THE PRESIDENT'S INTELLIGENCE CHECKLIST 4 DECEMBER 1961

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992066
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 4, 1961

aizz* Ezt 1!3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
THE PRESIDENT'S
INTELLIGENCE CHECKLIST
4 DEC. 1961
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
Eg E3 1!1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
1. Berlin
2. Dominican stalemate
still unbroken
Construction activity at intersector
crossing points continued under flood-
lights throughout last night. There
has been no interruption of traffic.
However, the East Germans last night
began intensive tailing and harassment
of US military mission sedans patrolling
in East Berlin.
a) The army has reinforced its patrols
in Santo Domingo, but the capital
was reported as relatively quiet
yesterday.
50X6
c) The rift within the National Civic
Union between those for and against
resumption of negotiations seems to
be widening.
d) Several of the air force officers
who resigned on Saturday with a blast
against the dictatorial tendencies of
military chief Rodriguez have now
reneged. The prospect for an im-
minent split within the military
has probably lessened but they too
have not solved their intramural
problems.
For The President Only?Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
r 1
1I1 1 1 1T1 17=1L1 1 1 r__71 LI LJ FH.J
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
3. Congo
a) TshombO left Brazzaville yesterday
for Paris. apparently
I. 1
50X1
President Youlou s 50X1
serving as a go-between with Leopold-
ville but no indication that Tshombe
was in direct touch with any Adoula
emissaries.
b) Both Adoula and Kasavubu say they
are in no mood to treat with Tshombe,
either in the Congo or on neutral
territory. Kasavubu has indicated
that he was considerably miffed at
the suggestion for bringing Tshombe
to Leopoldville on Senator Dodd's
plane.
c) In Elizabethville, the security
situation is grave following a series
of shooting incidents between UN and
Katangan forces. The Katanga govern-
ment has rejected a UN demand that
it get its troops off the streets.
d) Our consul in Elizabethville
reports that Senator Dodd--despite
the restraint he showed--is regarded
even more ?than before as the "great
white hope" who will reverse US
policy toward Katanga. ;Senator
Dodd used every argument to get
Tshombe to talk with Adoula; Tshombe
said he was willing but not in
Leopoldville.
For The President Only?Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
F
F---)
r
r
r
1 1
[ I I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
4. Laotian situation
,Moscow revising its
civil defense gtructure
6. Turkish government
given precarious
lease on life
?
a) Souvanna, at the urging of the
ICC, has again said he would go to
Vientiane for a three princes meeting,
but there will be more haggling over
security arrangements.
b) Phoumi has given our Ambassador
the impression that he is digging his
heels in harder against the idea of
a Souvanna-led coalition.
c) Attempts by military units on both
sides to improve their positions in
the field through small-scale actions
continue to strain the cease-fire.
Measures now being carried out will
have the effect of integrating civil
defense fairly closely with ground
force defense, on both a regional
and a national basis, under military
control. The new structure is headed
by a Soviet Marshal vtio has been and
may still be COMManer in nh ef of
the ground forces. I
Eighteen months of martial law ended
on Saturday when the Inonu government
won a narrow vote of confidence from
parliament. ?The coalition regime,
essentially a shot-gun marriage
imposed by the military, faces a
fitful future.
1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
For The President Only?Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
E
E--
1.-I
I
. tI; ; F_A
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
7. Assessment of South
Vietnamese 'stability
Our Embassy sums up:
a) The anti-US press campaign gave
a fillip to rumblings of discontent
but civilian opposition groups
are not believed to have the means
to overthrow Diem on their own.
b) Senior military officers are
frustrated at the military situation
and presidential meddling in military
affairs but there is no solid evidence
of concerted plotting among them.
c) The big question mark is the attitude
of field grade officers, particularly
commanders of elite groups, who could
force their superiors' hands if they
tried to mount a coup.
For The President Only?Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
ti F -1 Fi r7-711 _11 r=1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
A.
NOTES
- 1
50X1
S. Syrian conservatives and right-of-center elements seem to have
won a preponderance in Friday's elections to the constituent
assembly.
7
50X1
-50X1
For The President Only?Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/05/04 : CIA-RDP79T00936A000400170001-4