THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 AUGUST 1968

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005976281
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
10
Document Creation Date: 
September 16, 2015
Document Release Date: 
September 16, 2015
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 1, 1968
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 r r-s The President's Daily Brief op cc/Yet I August 1968 23 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001:4,A1 THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 AUGUST 1968 1. Czechoslovakia- The confrontation at Cierna goes Soviet Union into its fourth day 2. Mexico The meeting between Czechoslovak and Soviet leaders resumes at Cierna this mornigg. It had looked as if the talks would wind up late yesterday, .but some snag developed, possibly over the wording of the final communiqu? Brezhnev, incidentally, recovered from whatever illness he was suffering and returned to the conference table yes- terday afternoon. Prague's reporting on the talks has been guardedly optimistic, although providing little substantive informa- tion. Relative calm prevails in Mexico City this morning, but the atmosphere remains tense. A student march is scheduled for this afternoon There have been demonstrations in two provincial capitals with two students killed. 50X1 bUA"I 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001:1xi 3. Cambodia 4. India 5, Nigeria 6. Nepal - North Korea Food production hit a record high this year. It will not be enough to assure an adequate diet, but widespread ? famine is not the threat it was last year. The government estimates produc- tion for the crop year ending 30 June ? at about 96 million tons and plans to import another 7.5 million tons. The French statement yesterday supporting Biafra, and coming as the two sides are about to sit down for peace talks, will do nothing to help matters. In fact, it could well pro- long the war by encouraging the Biafrans to stand fast. ? Operating with a boorishness more attuned to meetings at Panmunjom than to the niceties of diplomacy, a North Korean "good will" delegation to Nepal has queered the prospects for closer ties between the two countries. The North Koreans arrived in Kat- mandu last week and began demanding things--an audience with the King, dip- lomatic relations with Pyongyang, and official status for the delegation. When the delegation's leader got a chilly reception, he refused to keep . any further appointments. The attitude of the delegation makes any gestures to North Korea unlikely at this time. 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 0)(1 7. Middle East 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24: CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 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 50X1 16 1 August 1968 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001im Special Daily Report on North Vietnam for the President's Eyes Only 1 August 1968 I. .NOTES ON THE SITUATION Reconnaissance Report: A high-altitude photo- graphic mission was flown on 26 July. These are some points of interest: --The number of MIG-21s continues to increase. In an 18 Julyjnissioiii photography combined with inter- cepts showed.a total of 23 MIG-21s. On 26 July, 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4_ :1 28 MIG-21s were photographed and intercepts indicate that several more were in the air at the time of the mission. It is possible that Hanoi is replacing some or all of its MIG-17 force with MIG-21s. Only about 20 MIG-17s were photographed and many of these were heavily damaged. --At Haiphong port, there was no appreciable change in the level of material in open storage since 18 July. The turnover of cargo continues to be high. A minimum of accumulation from newly ar- rived material was evident in the port area. --Good coverage of the major rail network was obtained. No activity was evident at the Vinh end of the Hanoi-Vinh rail line. Six trains were seen en route to Hanoi from Haiphong, more than have been seen before at one time. --Photography of industrial installations shows that the pace of repair activity on damaged plants has increased. -2- 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 0)(1 II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL ATTITUDES ON THE WAR 'There is nothing of significance to report today. ?3- Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300120001-4