THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF (AFTERNOON) 10 MARCH 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976660
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 10, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
10 March 1969
(Afternoon)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
I. MAJOR PROBLEMS
VIETNAM
Hanoi has probably drawn encouragement from the lack
of a US military response to the shellings of Saigon and
to the movement of large units through the DMZ. The Com-
munists probably regard this as a good sign that the US
wants to explore the possibilities of a negotiated settle-
ment and to avoid renewed escalation of the war.
It seems unlikely that diplomatic protests to the -
North Vietnamese in Paris will have any real effect on
Communist military activities. The Communists clearly
want to tie any curbs on military activities to progress
in the negotiations and specifically to progress toward
a political settlement In order to get, movement started,
there is a good. possibility that the North Vietnamese
will attempt to get'private talks under way by ,trying to
channel our protests about Communist shellings toward po-
litical discussions. It seems quite clear that one of
the main political objectives of the current Communist
military effort is to get private quadrilateral talks
started which include the National Libetation Front. We
believe the Communists:are ready for such talks and that
they expect a beginning before long.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
The Communists fired five rockets into Hue today, the
first such incident there during the current campaign.
Allied military positions in northwestern III Corps
and in the western highlands of II Corps continued to bear
the brunt of Communist pressure on 10 March, with little
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
enemy action of significance reported in the DMZ area,
the northern provinces, or the delta. Saigon and D
Nang were also generally quiet.
Most of the III Corps action was again centered in
Tay Ninh Province where, in one engagement,, an ARVN air-
borne battalion and a North Vietnamese battalion clashed.
The ARVN lost 44 killed and 148 wounded; 68 Communist
troops were killed. Although no major enemy troop deploy-
ments were detected in III Corps on 10 March, Communist
forces are in position along the Saigon River corridor
to conduct heavy attacks in Tay Ninh and Binh Duong prov-
inces, while those deployed in Viet Cong Subregion 3 just
-south of Saigon could move against the capital with little
if any warning.
MIDDLE EAST
In their recent talks with Ambassador Lodge and
others in Paris, Egyptian spokesmen Fawzi and Riad once
again made it clear that the Egyptians 'would very much
like to resume diplomatic relations with the US- Both
of them seem to have tried to scotch the idea that Cairo
would set conditions on the restoration of ties, but
Riad insisted that domestic politics limited Nasir's
freedom of action. The two officials left a strong
impression that the Egyptians are determined to move
as quickly as possible on the problem.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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EUROPE
It is expected that tomorrow's general strike will
cause a fairly extensive tie-up of France's economic life,
particularly transportation. There will be a complete shut-
down of electricity for industrial users and daytime cuts
for private consumers.
De Gaulle is to speak at 8:00 pm local (2:00 pm EST)
on the reforms which are to be submitted to referendum next
month. His speech will evidently be carried on radio and
TV despite the strike. Press comments on the speech will
be delayed, however, as newspapers will not publish tomorrow
evening or Wednesday morning.
Even the labor leaders cannot say whether the walkouts
will be extended beyond 24 hours, as this will be up to the
rank and file of individual unions. The leaders are 'clearly
determined, nonetheless, to prevent a repetition of the
situation last May, when the striking workers were more
militant than the union leadership.
Indications that students may be planning to join
strikers in massive street demonstrations have led the
government to put riot troops and police on alert.
European integrationists are redoubling their efforts
to demonstrate that there is still some potential in the
European community movement./
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Jean Monnet's Committee for the United States of Eu-
rope will meet in London this week, the first session since
the three British parties acceded to it last fall. The
meeting is expected to result in the setting up of a group
to examine the specifid problems involved in Britain's
joining the Common Market. Former EEC Commission President
Hallstein and the Governor of the Bank of Italy have agreed
to undertake this assignment.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
There is nothing significant to report.
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II. OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
SOVIET UNION ? PAKISTAN
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LATE NOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF OF
10 MARCH 1969
TOP SECRET
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FOR THE PRE,S1D.ENT ONLY
11 March 1969
LATE NOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF OF
10 MARCH 1969
I. MAJOR PROBLEMS
MIDDLE EAST
Fighting broke out again today at 10:30 AM local time
(3:30 AM EST) at three points on the Suez Canal. An Israeli
spokesman claimed Egyptian forces opened fire first. As of
5:30 EST, sporadic firing was still continuing. (Press)
In his discussions with De Gaulle and Foreign Minister
Debr6, Egyptian spokesman Fawzi did his best to encourage the
French in their view that four-power agreement is the best way
to a Middle East solution. The major conclusion of the talks
was that Egypt really desires a rapid, peaceful settlement and
would probably be willing to accept any reasonable terms pro-
vided they could be presented as forced on Nasir by four-power
and UN Security Council endorsement. Fawzi also told the
French that time was of the essence because terrorist groups
are so strong in Egypt, the present government can last no
more than "several months" unless progress is made toward a
settlement. The French are convinced that Egypt is willing
to settle its own problems with Israel, leaving aside those in-
volving Jordan and Syria--a direct contradiction of Nasir's
protestations to King Husayn's representatives recently.
At an airport meeting with Israel's Foreign Minister Eban
before he left for the US yesterday, Ambassador Barbcur learned
that Israel found no trouble with the questions put to it by
UN mediator Jarring. Eban was also shownquestions put to
Egypt and commented that if Cairo responds positively to the
question of ponco with. Israel, this would bring a "fundamental
change for the better,"
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EUROPE
As of 0700 EST, the strike in France was on, but there have
been no reports of demonstrations or a need for force.
(Press)
Yesterday's outburst by Socialist (SPD) President-elect
Gustav Heinemann, in which he reiterated his opposition to the
postwar rearming of West Germany and support for reunification
even if it meant the dissolution of West Germany itself, was a
manifestation of the fundamental differences between him and the
Christian Democrats (CDU). Bad blood has existed in their re-
lations since Heinemann bolted the CDU in 1950 in opposition to
rearmament, and he has opposed the basic elements of Bonn's
foreign and military policy ever since. His statement, in an
interview with a correspondent for Die Welt, was obviously em-
barrassing, not only to the Kiesinger government, but also to
the SPD. Heinemann is a political maverick, however, who has
frequently expressed views at variance with his own party's
policy, and he will probably continue to do so after taking
over as president in July. While the incident puts an added
strain on CDU-SPD relations, we do not exi5eCt a premature rup-
ture of the grand coalition. (Press and Analysis)
SOVIET AFFAIRS
There is nothing significant to report.
VIETNAM
There is nothing significant to report.
II, OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
NORTH KOREA - US
US soldiers manning an outpost five miles south of Panmunjom
were fired on by North Koreans at 11:15 and 11:35 EST last night.
No US casualties or damage were reported. This is the first in-
cident involving North Korean and US military forces since last
November, which was before the Pueblo crew was released.
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