THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976948
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 23, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
23 August 1969
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VIETNAM
General Tran Thien Khiem, now deputy prime minister
and interior minister, has been asked by President Thieu
to take over Huong's job and form a new government, ac-
cording to Saigon radio. Thieu has let it be known on
several occasions recently that he would like to make
Khiem prime minister. Evidently speculation on Khiem did
not draw too much fire thus Thieu was emboldened to go
through with the appointment.
The two men have worked together closely for some
years, and Khiem has a number of other things going for
him in Thieu's eyes. He is a southerner, has the support
of the military, is not a politician, and--according to
Thieu--can get along with the National Assembly. This
latter consideration, if true, would be particularly im-
portant bocause Huong's greatest problem was his growing
inability to work with the Lower House.
Thieu and Huong apparently came to a final parting of
the ways over inability to agree on the composition of a
new cabinet or on what Huong's role would be.//
Probably more fundamental, however, was the inability
of two very different individuals to work comfortably to-
gether. Huong will stay on the job only until Khiem's new
cabinet is formed.
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Several scattered shellings of allied installatiOns
occurred on 22 August, but ground fighting generally, re-
mained light. :Eleven Communist rocket's Struck the Da Nang
airbase, killing one American and wounding 41. Two rockets
hit the city of Hue, and another shelling took place in
Tam Ky.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
During an informal luncheon on 18 August, Boris Davydov,
Second Secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Washington, asked
a State Department official what the United States would do
if the USSR were to attack and destroy Communist China's
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nuclear installations. Such a move would eliminate the
Chinese nuclear threat "for decades," Davydov said, and the
US would have nothing to fear from it.
It may be that Davydov's point-blank question was
self-inspired. He is uninhibited--unusually so--and often
speaks unreservedly on a variety of subjects. For instance,
in the same week he had two wide-ranging conversations with
other US officials in which he did not raise this question.
If Davydov was in fact executing an assignment to probe US
reaction, we would expect the same question repeated by
other and more authoritative Soviet contacts.
MIDDLE EAST
Muslim delegates at the United Nations share the anger
and frustration that the al-Aqsa mosque fire has generated
throughout the Muslim world. In addition to their appeal
for an inquiry, they may attempt to reopen the debate on
the status of Jerusalem.
Thus far no serious violence has resulted from Arab
demonstrations in Jerusalem and in Arab countries, although?
Israeli security forces in Jerusalem had to fire warning
shots into the air to break up a mob. Agitation seems to be
taking an anti-US coloration, particularly in Jordan where a
mob has threatened the embassy.
Prime Minister Golda Meir, on behalf of her government,
has publicly expressed regret about the damage to the Muslim
?
shrine. Muslim leaders generally have ignored her statement,
however. King Faysal issued an appeal to the Muslim world
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in which he accused "wicked Zionism" of criminal aggression
and called for a "jihad" to liberate "the holy places in
dear Palestine."
Israeli police have captured a Christian from Australia
who, they believe, is responsible for the fire. An Israeli
official told the US consulate that the suspect had confessed
in the presence of the Australian ambassador.
CAMBODIA
The Lon Nol government has devalued its currency. This,
although only a first step, may indicate a new determination
to undertake the economic reforms so sorely needed for so
long. At the very least, the devaluation is evidence that
the new government has Sihanouk's strong support.
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Top Secret
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