY-
STORAGE AREA
VIET GONG
MILITARY
REGION 5
SOUTH VIETNAM
1 1 Macs
S [ 0KiO St.r%
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
Communist Maritime Resupply Activities Revealed
5. During his preliminary interrogation, the
rallier provided detailed information concerning
7 April 1967
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the organization and command structure of Military
Region 5. In addition, he revealed Communist
plans for a major offensive this summer designed
to prevent the expansion of the GVN's Revolutionary
Development program in the provinces of Quang Ngai,
Quang Tin, and Quang Nam. confirmed
that Hanoi directs operations in South Vietnam's
two northernmost provinces, Quang Tri and Thua
Thien, and stated that this area would constitute
the main battlefield in the summer campaign.
more than 50 percent of MR 5's supplies
were infiltrated by sea during 1965 and 1966. During
the first two months of 1967, however, this level
was reduced to 20-30 percent.
7. Hoa Hiep village in Phu Yen Province was
reportedly the main point of entry for infiltrated
supplies until it was occupied by South Korean
troops in 1966. Other primary entry points were
located along the coast of Quang Ngai Province
near Cape Batangan, Duc Pho, and Sa Huynh. The
enemy's most recent major maritime resupply opera-
tions have been centered around Phan That village,
in southern Quang Ngai, the
destination point for a Communist trawler which
was destroyed by its crew after it was run aground
by US Navy coastal surveillance patrols on 14 March
1967.
8. MR 5's principal resupply stockpile area
is reportedly located in the Kontum/Quang Tin/Quang
Ngai tri-border area. Intermediate storage points
for sea infiltrated supplies are located in southern
Quang Ngai Province. The main supply point for
fish and rice in MR 5 is Sa Huynh.
9. The rallier further states that in 1966
three large trawlers attempted to conduct major
resupply infiltration operations in the MR 5 area,
but that two of the three were destroyed by allied
forces. US military officials confirm only one of
these infiltration efforts, in the vicinity of An
7 April 1967
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Tho, Quang Ngai Province, during late November 1966.
Two other major attempts to deliver supplies to
MR 5 in large steel-hulled trawlers were detected,
one at Vung Ro Bay in Phu Yen Province in February
1965 and another north of Cape Batangan in Quang
Ngai Province in March 1967.
7 April 1967
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1. Constituent Assembly officers met with var-
.rious religious leaders on 5 April in an attempt to
resolve the dispute--which has involved public dem-
onstrations by Catholic groups--over.the;deletion of
the phrase "supreme being" from the preamble of the
constitution. Father Tran Du, leader of the Catholic
Citizens bloc, insisted that the phrase be reinserted
and remained adamant throughout the meeting. Other
religious leaders, however, appeared to recognize
that it was too late to reword the constitution, and
were satisfied that they had made their point.
2. In its first plenary session since the con-
stitution's promulgation, the assembly agreed on
6 April not to change the constitution. Instead,
a committee was appointed to draft a resolution which
would affirm the assembly's respect for the supreme
being and deny that deletion of the phrase from the
preamble was the result of pressure from any quarter.
The resolution will be submitted for assembly ap-
proval on 8 April, at which time the assembly will
also make some changes in its internal rules and,
time permitting, begin the election of new assembly
officers.
3. There were reports that the assembly, with-
out much debate, deleted the now controversial phrase
from the preamble at the request of moderate Buddhist
leader Thich Tam Chau, a move which more or less
automatically invited a response from militant Catholic
quarters. The embassy now believes that the forth-
coming resolution in the assembly should satisfy most
religious leaders including the Catholics. It is not
yet clear, however, whether Father Tran Du himself
will attempt to exploit the issue, further.
Announcement of Tran Van Huong's Presidential Can-
didacy Expected Soon
4. Former premier Tran Van Huong plans to an-
nounce his presidential candidacy officially this
weekend, although it will be made contingent upon
satisfactory safeguards in the forthcoming electoral
7 April 1967
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regulations. Former youth minister Vo Long Trieu,
who has been acting as Huong's unofficial campaign
manager, presented the embassy on 7 April with a
copy of Huong's press release, which has already
been sent to Huang for his approval. The release
points out that Huong decided to be a candidate
when he first heard that there would be an elected
government, and that his decision was prompted by
a sense of responsibility and duty. It concludes,
however, that Huong's candidacy depends upon fair
election laws.
7 April 1967
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7 April 1967
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IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
7 April 1967
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LAOS PANHANDLE
`.Siem Pang
73)
'Shau Valley
A
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1. Analysis of photography) (confirms
that Route 922 is motorable as far south as A Shau
in South Vietnam. Road clearing was observed under
way extending about one mile south-southeast from
A Shau. Since 1 March, observers near Route 922
have reported only a small number of trucks moving
in Laos along this route toward the border.
7 April 1967
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Top Secret
Top Secret
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