THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 MARCH 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976653
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 5, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
5 March 1969
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93478 1-69
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MAJOR PROBLEMS
MIDDLE EAST_
Persons unknown fired on and destroyed the Iraqi Petro-
leum Company's desulphurization plant in Kirkuk on Saturday.
The plant is in Kurdish territory, and the action might b
a prelude to the reopening of the Kurdish rebellion.
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In any case, Iraq's petroleum production has dropped
from about 1.1 million barrels per day to about 440,000
since Saturday. The companies which comprise the IPC may
make up the loss by increasing production in Iran--a step
which would please the Shah but would cause the Iraqis
substantial financial damage.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EUROPE
There is nothing significant to report.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
The meeting of the West German Federal Assembly in West
Berlin today passed without majOr harassment. The East Ger-
mans however, closed the Berlin-Helmstedt autobahn. twice
and for the first. time during the current imbroglio, closed
the other two main roads to West Berlin. There was no 'liar-
assment of West Berlin itself, and access from West Berlin
to the Communist part of the city was not impeded.
According to West Berlin Mayor Schuetz, this week's
minor harassments have had little effect upon, the morale
and confidence of the city's inhabitants. A Soviet diplo-
mat in East Berlin, however, has suggested that problems
concerning access to the city may only be beginning.
On 3 March, the second secretary, of the Soviet Embassy
Georgy Sannikov,,stated that there Would be no trouble over
the Federal Assembly meeting, but that in the next six,
months the East Germans willgradually impose restrictions
on the transport of industrial goods to and from the city
"right., down to buttons" on West German army uniforms.
Sannikov said that this idea was originated by the East
Germans and had been approved by the Soviets. He also
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
said that should Bonn plead to Moscow to restore the status
quo, the Soviets would advise the West Germans to negotiate
with Pankow. SannikOv's statement may have been intended
as .a follow-up to the Soviet note of 26 February in whiah
Moscow requested the East Germans to study measures
de-
signed to cut off the flow of .military goods allegedly-man-
ufactured in West Berlin.
VIETNAM
While Thieu and his associates seem to have remained
cool thus far in the face of the current enemy offensive
and the shellings of Saigon, they are clearly beginning
to feel domestic pressure to react. The South Vietnam-
ese delegation in Paris wants to propose adjournment of:
today's meeting after they make an unusually brief presenta-
tion (they are last ,in the speaking order). The manner in
which this proposal has been put to US representatives sug-
gests that the South Vietnamese are interested in taking a
reading of US firmness in the face of the shellings.
South Vietnamese Government leaders' concern probably
has been made all the keener by the assassination attempt
on Prime Minister Huong. This incident--in comparison to
the shellings--is likely to be regarded as a more convinc-
in.g demonstration of the Communists' lack of interest in
negotiating with the present Saigon government. It would
not be surprising if Thieu seriously considers a walkout,
from the talks in the near future, particularly if there
are more shellings of Saigon or if there is another assas-
sination attempt.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
South Vietnamese pressure on the US to-. join in some
kind of unmistakable response could develop quickly. The
GVN regards the understanding on the immunity of Saigon
from attacks not only as. fundamental to its agreement to
go to Paris in the first place but also as basic to mutual
trust between Saigon and Washington.
The Communists realize that even a limited shelling of
Saigon can put great strains on US-GVN relations, but they
also are aware that to push too far with the shellings could
bring a break in the talks, something they probably do not
want to see.
The assassination attempt-on Prime Minister Huong may
have been only the first in a series of such incidents. Cap-
tured enemy documents and prisoners have indicated that-at
some point in the current offensive Communist terrorists would
go into action in South Vietnam's-urban centers. The Commu-
nists probably believe that the death of any of the top gov-
ernment leaders could severely shake the GVN's
Huong's death in particular would remove one of President
Thieu's most effective lieutenants, against whom Ky has been
intriguing. In this instance, however, it is fairly clear
that the.Communists, not Kyi_were responsible.
The Communists seem to be standing pat -in Paris, prob-
ably in expectation that the US will soon try to. get private
talks under way. Both Hanoi and the Front have made known
their interest in private talks, especially through the So-
viets and French, and they are unlikely to move much further
until they see what results these probes produce.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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196
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93465 1-69
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
We are less sanguine than before that the Communists
would respond positively to any kind of approach from the
South Vietnamese for private contacts. They clearly are
bent on having the US included in discussions with the Front
and they are not likely to go very, far with the South Viet-
namese alone at this point.
It:.seems increasingly plain that once private talks are
started, the Communists will press hard to put a damper on
US military operations in South Vietnam, presumably by hold-
ing out prospects of similar curbs on "Front" military ac-
tion.
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The major area of Communist activity over the past 24
hours was again in the central highlands of South Vietnam.
In addition to continued pressure on the Ben Het Special
Forces camp, the enemy staged several attacks on populated
civilian areas including the shelling of the provincial
capital of Pleiku and the overrunning of a village in Kon-- 50X1
tum Province. At last report the Communists were still
holding part of the village and other parts were on fire.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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In the first few days of the current offensive, the
enemy made little effort to counter the government's pacifica-
tion program. Unlike last year's Tet period, Revolutionary
Development cadre have by and large remained in the field
rather than pulling back to defend province capitals. By
remaining at their outposts, however, they are vulnerable'
to large unit enemy attacks.
Reports are now beginning to come in from the rural
areas suggesting that the enemy may have begun to focus some
of his military attacks against pacified hamlets and pacifica-
tion cadre. In II Corps, for example, the Communists are ap-
parently making special efforts to seek out and kill govern-
Ment cadre working in the villages. Before the current ?
Communist-campaign runs its course, the enemy probably will
make a fairly substantial effort: to counter recent govern-
ment gains in the area of pacification.
In spite of such terrorism, the first elections for
local officials, which are being staged on the first four
Sundays of March, were successfully completed on 2 March.
Voter turnout was unusually heavy, as candidates were run-
ning for council seats in 92 villages and for administra-
tive offices in 189 hamlets. Communist harassment was
generally light and apparently ineffective.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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II, OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
KENYA
LAOS
Communist pressure in the northeast is growing in the
wake of the government's loss of Na Khang. Outposts in the
general area of that main base are being threatened by ad-
vancing North Vietnamese troops. Efforts to blunt the of-
fensive are hampered by the influx of large numbers of tribal
8
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
refugees into the bases still under government control. In
addition, government personnel and equipment losses in the
recent fighting have evidently been high.
Prime Minister Souvanna interprets the attack against
Na Khang as evidence that the Soviet ambassador's recent
visits to Hanoi and Pathet Lao headquarters have not moved
the Communists closer to negotiations. He also fears the
North Vietnamese will capitalize on their recent gains by
moving southwest into an area between Vientiane and Luang
Prabang from which they were driven several years ago.
army.
Souvanna has asked for additional US equipment for the
PERU
The Peruvian Government has tentatively decided that
if the US asks it to return one destroyer because of the
recent fishing boat incident, all five US ships on loan
will be sent back. The return of the ships would be ac-
companied by an announcement that Peru cannot accept loan
conditions that insult its sovereignty. Peru now has two
destroyers and three smaller craft on loan from the US, but
only one, the destroyer USS Isherwood, could be subject to
US legislation requiring the recall of ships on loan to a
country that seizes US fishing boats.
9
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Top Secret
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TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
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?
6 March 1969
LATE NOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF OF
5 MARCH 1969
I. MAJOR PROBLEMS
MIDDLE EAST
Ambassador Barbour has learned from Mrs. Meir herself
that she intends to accept her party's offer to head the
Israeli Government, and she expects to be able to present
a cabinet to the Knesset for approval on 12 March.
According to preliminary reports, several students
were wounded today by an explosive charge set off at the
cafeteria of the Hebrew University campus in Jerusalem.
Over 200 students were in the cafeteria at the time. (Press,
6 Mar 69)
Israeli troops on the east bank of the Suez Canal
shelled Egyptian positions across the waterway today. An
Israeli military spokesman said this was in retaliation for
the recent outbreak of Arab sniping along the canal. (Press,
6 Mar 69)
EUROPE
There is nothing significant to report.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
The East Germans again closed the Helmstedt-Berlin auto-
bahn this morning for three hours. It was reopened at 0600
EST (1200 local time).
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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VIETNAM
The Communist shelling of Saigon yesterday with seven
122-mm. rockets killed 22 civilians and wounded 29 others.
This action was probably meant to underscore the Commu-
nists' insistence that they will not curb military activi-
ties without progress in the Paris talks. The Communists
7
clearly hope that sporadic attackS of this sort, and such
terrorist acts as the assassination attempt against Huong,
will shake the South Vietnamese Government and produce di-
visions on the allied side. (Central Intelligence Bulle-
tin;
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II, OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
There is nothing significant to report.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
>
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