THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976942
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 20, 1969

Declassified in Part :Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400170001-7
The President's Daily Brief
20 August 1969
19
Top Secrri
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400170001-7
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOVIET AFFAIRS
Riot police are patrolling in central Prague today to
prevent demonstrations similar to the minor ones which were
quickly snuffed out yesterday afternoon and evening in
Wenceslaus Square. The police were overzealous in trying
to avert a major disturbance, using tear gas to break up
a passive and apparently unorganized crowd estimated at
several thousand. Such overreaction by police could lead
.to more serious conflicts before the anniversary period is
over tomorrow.
There is no evidence
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of additional Soviet troops either moving into Czechoslovakia
or even close to the Czech borders from the USSR, Poland,
Hungary or southern East Germany. Some of the Soviet troops
in Czechoslovakia may have moved closer to the cities, how-
ever, to handle any disturbances that the Czech army or se-
curity troops cannot control.
There are rumors that pro-Soviet hardliners plan to
generate disturbances designed to bring about military in-
tervention and ouster of Husak. We consider it unlikely
that conservatives would initiate or provide the impetus
for spontaneous acts of violence but they might try to
take advantage of unrest to strengthen their positions.
The Chinese chose the eve of the anniversary of the
Soviet invasion to issue another lengthy attack on the
USSR as the aggressor in the prolonged border dispute. The
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400170001-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400170001-7
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
note charges the Soviets with more than 400 provoctions
during June and July, and denounces Moscow for talking
about normalizing the situation while actually adopting
measures which intensify tensions. Moscow meanwhile point-
edly commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of a victory
over the Japanese on the Manchurian border.
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A Soviet space official says the USSR will try to land
an unmanned probe on Mars before the US. The Soviet Mars
shot that failed last March may in fact have been such an
attempt. The next opportunity for Moscow will come in the
spring of 1971, two years before the US Viking.
VIETNAM
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH KOREA
Opposition to President Pak's proposed amendment to
allow himself a third term will intensify as the govern-
ment party jams through legislation establishing procedures
for a national referendum. Passage is expected on 31 August.
The amendment itself is to be voted on by the National As-
sembly on 13 September, after which comes the referendum,
the last major step in the amendment process. The govern-
ment, expecting a new wave of student demonstrations against
the amendment, is reinforcing police units in the capital.
COMMUNIST CHINA
Serious fighting is continuing in a dozen provinces,
including several previously stabilized areas in east and
south China. Peking's current difficulties may be a re-
sult of trying to use a "carrot and stick" approach. The
central government issued a harsh directive last month
ordering factionalists to cease fighting and to surrender
their arms within a month. On the other hand, People's
Daily, took pains to point out that rival factions must be
"treated equally" and that their leaders must be "protected."
Much of the provincial disunity stems from the dissatisfac-
tion of factional leaders with the present provincial power
structure but there will be no solution as long as Peking's
attitude remains equivocal.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400170001-7