THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 FEBRUARY 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976616
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 13, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
?
The President's Daily Brief
13 February 1969
19
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
32
CYPRUS
*Nicosia(
1-1 Israeli-controlled areas following
June 1967 hostilities
?32-
Al ea
?28?
Mediterranean Sea
Port Said
Suez
Canal
36
Latakia' I
Beirut*
Haifaj
ISRAEL r=-N
Tel Aviv- /. WEST z
Yafo* BANK.g
LEBANON
.Hamah
SYRIA
*Damascus
GOLAN HEIGHTS
Yarmuk R.
GAZA STRIP
SINAI
PENINSULA
1
/ JORDAN
1 /
Amman
L.,7Jerh! alem
Dead
Sea
RE
(E c Y P T)
NITED
R AB
PUBLIC
50 100
MILES
?24-
32
Hurghada. p
Qina
ASWAN
HIGH DAM
)
Ela?t )
.Aqaba
.Sharm ash-
Shaykh
Red
Sea
?32?
SAUDI
?28--
ARABIA
36
?24-
93478 1-69
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
14 February 1969
LATE NOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF OF
13 FEBRUARY 1969
I. MAJOR PROBLEMS
MIDDLE EAST
Paris realizes that four-power talks in New York
can only come to a useful stage after considerable bi-
lateral exchange and perhaps only after President
Nixon's return from Europe, according to a French For-
eign Ministry official. This official pointed out
"important differences" in the French and US positions
on the talks. Where the US looks at the talks as sup-
port for the Jarring mission, France regards them as an
end in themselves. The French hope that the result of
the talks would be a "self-imposed" peace agreed to by
the parties concerned through the direct intervention
of the four powers and on the basis of an agreement by
the four after consultation with the parties.
When asked if the Soviets had given any new indica-
tions of their positions in eventual negotiations, the
French official said the Soviets had indicated they
would only unveil their real positions on Jerusalem,
Arab refugees, and other key matters in "general conver-
sations" and when it appeared there was some give in the
Israeli position. However, they had also indicated to
the French that they were ready to be much more flexible
on these matters and to press the Arabs much harder than
it had so far appeared in public.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
741114011110/111AUF*,-;_i'-' wr- '14 'Mt.- t 70.0,1,4A-1,0," 41100-1,4.4.;:'
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Soviet Ambassador Malik, in conversation with Am-
bassador Yost, expressed mild doubt whether it would
be sufficient merely to give Jarring and the parties a
general statement of encouragement. He stressed their
lack of progress thus far and suggested the four powers
might lay down some specific guidelines, such as direc-
tion to implement the Security Council resolution in
all its parts. In his usual fashion, Malik attributed
the absence of progress to Israeli "negativism" and
"arrogance." He was particularly irked that they had
so swiftly rejected the Soviet plan, which, he argued,
went far to meet their interests.
EUROPE
There is nothing significant to report.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
The Soviets and East Germans have confirmed that
Marshal Yakubovsky, supreme commander of the Warsaw
Pact, has been chairing a meeting in East Germany of
the organization's chiefs of staff and deputy defense
ministers. Yesterday's announcements did not give the
precise location of the meeting, but it may have been
at a training area west of Berlin where artillery and
tactical air exercises have been noted. The Rumanian
chief of staff was listed among the participants. Al-
though the announcements of the meeting avoided any
hint of its purpose, this is the time of year and the
right level of military representation for planning
1969 maneuvers. (FBIS 39, 43, 13 Feb 69)
2
50X1
50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
,SILINPR722401MIMINIMMIMP' :4,81, ? 'TVA lIrejr0 --Jae ? ..,4,'=iit'g9t. ? ?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
??*,.
VIETNAM
There is nothing significant to report.
OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
INDIA
As part of a sudden cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minis-
ter Gandhi has appointed Commerce Minister Dinesh Singh
as Minister of External Affairs. Singh, a confidant of
Mrs. Gandhi, has a pro-Soviet reputation, and his oppor-
tunism has earned him widespread dislike among his col-
leagues. He has been generally critical of US policies
and a difficult negotiator in his official dealings with
Americans. (Various press, 13 Feb 69)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MAJOR PROBLEMS
50X1
MIDDLE EAST
EUROPE
The French, temporarily nonplussed at last week's West-
ern European Union meeting, have begun to return to form.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27: CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
They have let it be known that they will not attend the meet-
ing of Western European ambassadors which the British have
called to discuss the Middle East. They have also come out
against the compulsory consultations to which the other WEU
members agreed.
The question now is whether all the other five Community
members will stand up to the French. The West Germans, as
usual, occupy a pivotal position. With Kiesinger and De
Gaulle scheduled to meet next month, the Germans will be par-
ticularly sensitive to storm signals from Paris.
So far the Germans seem to be holding the line. The com-
munique issued today after the talks between Wilson and Kie-
singer is a forthright affirmation of the two leaders' devo-
tion to the goal of a unified Europe which would include
Britain.
50X1
SOVIET AFFAIRS
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VI ETNAM
50X1
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
The concept of the Communists operating as a legal po-
litical entity in South Vietnam seems to be gaining some ac-
ceptability among anti-Communists of long standing.
Spokesmen for a major faction of the Vietnam Nationalist
Party (VNQDD), one of the few groups that can claim a national
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
following in South Vietnam have expressed their confidence
that Vietnamese nationalists could accept "a political
struggle" with the Communists. One leader went even further
in implying that if coalition with the Communists "is the
only way to restore peace," the nationalists would accept
it. Coalition, the spokesman stated, is not something the
nationalists have to fear. It remains to be seen whether
other nationalist groups adopt a similar line or condemn it
as playing into the hands of the enemy.
the government is
still sticking to its "national reconciliation" line, i.e.,
the Communists will be welcomed into the body politic only
if they lay down their arms and renounce Communism.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006800080001-4
CHINA
22-
BURMA
20-
18-
16-
192 194 196 198
Bao Lac
.41,
i .i.N....*.
, so,,, ? ,, ., , ,, Lao Cai , s t
Vt.' \ `%,
\
w
, .4kr, ' k -y ,, ? Yen Bai ?
Son La ? ,
HANOI-
r '"', '?:, it- 1 ."...'"- 0
. N !
N?\floa Binh' .
i ....11 e.
- ? 4, Nam Dinh.
4 ? k
-4?,
Thai
Nguyen.
? !O
.Keri
?
ii
? 5
.Haip n
? '
?
?
' ./.1?Lang Son.
.Ning-ming
Samneua.
Luang Prabang
h Hon./
NORTH
f) VIETNAM
?
rc7-???#4,
Vinh
IN, ?
4
14-
BANGKOK
\?,
12-
10-
VIENTIANE
Udon Thani?
THAILAND
Battam bang
\\A
GULF OF
SIAM
VIETNAM
Savannakhet
GULF
OF
TONK IN
.Nan-ning
CHINA
-22
cv
12
HAINAN
--,
Ha Tinh
.V. \........? \ ---i.-vi
, \','N'N, '1"\ -18
\Dong Hoi
1VLintN
r2LiDemorcation Line
\:Quang Tri
''''').17i,"?.1.4, N