THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 JULY 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976239
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: July 8, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 8 July 1968
32
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
8 JULY 1968
1. Guatemala
2. Presidential Trip
3. Soviet Union -
Czechoslovakia
Communist terrorists last night
threw a bomb at the residence of the US
ambassador in Guatemala City. The ex-
plosion caused no injuries. Another
explosive device found at Peace Corps-
headquarters was disarmed by Guatemalan
security personnel,
the terrorists plan to
carry out a series of bombings and at-
tacks through today.
Moscow and Peking wasted no time
in playing up the anti-American demon-
strations in San Salvador. The official
press services of both countries carried
items Saturday which read as though
there was no one but protesters in the
streets. The stories also were sharply
critical of the Central American Common
Market, calling it a means of "plunder-
ing the people" and saying that the
President's trip was aimed at salvaging
it from bankruptcy.
The Soviet troops brought into
Czechoslovakia for a Warsaw Pact exer-
cise which ended more than a week ago
are lingering on. Czechoslovak spokes-
men continue their almost daily fore-
casts that the Russians will soon go
home. Marshal Yakubovsky, the Soviet
who commands the Warsaw Pact, may not be
so inclined. He is said to have been
displeased with the results of the exer-
cise and to want another one in Czecho-
slovakia in about a month. Prague
rightly sees more than military train-
ing in this request and the issue has
been sent to the highest Soviet and
Czechoslovak levels for resolution.
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4. Soviet Union
Egypt
5. Poland
6. Malaysia-
Thailand
Moscow has rolled out the red car-
pet for Nasir, but there are some signs
that his talks with the Soviet leaders
did not go all that smoothly. TASS
labeled the first round of talks as a
"frank exchange of opinions"--wording
that often signifies differences of
view. Even more intriguing is Nasir's
decision to stay on in Moscow until
mid-week although his hosts apparently
thought he would move on to Belgrade
two days ago.
There is no clue yet what new
military or economic aid Nasir will
take home. The makeup of the Egyptian
delegation suggests military aid will,
at least, be discussed.
The party Central Committee meets
today for the first time since the poli-
tical crisis of last March. Party chief
Gomulka appears to have improved his
position in recent weeks, but he will
have to strike compromises on key is-
sues with his hardline opponents. The
meeting is expected to set a date for
a party Congress later this year. It
may also shift some jobs around.
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Tob Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
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17
8 July 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
8 July 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Photographic Reconnaissance: Reconnaissance
-photography of 30 June showed that a high level of
activity continues throughout the Haiphong port area,
with indications that incoming cargo is being moved
at an increased pace.
A total of 277 pieces of rolling stock, an in-
crease of 100 since 3 June, were photographed in
Haiphong--122 in the port area and 155 in the main
rail yard. Twenty-six ships were photographed in
the Haiphong area, 11 of which were discharging cargo.
Photography of most of the major airfields
showed that there are now at least 46 fighter air-
craft in North Vietnam, about 17 more than had pre-
viously been estimated.
The North Vietnamese are continuing to build
blast walls around the generators and boilers at
several power plants. At least three of six power
plants photographed were in operation.
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Hanoi Radio Describes U Thant Meeting: U Thant
met on 6 July with Xuan Thuy. Hanoi's international
service in English on 7 July said that Thuy reiter-
ated North Vietnam's position that the US "must bear
full responsibility for the fact that the talks do
not make progress."
The Hanoi broadcast said that Thuy denounced
the US demand for reciprocity in return for an end
to the bombing of North Vietnam. The North Vietnam-
ese negotiator noted U Thant's "positive point" in
demanding an unconditional end to the bombing, but
also "expressed regret" that the Secretary General
"confused the aggressor and those who oppose aggres-
sion."
The broadcast also noted that Thant said his
visit was aimed at hearing about the Paris talks
and not at making any new proposals.
-2-
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* * *
Women's Group in Rome: A North Vietnamese
women's group arrived in Rome on 3 July. This
group will be in Italy about two weeks as the guest
of the Italian Communist women's organization. The
North Vietnamese women are meeting with assorted
bands of leftist ladies. Their visit is being cov-
ered by the Communist newspapers, but is being
largely ignored by the rest of the press.
-3,-.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE -WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report to-
-4-
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Top Secret
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