THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 DECEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976511
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 13, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
-rorserre-t? 13 December 1968
23
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,Juzki
.THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
13 DECEMBER 1968
1. South Vietnam
2. Laos
3. Communist China
Desertions from the South Vietnam-
ese regular armed forces hit a two-year
high in September. Combat forces, more-
over, are being affected at a rate con-
siderably higher than other units. If
the trend continues among combat units,
they will have lost about one-third of
their personnel in this manner during
the year ending in March 1969.
As a result of the growing deser-
tion problem and a decline in the num-
ber of available new recruits, the gov-
ernment may soon find it difficult to
keep the strength of its regular forces
at about 428,000 men.
The government is apprehensive
about the fate of Attopeu, the provin-
cial capital in the southeast part of
the Bolovens plateau.1
IPathet Lao and North
Vietnamese troops had surrounded the
town and have been shelling it and the
airstrip which serves as its supply
point. Souvanna ordered the evacuation
of women, children, and other non-essen-
tial residents. This could further
weaken the resolve of the defenders.
The Communists, however, have
been in position to take Attopeu for
years. Whether they do so or not is
basically a political decision.
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4. Iraq Baghdad is still seething with
5. Israel-Jordan
6. South Korea
dissidence./
There are unconfirmed reports that the
ruling Baathists put down another at-
tempt on 11 December. If they prove
correct, this will have been the second
try in about a month at toppling the
group which seized power in July.
A new round of military incidents
began on 11 December along the Israeli-
Jordanian border. The Israelis are
responding more quickly than in the
past to attacks from Jordan. If skir-
mishing continues, they ultimately
might move across the Jordan River and
seize the heights.
In conversations with Governor
Scranton, Israeli leaders for the first
time were remarkably frank about the
"Allon Plan," their complicated propos-
al for annexation and colonization of
a 15-kilometer buffer strip in the Jor-
dan Valley. This openness with Governor
Scranton leads us to believe that the
plan, which was long unofficial, now has
official status and may be put into ef-
fect one of these days.
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The parliament pulled itself to-
gether quickly, for a change, and gave
bipartisan support to a $3.6 million
increase in the internal security budget.
These funds are earmarked for improving
home defense forces, which are playing
?a major role in rounding up armed infil-
trators from the North.
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7, Czechoslovakia
8, West Berlin
Initial reports from the meeting
?of the Czechoslovak party central com-
mittee, ,which began yesterday, suggest
that the Dubcek leadership is taking
?another verbal beating from conserva-
tives. The Soviets are adding to the
pressure by demanding that the central
committee increase the authority of
"reliable" Communists.
Whether or not such attacks lead
to immediate changes among the party's
key personnel, they surely will have a
dampening effect on proposed economic
reforms and government reorganizations,
,which are the main items on the agenda.
A Soviet diplomat has warned that
there might be more stringent require-
ments on travel to West Berlin or new
limitations on the Western allies' en-
try into East Berlin if the West Ger-
mans hold their Federal Assembly, which
elects the next president, in the city.
In telling this to the French, the So-
viets ?seem to be hoping that Paris
will help them to get Bonn to hold the
election somewhere else. As of now,
however, it looks as if Bonn is deter-
mined to go ahead early next year.
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of US
Political Attitudes
- Top Secret
16
13 December 1968
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s-n_izk I
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
13 December 1968
? I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Appeals for Action in the South: The Communists
have recently broadcast two strong appeals for sup-
port from key elements of South Vietnam's populace.
On 12 December, Liberation Radio called on troops,
police, and government workers to mutiny, conduct up-
risings, or desert. Three days earlier, .a Front
broadcast strongly urged political activists, stu-
dents, laborers, and intellectuals in the South's
urban centers, particularly the Saigon-Cholon area,
to gain control of wards and streets in the cities.
The Front has issued similar appeals periodical-
ly in the past, but these take on special signifi-
cance because of the many signs that a sizable Com-
munist military offensive may unfold soon in the
III Corps area--perhaps even near Saigon--and prob-
ably elsewhere. Communist offensives are often ac-
companied by intensive efforts to undermine the
morale of government forces and recruit new follow-
ers for the Communists. At present the Communists
have the additional incentive of the Paris talks,
where Communist negotiators need all the ammunition
they can get to boost the prestige and status of the
Front and denigrate the Saigon government.
* * *
Military Developments in North Vietnam: Recog-
nizing the poor living standards of many military
dependents in North Vietnam, Hanoi has tightened the
regulations governing administration of dependents'
benefits. Previous regulations authorized subsidies
and preferential employment for military dependents
but left to local units responsibility for providing
assistance. Local control was probably necessary dur-
ing the years of bombing because of transport and
communications disruptions. A Council of Ministers'
notice of 4 September pointed out, however, that lo-
cal authorities and cooperatives were delinquent in
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this task, and that the needs of many dependent
families were not met. These problems almost cer-
tainly have affected the morale of North Vietnamese
soldiers.
The new regulations, which went into effect on
1.December, establish more central control over -a
nationwide subsidy system, thereby helping assure
minimum living:standards for military. dependents.
Specific financial allowances for wives, children;
and other dependents. are to replace previous.pro-
visions for "Preferential treatment," jobs are to
be found for employable dependents, and.an.educ'ation
system.for dependents is to be established. The
Ministry of Internal Affairs is to enforce the sub-
sidy program .and .oversee the living.standards of
-
servicemen's families, while the General Trade Union
is to aid in -providing jobs and educational benefits.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report to-
-2-
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Top Secret
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