THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 NOVEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976445
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: November 5, 1968

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
The President's Daily Brief
--T-024)-4eertt-5 November 1968
23
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
...A-I,' I
THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
5 NOVEMBER 1968
1. Cambodia
2. South Vietnam
:In a television appearance yester-
day, Thieu reaffirmed the position be
took regarding the Paris negotiations
on 2.November. He argued that North
Vietnamese propaganda since the halt
began indicated that the enemy is prov-
ing more stubborn than ever,. Touching
on. what is probably one of his major
preoccupations, Thieu contended that
Saigon's stand was proof that his gov-
ernment was not weak.
50X1
50X1
This morning some 2,000
members of the Catholic Greater Soli-
darity Force paraded past the US Embassy
demonstrating support for the govern-
ment.
Twelve rounds were reported fired
from a Communist mortar in the southern
part of the Demilitarized Zone this
morning.
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
3. Indonesia
4. Jordan
5. Venezuela
6. Soviet Union -
France.- Italy
The situation is even more fragile
as Husayn moves to curtail terrorist
activities in Amman. So far the King
has cleaned out only the small splinter
group responsible for Saturday's attack
on our embassy.
The larger terrorist organizations
are not opposing Husayn yet, and he
says he is aiming only at those who
cause trouble in the city itself or
challenge his authority. The terror-
ists are jumpy, however, and could well
begin shooting if they believe they,are
threatened by Jordanian security, forces.
The Soviets are trying to flog the
French and Italian Communist parties
back into line by cutting off financial
subsidies to their party newspapers,
L'Humanite and L'Unita. Both parties
were highly critical of the invasion of
Czechoslovakia. The Soviet action will
hurt, but neither party is likely to
let it stop the presses.
50X6
50X6
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
;Jun I
7. Dominican Republic
8.. Japan
On 27 November, Sato has to stand
for re-election as president of his
Liberal Democratic Party. Several fac-
tions are challenging him, but right
now he looks like the winner. Should
Sato lose, he would also have to step
down as prime minister.
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
,
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
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
5 November 1968'
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-31
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
5 November 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Air Defense: Hanoi's plans for air defense re-
action to continuing flights by US aircraft over its
territory remain unclear at this early date. There
are signs that some air defense forces have orders to
fire only if fired upon.
?. A message originated on.2. November by.a North,
Vietnamese general believed to be associated with air
defense matters 'cautioned personnel to remain.vigi-
lant, but ordered them not to fire.on."any type of
enemy aircraft that flies into the air space or ?
waters of North Vietnam." The. North.Vietnamesemes-
sage further states, however, that "if.the.enemy.
strikes, then we Will strike back." "If not,. even
though they fly at low altitudes, you must tell the
people to hold their fire."
It is unclear at the moment which air defense
units this message is intended to include. US opera-
tional reports for 3 November show that an enemy sur-
face-to-air battalion near Phuc Yen airfield launched
two missiles ata high altitude US reconnaissance
drone.
It may be that the North Vietnamese are still
studying what the US intends to do in regard to
aerial reconnaissance. A message on 3 November
passed'in surface-to-air communications referred to
the US bombing halt and further stated that unknown
personnel would meet from.2 to 6,November to evaluate
the situation and implement a "new plan."
Meanwhile, .a series of messages warning of a
possible resumption of the bombing appeared in North
Vietnamese military communications. A rear service
unit in Thanh Hoa Province reported on 1 November'
that US aircraft had ceased bombing over all of North
Vietnam. It instructed all hands, however, to keep
to business as usual and be prepared to fight when
"the enemy resumes bombing."
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3 (1
A communiqu?f 2 November passed to a logis-
tics unit in southern North Vietnam attributed the
bombing halt to the success enjoyed by Communist
forces "in the South," but it further stated that
units were to stay alert since after the presiden-
tial elections "American bombing in the North will
resume."
Paris Representation:. The Vietnamese Commu-
nists are continuing to exploit Saigon's reluctance
to join the Paris-talks. , Madame Binh, the head of
-the newly arrived Liberation Front delegation.in
Paris, assured newsmen that she was ready to attend
next Wednesday's regularly scheduled meeting. -Argu-
ing 'along the same lines', the Hanoi-party daily
claimed On 4 November that the Front was fully compe-
tent to Settle all the problems of-South Vietnam.
The newspaper commentary added that the "Thieu-Ky
Huong" clique was out of touch with the aspirations
of theSouth Vietnamese people and would soon be
overthrown. "A powerful mass movement.is develop-
ing in the cities of South Vietnam, especially in ;
-Saigon, demanding their- overthrow," said Hanoi.
The same line was picked up by North Vietnam-
.eSe overseas representatives. The North Vietnamese
Consul general in New Delhitold a news conference.
yesterday, that it made no difference whetherSaigon
showed up in Paris. ornot--the Liberation Front-was
"competent to settle All-South.Vietnamese problems."
* * *
Communications: The Communists are continuing
to augment their wire line communications network
linking North Vietnam., Laos, and South Vietnam. A
Communist tear service unit reported on .9-Octobei-
that plans were being.handed down for construction
of wire lines .in the Laos panhandle during:the 1968-.-
69 dry season, which has just started.
Overhead photography indicates that since late
1967 the Communists have completed at least 400 miles
of open wire communication lines from North Vietnam
into Laos and South Vietnam.
-2-- ?
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3 ,
;_)un1
Radios are
continuing, however, to handle a large volume of com-
munications and to provide backup for the wire line.
* * *
Communist "Victory": The bombing halt continues
to be treated as a Communist victory. A Hanoi broad-
cast reports that Pham Van Dong told a meeting of
the Fatherland Front the cessation was "unconditional."
Communist propaganda in general is not focusing
on the continuation of reconnaissance flights. A
spokesman in-Cairo claimed that North Vietnam would
continue to shoot down such planes, but he did not
dwell at length on the issue or demand that the
flights be stopped. The Communists are now turning
their propaganda guns on the issue of US troop with-
drawal.
II;. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
-3-
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3
?
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006500200001-3