THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 NOVEMBER 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006146447
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 5, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007700040001-8
The President's Daily Brief
..
5 November 1969
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007700040001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007700040001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
5 November 1969
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Some political opposition to Thieu is shaping up in
South Vietnam. (Page 1)
Israel is ready to search for oil in the Gulf of
Suez. (Page 2)
The European Security Conference plan could let the
Warsaw Pact nations expand their relations with the
West but not weaken ties to the USSR. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Thieu's political rivals are showing signs of
greater activity. General Duong Van "Big" Minh,
who has avoided the limelight since his return
from exile more than a year ago, has declared him-
self ready to serve the cause of national unity and
has called for a national convention which might
lead to a "truly representative government."
Minh's remarks can be linked to a speech last
week by his long-time associate Senator Tran Van
Don, who urged the creation of a neutral "third
force" as a means of bringing an end to the war.
Don has been increasingly critical of Thieu since
last spring and has been hinting that he would like
to be prime minister in a government headed by Minh.
,the same time,,
some of the more militant religious and
peace circles have increased their efforts to forge
an antigovernment alliance, partly in the hope of
being able to rally behind Minh.
Thieu has come under heavy domestic criti-
cism because of his newest economic aus-
terity measures. His opponents probably
anticipate that continuing US troop with-
drawals will weaken his authority and
make him more vulnerable. As a result,
men such as Minh and Don may have con-
cluded that the time is ripe to begin.
putting themselves forward as an alter-
native to the present government. Don,
in particular, seems to be suggesting that
the Communists might be willing to negoti-
ate an end to the war with a government
in which Thieu and 'Xy play no role. The
Communists sometimes have implied as much,
but their primary aim in doing so prob-
ably is to undercut US support for Thieu.
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Israel to Explore for Oil Offshore in Gulf of Suez
?32
Alexandri
?30
?28
30
312
Mediterranean Sea
0,2
.AI Mansurah
Banha
Cairo
UNITED ARAB
Al Fayyum ?
Bani Suwayf
Al Minya
10
96543 11.69 CIA
(EGYPT)
Port Said
Ismailia
?
SUEZ
CANAL
Suez
REP IC
34
?
Al Arish
SINAI
(Israeli-occupied)
Israel to explore for
oil east of Median line
? Gulf
of
Suez
\I
. Median me
Belayim oilfields
(Israeli-operated)
Tel Aviv Ya o
ISRAEL
Beersheba
1 Morgan oilfield
(US/WAR)
SHARM
ASH-SHAYK
MILES
1
so Sea
l-tghada
c).
28 --
Strait of
Tiran
Red
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv is going ahead with its long-rumored
plan to search for oil offshore near the southern
end of the Gulf of Suez. It has arranged for a US
company to conduct seismic exploration, and a Ca-
nadian-owned drilling rig for this purpose was to
begin the 120-day trip from Quebec on 25 October.
The proposed exploratory area, which is east of the
median line, includes part of the concession now
held jointly by the Egyptian state-owned oil com-
pany and Pan American Petroleum, a subsidiary of
Indiana Standard.
Disdaining the legal, political, and military
implications of such a move, Israel argues that it
has a right to exploit occupied territories. More-
over, it claims it will not interfere with Pan
American's operations in the El Morgan oil field.
Forceful action by Egypt to prevent Is-
raeli exploration in the area could bring
Israeli reprisal against Cairo's revenue-
producing operations at EZ Morgan. Egypt
therefore might refrain from any action
during the period--perhaps as long as two
years--that it will take Israel to find
and produce oil.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EAST GERMANY - WEST GERMANY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EUROPEAN SECURITY CONFERENCE
For the USSR, one of the lessonsof the experi-
ence with Czechoslovakia was that bilateral dealings
between East and West European states could getout
of hand. A SOviet journalist, in a conversation
with a US official in Moscow, said that the USSR
Will attempt to control future East-West contacts
by channeling them through the European Security
Conference.
Just how the system would work is hard to
anticipate., and it may not yet be clear
in the minds of the Soviet leaders. Their
immediate concern is the East European re-
sponse to initiatives from the Brandt gov-
ernment in West Germany. Perhaps the Eu-
ropean Security Conference, if it takes
place, will provide the Warsaw Pact coun-
tries with a framework for regulating such
exchanges.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
India: The struggle for control of the rul-
ing Congress Party is growing more, bitter with the
likelihood of a-formal split looming larger. Yes-
terday, the mediation efforts of a group of state
leaders failed. Mrs. Gandhi continues to weed out
all cabinet officials who are not committed to her.
side. The next few weeks will'bring the greatest
danger yet to Congress' traditional one-party rule--
the major source of political stability in India.
.Brazil: Carlos Marighella, leader of the coun-
try's most effective terrorist prganization,.waS
killed by police last night,in Sao Paulo. During .
the. preceding two days, police had' roundedup 23
membersof his gang. Marighella's group had a pri-
mary role in the kidnaping of. Ambassador Elbrick
in September,,the most notorious of their many ter7
,rorist:activities., Although Marighella's death 'will
leave the remaining leftist extremists without ?a
real leader, they may attempt some spectacular ac-
tion--partly for revenge and partly to restore their
damaged'morale.
5
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007700040001-8