THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974101
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: November 3, 1967

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The President's Daily Brief
--T-ep�SerrIT 3 November 1967
23
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DAILY BRIEF
3 NOVEMBER 1967
1. Soviet Union
2. Peru
iaP-s-EieRET -
A small group of US scientists has
been invited to Moscow in late December
for informal talks with members of the
Soviet Academy of Sciences. The sub-
ject is to be arms control, and the an-
tiballistic missile race in particular.
We do not know when the Soviet
scientists got permission to do this,
but they seem to have been trying since
late last year.
the Soviet military,
opposed any such talks.
Moscow's decision to give them a go-
ahead, however, seems consistent with
its cautious public approach to Secre-
tary McNamara's antiballistic missile
announcement.
the Soviet
Academy, who extended the invitation,
wants to keep the Chinese Communists
from getting wind of the talks.
Peking could seriously em-
barrass the USSR with charges of Soviet-
American "collusion." 3.3(h)(2)
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President Belaunde has another
crisis to face as the Peruvian economy
continues its downward spiral. General
lack of confidence in the economy has
brought a run on the Central Bank, and
reserves are now dangerously low. Fur-
ther devaluation may be necessary, a
step which would be extremely unpopular.
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3. Cambodia Sihanouk's friendship with China ap-
pears to be on again.
4. Israel
5. France
3.3(h)(2)
Sihanouk has been complaining might-
ily about Peking's propaganda activities
in his country. In fact, he has threat-
ened to end Chinese aid programs in Cam-
bodia. A suave letter from Chou En-lai,
however, seems to have turned the tide.
Sihanouk announced on Wednesday that he
is willing to let bygones be bygones--
so long as the Chinese cut out the export
of Mao-think to Cambodia.
We suspect Sihanouk, always acutely
aware of Cambodia's exposed position, is
grateful for an opportunity to balance
off the visit by Mrs. Kennedy.
3.5(c)
Arab terrorists continue to infil-
trate Israeli-held territory. While Tel
Aviv holds the Syrians chiefly respon-
sible, the terrorists are using Jordan-
ian territory. At least twice this month
Jordanian troops--probably without author-
ization from Amman--have covered the re-
treat of infiltrators with machine-gun
fire. There is an increasingly good
chance the Israelis will retaliate. When
they do, they are not likely to draw fine
distinctions between Syria and Jordan.
De Gaulle apparently believes he can
make some political mileage at US expense
by selling weapons to selected Arab states
while maintaining his embargo on arms
sales to Israel.
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
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Z-0-12--S-EeRET -
6. Congo
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The white mercenary invasion of
copper-rich Katanga Province remains
shrouded in rumor and conjecture.
The Congolese claim the invaders
entered the country at Dilolo, seized
a train, and set out toward Lubumbashi,
the provincial capital. Late yesterday
they were reported about 70 miles west
of Kolwezi. Congolese troops have been
ordered to tear up the tracks and am-
bush the invasion force, but an effec-
tive defense is unlikely.
Although so far there has been
none of the inflammatory propaganda that
whipped up antiwhite sentiment last sum-
mer, the behavior of Congolese troops
is unpredictable. The American consul
in Lubumbashi is evacuating dependents
this morning.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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ret
16
3 November � 1967
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
3 November 1967
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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.Hanoi's Version of Recent Bombings:
forwarded to
the official line Hanoi is giving out on
the most recent bombings. The 24 to 29 October raids
are called "the most intensive and illegal thus far...
even more intense than the bombing of Haiphong."
were told that the use of anti-
personnel bombs in the recent attacks "is intended
to intimidate the people" and force the government
to the conference table. Since the US has "run out
of objectives, the intense attacks on the capital
only make clearer US weaknesses," the North Vietnam-
ese
TO SECRET
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Paul Doumer Bridge: Details of the effects of
the latest attacks on the Doumer bridge
the 25-26 October air strikes
dropped two spans of the bridge, in ad-
dition that the central piling on the island in the
middle of the river had been cracked.
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3.3(h)(2)
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a trip across the 3.3(h)(2)
river on one of the ferries substituting for the
bridge. Each ferry boat reportedly can carry 20 cars
and 40 to 50 passengers and makes the crossing in
about 45 minutes, traveling upstream part way and
then returning with the current. people 3.3(h)(2)
wanting to cross the river must wait about three
hours.
* * *
Effects of Bombing:
bombing at-
tacks against Hanoi and the coastal cities of Hai-
phong, Thai Binh, and Hon Gai were "devastating"
and that hardly a building in any of these cities
remained untouched. the bombings
have had a "telling effect" on production of coal
at Hong Gai and that coal exports to Japan in 1967
will definitely be affected.
TOP
the North Vietnamese
are experiencing difficulties in meeting commitments
for coal shipments to Japan.
although the bombing
has adversely affected the lives of the North Viet-
namese, they do not seem to be disheartened. They
appear resigned to a prolonged war and "fully con-
fident" of ultimate victory.
although not plentiful, food, plain clothing,
other daily necessities, and even luxury items such
as liquor and tobacco could be purchased from ped-
dlers.
* * *
French Newsmen Arrive in Hanoi: A three-man
team from the French television system arrived in
Hanoi on 31 October, according to a French news ser-
vice report from the North Vietnamese capital. The
report stated that the team will remain in North
Vietnam for about a month.
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Shakeup of Economic Officials in Hanoi: North
Vietnam announced on 2 November a series of changes
in its governmental structure. The chief one is a
readjustment in the economic establishment by the
promotion of second echelon technicians to more im-
portant positions. Politburo member Le Thanh Nghi,
who was appointed minister of heavy industry last
February, was replaced in that role by Nguyen Huu
Mai, who has been vice minister of communications
and transport since 1955. Nghi probably is being
relieved of his routine tasks in order to concen-
trate on more important matters.
Other changes in the economic field involved
Hoang An, who relinquished his post as minister of
agriculture to a man who has been vice minister of
agriculture since 1960, and Hoang Quoc Thinh, who
has been acting minister of home trade and has now
been appointed to that position in his own right.
The most unusual of the shifts is the appoint-
ment of Nguyen Con, chairman of the state planning
commission, to the post of vice premier. There is
nothing in Con's background or present duties that
single him out for elevation to such a relatively
major post. Con's appointment brings to seven the
number of vice premiers, five of whom are members
of the party's Politburo.
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Hanoi on Recent US Antiwar Activity: A Hanoi
domestic service broadcast on 1.NUVe-FUTF in Viet-
namese summed up recent antiwar protests in the US.
The broadcast reported that Secretary of State Rusk
was jeered and booed at Indiana University on 24
October and that almost every sentence of his speech
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�on Vietnam was interrupted by shouts of "murderer,
stop bombing North Vietnam." Hanoi also reported
that the chairmen of 34 Democratic youth organiza-
tions sent a joint letter to the Democratic Party
condemning President Johnson's Vietnam policy. The
broadcast cited an article by George Gallup in a
recent issue of the Washington Post, which alleged
that 25 percent of the people think the government
has concealed the truth about Vietnam.
Hanoi Reports Remarks of American Visitor:
Hanoi has again exploited the visit of an American
who is opposed to the war by broadcasting his im-
pressions of North Vietnam. On 1 November, in a
broadcast in English to Southeast Asia, Hanoi re-
ported the remarks of Robert Allen, a staff re-
-porter for the National Guardian,.who was recently
in North Vietnam. .Allen's statement, which was
read by a North Vietnamese announcer, indicates
that he was greatly impressed by the North Viet-
namese people, who have "strength, courage, and
determination to win" despite the US bombings.
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