THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974177
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: December 18, 1967

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The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 18 December 1967
23
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DAILY BRIEF
18 DECEMBER 1967
1. France
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2. Common Market
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The French, having fanned the
flames on the international gold market,
are now becoming afraid that they them-
selves may get burned. Opinion is di-
vided among top economic officials in
Paris, but some are pressing for tempo-
rary cooperation with other powers to
halt the run on gold. They are also
even thinking of devaluing the franc.
Tempers are likely to run high as
the Six meet today and tomorrow to de-
bate British entry. London is still
insisting on a yes or no answer to its
bid for talks leading to full member-
ship--and nothing less.
The French say talks with the Brit-
ish should be deferred until all six
members have agreed on the "substance"
of London's bid. The other five mem-
bers agreed last week to force France
to state openly its opposition to nego-
tiations.
Whether the Five will stand firm
is still an open question. Kiesinger
told Governor Romney last Thursday that
he will work hard for British entry but
that in the final analysis he will avoid
a confrontation with De Gaulle. The
Chancellor still says a "middle ground"
can be found. Significantly, however,
he told Romney that the dispute may ap-
proach "serious proportions" within the
next two weeks.
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3. Australia
4. Greece
5. Uruguay
6. Algeria
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John McEwen is expected to be
sworn in as interim prime minister to-3.3(h)(2)
day or tomorrow. Australian leaders,
still recovering from the shock of
Harold Holt's presumed death, have not
yet worked out the next steps.
No important changes in government
policies are expected.
Strongman Papadopoulos said pri-
vately on Saturday that so much "bad
evidence" is now turning up against
King Constantine that it may be some
time before other junta members can be
convinced that the King should be in-
vited to return. Papadopoulos stressed,
however, that he still thinks the King
is a "practical necessity."
President Pacheco Areco has taken
hold of the government quickly and with
a firm hand. Very shortly after assum-
ing office, he announced that he will
continue Gestido's economic reform pro-
gram. He shows every sign of following
through effectively.
The new President has also moved
with unexpected force against several
small but disruptive groups on the ex-
treme left.
Boumediene, having crushed the
most serious threat of his two and a
half years in power, will now be able
to move more confidently against other
dissidents in his regime.
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7. Yugoslavia
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8. Yemen The Soviet effort to salvage Nasir's
investment in Yemen continues unabated.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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18 December 1967
TO ECRET
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
18 December 1967
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Results of Most Recent US Air Strikes: Prelim-
inary photographic reports indicate that one span of
the bridge over the Canal des Rapides has been dropped
and that the Paul Doumer Bridge is unserviceable to
both rail and road traffic-J
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�2�
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TOP CRET
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(
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have
tions
More on Negotiations: North Vietnamese officials
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also expressed a hard-line position on negotia-
to Indonesian diplomats in Hanoi."
According to the North Vietnamese,
the only
basis
for settlement is the Geneva Agreement.
Hanoi's position was
made
clear by the Four Points, the foreign minister's state-
ment of 28 January, and the Viet Cong's new political
program.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report today.
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