THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 11 DECEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976507
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 11, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
11 December 1968
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
11 DECEMBER 1968
1. Israel
2. Soviet Union
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Observers report increased Israeli
military activity since early last week.
These sightings include more than the
usual number of troops moving about and
indications that some Israeli reservists
have been called up. This means that
the higher alert posture assumed last
week coincident with the raids into Jor-
dan is being maintained to permit more
quick strikes.
Yesterday's dogfight over the
southern tip of the Sinai was the first
between Egyptian and Israeli pilots in
about a month. One Egyptian fighter
was shot down, but, so far, there has
been no sign that either side plans to
follow up the air action.
Finance Minister Garbuzov avoided
anti-American diatribes yesterday in
presenting the new budget to the Su-
preme Soviet. This suggests a contin-
ued desire not to muddy the water be-
fore any strategic arms limitation talks.
The defense budget showed an in-
crease of six percent, and that for
science (three-quarters of which is mil-
itary research and space programs)
about 13-14 percent. Because we have
not seen the early spadework that would
go into major new programs, we are in-
clined at first glance to question
whether the increases in defense and
space spending will actually reach the
figures given by Garbuzov.
On the whole, we estimate the So-
viets probably will spend next year
about the equivalent of $60 billion US
on defense and space'.
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3. North Korea
4. Dominican Republic
5, Brazil
One of North Korea's most exper-
ienced guerrilla leaders has been made
minister of defense-an appointment
strongly suggestive that even greater
emphasis will be put on unconventional
warfare against the South.
General Choe Hyon, a confidant of
Kim Il Song's, learned his trade as a
partisan fighting the Japanese. :He al-
so has commanded the school where North
Korean soldiers are trained in infiltra-
tion and guerrilla warfare techniques.
The 63-year-old Choe ranks fifth in the
party hierarchy.
General Wessin is determined to
get back to the Dominican Republic,
and he may try to do so surreptitious-
ly. The general's supporters are pre-
pared to help him escape his Miami
exile.1
Should he return, Wessin would not
pose an immediate threat to Balaguer.
Unfounded rumors of coup plots are fly-
ing about, however, and Wessin's pres-
ence would certainly be unsettling.
The military and liberal churchmen
are butting heads over the recent ar-
rest of three French priests charged
with subversion. As usual, the inde-
cisive Costa e Silva looks as though he
may be caught in the middle. While the
army's case against the three priests
has some merit, it is the military's ex-
cessive preoccupation with subversion,
real or imaginary, which may turn out
to be more dangerous. Under army pres-
sure, Costa e Silva probably will shift
toward more authoritarian rule.
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6, Panama
7. Communist China
frustrated
Arias men are plotting to kill the ?Na-
tional Guard's top commanders, Colonels
Torrijos and Martinez. Arias' guerrilla
movement is foundering and it is quite
possible that some ?such desperate gambit
might be tried. The Guard, however, is
aware of this plot and its chances for
success seem slim.
Something big may be afoot in Pe-
king. The Chinese armed forces chief
of staff cut short a state visit to Al.
and returned hurriedly to the
capital on 5 December. All the top
leadership has been out of sight since
29 November?some, including Lin Piao
and Mao's wife, for more than two months.
There is some possibility that Lin
Piao is in southwest China trying to
bring feuding factions into line. In
any event, both contentious propaganda
and the behavior of the leadership
raise the prospect that the power strug-
gle has taken a new and crucial turn.
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
.) North Vietnamese Reflections of US
Political Attitudes
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16
11 December 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
11 December 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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Top.North Vietnamese Diplomats Return to Their
Posts After. Consultations in Hanoi: At least eight
North Vietnamese envoys are en route back to their
foreign posts following a general diplomatic recall
which began in October.
'While in Hanoi, the diplomats almost certainly
were briefed on the situation in South Vietnam and
Paris and doubtless carry new instructions and'guide-
lines regarding Hanoi's current policies in :these
areas. In their public and private statements, these
officials can be. expected to reflect at least the
general drift'of Hanoi's thinking on the war and Paris
talks.
Hanoi Issues Call for New Effort to Defeat US:
The Central Committee Secretariat, in a 10 December
circular issued in connection with plans to cele-
brate National Resistance Day on 19 December, the
anniversary of the founding of the National Libera-
tion Front on 20 December and the anniversary of the
founding of the People's Army on 22 December, calls
for renewed efforts to defeat the American aggressors.
The circular claims that 1968 has brought great vic-
tories but warns that the enemy remains stubborn and
unwilling to renounce his aggressive designs. In
light of this, the North Vietnamese people are asked
to increase labor output, to mobilize human and ma-
terial resources for the front line, and to make-real-
istic preparations for early 1969 tasks.
North Vietnamese Coal Exports to China Increase:
Coal exports from North Vietnam to China in December
will total 46,000 tons, the highest level in more
than six months, according to an intercepted 5 Decem-
ber message. Coal exports to China follow the pat-
tern of total coal exports which suggests that recent
production difficulties are being overcome. Produc-
tion had dropped markedly during the summer from
peak levels last spring.
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Smelting Plant South of Hanoi Reactivated:
for the first time in over two years a
smelting plant about 30 miles south of Hanoi on the
west bank of the Red River appeared to be in opera-
tion. the plant was com-
pletely illuminated and the glare from the blast fur-
nace was visible.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report .to
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Top Secret
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