THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 4 JULY 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976233
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: July 4, 1968

? Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
The President's Daily Brief
4July 1968
32 50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
ouX1
THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
4 JULY 1968
1. South Vietnam
Ky and armed forces chief Vien ap-
.parently hold an extremely gloomy view
Of Saigon's prospects in the event of
Another Communist offensive. Although
they may be genuinely concerned about
Weaknesses in the city's defenses, their
thinking may be colored by personal frus-
tration as Ky's military associates are
removed by Thieu.
50X1 ,
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3_,xi
2. Guatemala
3. Chile
4.? Soviet Union
Tight security has been clamped on
Guatemala.City following a bold rocket
attack by Communist terrorists Sunday.
The Communists have been lying low for
the past few days, but we know
they were plan-
ning more bombings:"in the immediate
fu-
ture.". These plans were made before
President Johnsons trip was announced.
The terrorists, however, may try to
time some action with the President's
stop.
Yesterday Brezhnev made one of his
most Vindictive public attacks on the
US in particular and on the West in gen-
eral. The speech before visiting Hun-
garian leaders, however, was intended
more to shore up fellow Communists than
to herald a new 'shift in Soviet attitudes
toward this country. What Brezhnev was
saying, in effect, was that if the Com-
munist world has troubles, the West has
more.
Despite his language--the US social
system "arouses comtempt and revulsion"--
we note that Brezhnev placed the party
stamp of approval on talks with the US
on limitation of Strategic weapons.
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
-4? Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24: CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
5. Soviet Union -
Pakistan
6. Panama
Soviet arms sales to Pakistan are
in the offing. The Pakistani military
delegation which went to Moscow last
month apparently ot a commitment
The Indians will not like this,
but there is not much they can do about
it as they are dependent on Soviet mili-
tary aid themselves. Moscow's move is
intended to cut into the US and Chinese
positions as military hardware suppliers
to Pakistan.
The draft canal treaties may be in
trouble when Arias becomes president on
1 October. He is talking about throwing
them out and starting all over with a -
fresh round of negotiations. Arias says
the present drafts are too complicated,
but what he really wants is a treaty that
has his personal imprint. Vhile:Arias
understands the need for close relations
with the US, he also is a nationalist
who will push for greater concessions
to Panamanian sovereignty.
* * *
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24: CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
7. Communist China
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
OX1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24: CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret 50X1
18
4 July 1968
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3 50X1
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
4 July 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
50X1
50X1
' Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3dm
* * *
..American Fliers: Hanoi's 3 July announcement
that it intends to release three more American fliers
may be a move to improve the atmosphere for making
some progress in the Paris talks.. It is still too
early to ?determine if the continuing lull in Commu-
nist military activity in South Vietnam also has this
purpose, but the planned release of the pilots lends
credence to this possibility. Hanoi may, however,
simply bill the release as a gesture for the US Fourth
of July celebrations or even in connection with the
anniversary of the'1954 Geneva Agreements on 20 July.
* * *
.Release of South Vietnamese: In a move appar-
ently coordinated with Hanoi's decision tO release
the pilots, Liberation Radio reported on.2 July that
the Front had released eight South Vietnam'ese pris-
oners on 30 May. .According to the broadcast, the
prisoners were released in execution of the Front's
"lenient humanitarian policy"--language identical to
that employed in Hanoi's Announcement of 3 July.
* * *
'Poles Protest.Saigon Shelling: _Members of the
.Polish International Control Commission delegation
have told a US Embassy officer in Saigon that the
Polish Government has protested the indiscriminate
shelling of Saigon to the North Vietnamese and that
General Giap did not reject the protest outright.
-2-
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-1A1
The Poles Also asserted that there would be no more
such rocket attacks.
Cuban Trade Official to Hanoi:
Cuba's vice foreign trade minis-
ter will arrive in Hanoi on 8 July. The probable
purpose is to sign the annual Cuban aid agreement.
.The visit is ?another facet of this year's North Viet-
namese aid-seeking drive.
* * *
-3-
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
?TI. :NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS 'OF US 'POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE ,WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report t
-4-
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3
- /
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200230001-3