THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 30 APRIL 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005974407
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: April 30, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
7)p-SI-Hc4L30 April 1968
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
30 APRIL 1968
1. South Vietnam
2. May Day
3. Panama
There are signs of continuing Com-
munist battle preparations over much of
South Vietnam, but these preparations
still appear incomplete in several areas,
including Saigon. Allied spoiling op-
erations may have upset the Communist
schedule.
We are watching West Germany in
general and West Berlin in particular
for May Day violence. There may also
be flare-ups in France, Spain, Britain,
and Austria.
The demonstrations may not even
be limited to the non-Communist part
of Europe. In Poland the students re-
portedly will be trying to get some
antigovernment demonstrations going
against the backdrop of the traditional
Communist May Day festivities.
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4. France -
Soviet Union
5. South Korea -
South Vietnam
Matters of real substance are crop-
ping up more and more frequently in the
increasingly cordial ties between Paris
and Moscow. For instance:
--The Soviets let French Defense
Minister Messmer watch some of their
military exercises during his recent
visit to Moscow. We assume they are
hoping the French will do the same for
Messmer's opposite number, Marshal
Grechko, when he returns the visit. A
Soviet defense minister watching French
troops in action would certainly raise
the hackles of many NATO members.
--Our embassy in Paris has been
told that contacts between scientists
of the two countries have become more
frequent and more fruitful. The em-
bassy's contact says the Frenchmen are
seeing a good deal more of what the
Russians are doing than other Western-
ers see.
--we understand the two countries
are considering the establishment of a
French consulate in Leningrad and a So-
viet consulate in Marseille. The Su-
preme Soviet recently ratified a Franco-
Soviet consular convention, and Paris
may follow suit any day.
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6. Soviet Union -
India
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
30 -April 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
30 April 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
North Vietnam Refutes US Spokesmen: Hanoi has
warned again that the U "must bear full responsi-
bility" for the delay in opening bilateral talks.
On 29 April, a statement by a Foreign Ministry spokes-
man takes the usual line that the US has raised one
condition after another in delaying selection of a
site. This statement is aimed specifically at Assist-
ant Secretary Bundy's remarks of 28 April.
Reflecting North Vietnamese sensitivity to re-
ports of official dealings between the US and Hanoi,
the statement says that Bundy "cooked up" a story
about "private discussions" in Vientiane while ruling
out North Vietnam's choices of venue. Bundy's
"crafty arguments," the statement said, are "another
proof" that the US is deliberately delaying talks;
Vice President Humphrey is charged with saying the
same thing in a "roundabout way" by claiming selec-
tion of a suitable site is a long and difficult pro-
cedure.
The statement concludes by charging that the US
is using this time to step up the pace of the war.
The statement is being broadcast in Vietnamese and
English.
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More Talk on Talks: Among the rumors going
around in Warsaw is one that claims serious dis-
agreement at the highest levels of the US Govern-
ment prevented acceptance of the Polish capital as
a talk site.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Hanoi on US Antiwar Demonstrations: North
Vietnam's news agency carried a roundup of US anti-
war demonstrations in English on its international
service on 29 April. VNA noted that "huge demonstra-
tions" demanding an end to the war were held recently
in several US cities as part of the current ten days
of resistance organized by the "National Mobiliza-
tion Committee." The broadcast reported antiwar
meetings in Washington and New York, and various stu-
dent boycotts protesting the war, On 28 April the
North Vietnamese carried a similar item, also in
English, focused on student strikes at some 26 uni-
versities and colleges. As usual, Hanoi added no com-
mentary of its own.
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