THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 6 DECEMBER 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977181
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 6, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
6 December 1969
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
6 December. 1969
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Reaction of Europe's leaders to the Hague summit
meeting is for the most part favorable. '(Page 2)
North Vietnam
In Laos, North Vietnamese units are beginning to
attack government positions near the Plaine des
Jarres in greater strength, and in the northwest
Pathet Lao elements have overrun several important
government positions near Pak Beng. (Page 4)
The new federal offensive in Nigeria so far has not
broken the military stalemate. (Page 5)
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EASTERN EUROPE - GERMANY
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EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Most European leaders, although fully aware of
the tough problems remaining, believe the Hague sum-
mit meeting gave new impetus to European integration.
Willy Brandt, whose contribution to the meeting
has been praised even by his Christian Democrat op-
ponents, has commented that the summit justified
modest expectations for moving from stagnation to
greater cooperation in Europe. Brandt mentioned as
the summit's primary achievement the informal agree-
ment, not embodied in the official communique, that
negotiations with membership applicants could begin
"at the latest" by the middle of 1970.
Pompidou is said to have told the French cabinet
that the summit's results were "positive," that nego-
tiations with the British could start "quickly," and
that the French want them to succeed. In the view
of our embassy in Paris, Pompidou has successfully
managed a major change in French European policy
without the appearance of an open break with Gaullist
foreign policy. His performance at the summit was
hailed by nearly all French media as a triumph.
Leaders of Belgium and Luxembourg also reacted
favorably to the results of the summit, but Dutch
Foreign Minister Luns termed the results "just accept-
able."
The British reaction has been sober. A top
Foreign Office expert said that London was "reason-
ably pleased" with the results. He added that, al-
though the British had hoped for an earlier date,
they are convinced that the informal agreement to
open negotiations by next July is a "solemn commit-
ment."
Whether this commitment can be honored re-
mains to be seen. Brussels will be the
scene of almost continual hard bargaining
between now and the end of 1970. The Com-
munities may have to stop the official
clock to meet the 31 December deadline for
agreement on how to finance future commun-
ity activities. Difficult negotiations
will also be required to achieve a common
negotiating position by next July.
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NORTH VIETNAM
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LAOS
North Vietnamese units of battalion strength
recently have carried out concerted attacks on numer-
ous government positions near the Plaine des Jarres.
yang Pao's guerrillas have turned back most of these
assaults, but their ability to stand up to sustained
pressure, after many months of combat, is doubtful.
This new aggressiveness is the first clear
sign that Hanoi has been able to move suf-
ficient quantities of supplies to front-
line troops in the north despite heavy
bombing of the roads.
In northwestern Laos, Pathet Lao troops have
overrun several important government positions near
Pak Beng.
With these gains, the Pathet Lao have come
close to wiping out the last vestiges of
government control in the Nam Beng Valley,
the site of Chinese road building activity.
Photography shows that the
road is now motorabte for about 17 miles
southwest of Muong Sai.
Southern Laos remains quiet
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NOTES
Nigeria: The Biafrans have held against the
first phase of the new federal offensive which be-
gan last month. The Nigerians gained some ground
in the south but made no major breakthrough. Both
sides suffered heavy casualties and front-line Bia-
fran units had serious ammunition shortages. The
fighting has tapered off, but secessionist field
commanders expect more attacks soon by reinforced
federal forces.
Haile Selassie, meanwhile, is persevering in
his attempts to bring the two parties together for
peace talks. The Nigerians seem willing, but the
Biafrans, who have long thought the Emperor to favor
the federal government, want broader talks in which
African leaders, friendlier to their cause, are in-
cluded.
Brazil: In a talk with Ambassador Elbrick,
Foreign Minister Gibson urged early approval of
Brazil's requests to buy US military equipment, par-
ticularly aircraft. He said Brazil is determined to
establish a strong air force, and that it will soon
have to decide where to obtain the new aircraft.
The air force apparently has contracted for Italian
jet trainers, and has carried on extensive negotia-
tions for British MK55 Lightning jet fighters; this
contract may soon be signed whether or not US air-
craft are available. The minister added that appli-
cation of sanctions against Brazil under the Conte
or Symington legislation would strain US-Brazilian
relations.
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Top Secret
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