THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 OCTOBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976395
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: October 7, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
et 7 October 1968
23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY 'BRIEF
7 OCTOBER 1968
1. Czechoslovakia -
Soviet Union
2. Warsaw Pact
3,, Peru
Dubcek is ready to resign, accord-
ing to press reports. We have no con-
firmation, but it seems clear that the
Soviets have finally managed to under-
mine both the unity of the liberal
leadership and the extent of its popu-
lar support. With these two crucial
props gone, the leadership can hardly
resist Moscow's pressure for wholesale
"normalization," and it would not be
surprising if Dubcek chose to bow out
rather than preside over this process.
We have little to confirm current
rumors that a Warsaw Pact exercise
will soon take place, but we would not
be surprised if one did occur. ?Autumn
has been a time for military exercises
in Pact countries even in periods of
relatively little tension.
The new military government, while
making it clear to all and sundry who
is boss, has generally, been acting with
restraint. Peru has been calm since
the coup.
All the members of the cabinet are
military men. Most of them are pro-
fessionally competent, although few
?have any experience in government.
They, are still feeling their way on
most issues, but the government's abro-
gation of the agreement with the US-
owned International Petroleum Company
? indicates it will be more nationalistic
than its predecessor.
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4, North Korea
5. Communist China
6. Soviet Union
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7. The Netherlands
The Dutch, who have long tried to
get US propulsion technology for a nu-
clear-powered submarine they plan to
build, are beginning to press harder.
The chairman of the parliamentary de-
fense committee told our ambassador
that the Netherlands might have to
look for technical assistance to France,
which he said was willing to consider
such ?a deal for an unspecified price.
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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
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
16
7 October 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
7 October 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
North Vietnamese Regrouping: A partial reposi-
tioning of North Vietnamese combat units from the
northern portion of ?South Vietnam to base areas in
Laos and north of the Demilitarized Zone has been
under way since early August. Similar, although
somewhat less extensive, moves in this area have
been noted in the past when the weather has made it
difficult for the enemy to keep his troops supplied
or when enemy units have taken extremely heavy casu-
alties. This year, successful Allied spoiling opera-
tions and destruction of important caches of enemy
food and munitions, coupled with the effects of Ty-
phoon Bess, have made it unusually difficult for the
North Vietnamese to keep their full complement of
units in operation in this region.
All indications are that the current reposition-
ing of North Vietnamese forces fits in with past
enemy military practice and can be explained on the
basis of the enemy's military needs. The evidence
indicates that the North Vietnamese continue to pump
supplies into the area north of the zone and, as in
the past, they are keeping some units active in a
harassing role despite the current pullback.of major
units.
* * *
Logistics: With continuing poor weather in
the North Vietnamese panhandle hampering both enemy
truck movements and allied air operations, pilots
reported sighting 32 percent fewer trucks during
23-29 September--362 compared with 532 during the
previous week. The sightings were about 58 percent
below the weekly average of 858 since April.
There were no reports of convoy movements or of
large concentrations of vehicles. The typical sight-
ing consisted of one to five trucks. Sightings dur-
ing September were about 42 percent below August's
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total and about 60 percent below the July figure.
The decline in truck sightings during September can
probably be attributed to poor weather, widespread
flood damage, and air interdiction along critical
route segments.
* * *
* * *
Alleged Attacks on Dikes: Hanoi's Ministry of
Water Conservancy has again charged the US with in-
tensifying attacks on dikes and water conservation
projects ?in North Vietnam. The statement, broadcast
by Hanoi Radio's international service in English
on 5 October, alleges that US planes made more than
30 attacks on such targets in southern North Viet-
nam during September. The US was attempting to de-
stroy essential public utility works, the statement
claims. The attacks were characterized as "utterly
odious crimes running counter to international law
and human morality."
* * *
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More Cash for the Fatherland: Hanoi is trying
to squeeze more donations from Vietnamese living in
Thailand. A captured pro-Communist Vietnamese stated
he had attended a meeting where a letter was read ask-
ing the Vietnamese in Thailand to earn and save more
money so that it could be contributed to North Viet-
nam. The letter said victory was near and every ef-
fort should be made for the final push.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report t
-3-
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Top Secret
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