THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 3 AUGUST 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976285
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: August 3, 1968

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300140001-2
The President's Daily Brief
---'7-4.-Se6,tzL3 August 1968
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
3 AUGUST 1968
1. Czechoslovakia
2. South Vietnam
3. Soviet Union
There have been no further anti-
Soviet demonstrations in Prague. Dubcek
was clearly alarmed by the one which
took place following publication of the
uninformative communiqu?rom Cierna,
but his reassuring radio address to the
Czech people yesterday has quieted
things down at least temporarily.
Yesterday Czech Premier Cernik
said that the Bratislava talks which
start today will concern "things Which
unite. us," European security-i.e.,
West Germany--economic cooperation, and
Czechoslovakia's future role in the
international Communist movement. .The
Czech people have been promised a re-
port on the meeting by Dubcek as soon
as possible after it is over, Saturday
night or Sunday.
The status of Soviet forces in the
area remains essentially unchanged.
Soviet spacecraft recovery forces
are conducting exercises in the Indian
Ocean again. This probably means that
an unmanned circumlunar flight has been
rescheduled for some time later this
month or for September.
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4: Soviet Union -
Pakistan
5. Middle East
6. France
Gunnar Jarring is leaving New
York next week for more talks with the
parties involved in the Arab-Israeli
dispute.' .He will meet first with Abba
Eban in London, and then will go to
Cairo, where he will formally present
the Egyptians with question's posed by
the,Israelis.
?The questions are whether Egypt
is prepared to establish a state Of
peace and incorporate it in a binding
agreement, and, assuming a solution,
what the nature of future Israeli-
Egyptian relations would be. The Egyp-
tians already have the questions and
say :that they add "nothing new.t' They
do say, however, that they will not be
"bashful" in responding and in asking
questions of their own.
All in all, Jarring is encouraged
that a dialogue may be developing. He
believes that the prospects for his new
efforts depend on what Eban tells him--
particularly about the borders Israel
will agree to as part of a settlement.
Ambassador Lucet, back in Paris
on vacation, had an audience with De
Gaulle early in the week. Later, in
talking with Ambassador Shriver, he
portrayed the General as optimistic
about Franco-American relations--even
passing on the quote that "there are no
real problems between France and the US."
As for the international monetary ques-
tion, De Gaulle said France and the US
"had differences of opinion only."
Lucet described De Gaulle as very relaxed.
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7. Communist China Mao has issued his-strongest state-
ment of the year in an effort to bring
the violence under control. .Mao says
that the people are fed up with the
fighting by the rival Red Guard fac-
tions. He warns that those who con-
tinue to disobey, strike at the army,
disrupt communications, kill and burn
"must be annihilated."
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The new statement will almost cer-
tainly have an immediate calming effect,
but unless further specific orders are
issued, its long-range results are
likely to be limited. Thus, while Mao
at one point calls on all Red Guards to
unite, at another point he calls on the
militants to continue to "strike out."
Ambiguous remarks such as these are
good ammunition for any or all sides.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
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16
3 August 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
3 August 1968
I. NOTES. ON .THE SITUATION
Hanoi on Li?beration Front: During this week's
session of the Paris talks, the Communists went back
to their older and tougher language concerning the
role of the Liberation Front in a political settle-
ment. Propaganda media since then has reinforced a
shift back to the harder line.
? Hanoi radio in an English broadcast on 2 August
said the Front was the "master of the situation" and,
therefore, has a "decisive say in the settlement of
the South Vietnam issue." The broadcast went on in
even harsher and more uncompromising terms: "There is
no other basis for a solution to the South Vietnam
problem than the judicious stand of the Front."
Less categorical language has usually been used
in recent months.
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Postwar Stance: North Vietnamese spokesmen
increasingly make a point of stressing their plans
for carving out an independent role for Vietnam in
a postwar period, usually by stressing their inter-
est in non-Communist trade.
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Reconnaissance Report: Almost no transport ac-
tivity was noted in high-altitude photography of the
panhandle taken last Sunday. The mission, however,
?was flown in mid-morning when most trucks and water-
craft in this area are holed up waiting for darkness.
The mission got pictures of the Vinh airfield
where some repair of bomb damage is under way. The
main runway still could not be used by MIGs, however.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report.
-3-
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Top Secret
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