THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 MARCH 1967

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005973692
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: March 23, 1967

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100020001-8
The President's Daily Brief
23 March 1967
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DAILY BRIEF
23 MARCH 1967
1. South Vietnam
2. Communist China
Tri Quang has launched a new effort
to get his militant Buddhist movement
back into the spotlight. He is leading
a campaign for a "permanent ceasefire"
to begin on 23 May, Buddha's birthday.
Appeals have already gone out to a num-
ber of governments in addition to the
US for a ceasefire. If this idea pros-
pers, Tri Quang and company intend to
press for an indefinite extension of the
ceasefire and, finally, to offer their
services as mediators.
This is so transparently a self-
serving scheme on Tri Quang's part that
we expect little positive to come of
it. It may, however, generate some pub-
licity.
Peking is more and more turning to
the army to administer the country and
keep the economy from collapsing. The
military now appear to be in complete
charge in two provinces, and to have at
least a dominant voice in most others.
The army controls the civil air-
line, some of the railroads and communi-
cations facilities, as well as a segment
of the merchant shipping. The Central
Committee has also directed the military
to supervise spring planting and support
industrial production.
This does not mean the army will
become a vast labor force. It probably
will, however, replace the shattered
party and government apparatus as
Peking's administrative instrument for
conveying orders and seeing that they
are carried out.
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3. Austria
4. Panama
5. Laos
6. French Somaliland
Vienna still wants to join the
Common Market and acquire defensive
missiles--and Moscow still objects.
During a just-completed visit to
Russia, Chancellor Klaus was told
that neither desire was compatible
with the 1955 peace treaty or Austria's
political neutrality. Moscow would
consider Austrian affiliation with the
Common Market as a virtual second ab-
sorption of the country by West Germany.
The "little war" in northern Laos
grinds on. Government forces attempting
to enlarge their area of control are
meeting determined resistance from both
Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese units.
We have no evidence, however, that the
Communists are gearing up for any big
offensive during the current dry season.
Reinforced French troops are keep-
ing the lid on in Djibouti. Somalia
says it does not "recognize" Sunday's
referendum, but is reacting cautiously.
Addis Ababa says that unless the
Somalis do "something foolish" in the
near future, Ethiopian troops will move
back from the border area.
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7. Sierra Leone
Following their intervention yes-
terday to keep the premier-designate
from taking office, the military have put
the capital city under tight control.
The army chief says "all efforts" are be-
ing made to form a "constitutional gov-
ernment," but these words coming from a
man who has just seen how easy it is to
seize power seem to have a slightly hol-
low sound.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100020001-8