THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974183
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: December 21, 1967

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The President's Daily Brief
cret 21 December 1967
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DAILY BRIEF
21 DECEMBER 1967
1. Common Market
2. United Kingdom
3. Greece
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Dutch Foreign Minister Luns said
today that the Five would negotiate
"individually and jointly" with Britain,
De Gaulle's objections notwithstanding.
This statement appears to be in response
to George Brown's proposal yesterday.
3.
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The King's return is still up in
the air. There has been no response
from Athens so far to Constantine's
statement yesterday. The King said his
only condition for going back was a
firm timetable for re-establishing parlia-
mentary democracy.
The junta probably could buy this,
but Constantine's other remarks about
the regime's "deviations" will not set
well in Athens. Some members of the
junta would be quite willing to let Con-
stantine cool his heels in Rome indefi-
nitely.
Greek troops continue to leave
Cyprus, with more than 3,000 now evacu-
ated.
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4. Singapore
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5. Laos
6. Indonesia
7. Sudan
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Communist forces are maneuvering
around government bases, but there have
been no major clashes since last week.
Both North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao are
involved in their usual dry season cam-
paign aimed at pushing back anti-Commu-
nist guerrillas in the north and at
keeping government troops away from the
Ho Chi Minh trail in the south. They
are apparently being somewhat more ag-
gressive this year, however.
Suharto sees a bleak year ahead un-
less he can get a $325-million foreign
aid transfusion. Expressing his thanks
for America's help, including a $110 mil-
lion pledge for next year, Suharto asked
Ambassador Green Monday night if the US
would urge other countries, especially
Japan, to contribute their full share to
the balance.
Then Suharto asked if the US could
go beyond the $110 million should all
other efforts fail. The acting presi-
dent is particularly concerned about the
first quarter of 1968.
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8. Dominican Republic Political bickering continues to
threaten the stability of the Domini-
3.3h2 can military establishment. General
()()
Perez, head of the armed forces, is
again threatening to resign
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If Perez goes, other key staff
officers are likely to follow him, which
would weaken Balaguer's control of the
armed forces. Balaguer may try to
wriggle out of this by reassigning the
officer Perez dislikes. Any respite,
however, is likely to be temporary.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily IRqort on North Vietnam
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21 December 1967
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
21 December 1967
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Soviet Reaction to President's News Conference:
President Johnson's references to Vietnam in the
press interview broadcast Tuesday evening have not
sparked much initial interest in Moscow. A Moscow
international broadcast states that the President
was merely trying to give an appearance of flexibility
by raising the question of "unofficial" talks between
Saigon and the Front. In reality, the broadcast went
on, the US continues its position of refusing to
recognize the Front.
* * *
Latest Photography of the Bridges: Photographs
taken on Monday show that three spans of the Doumer
bridge, totaling about 840 feet, have been dropped
and that another 350-foot span has been badly damaged.
The main bridge over the Canal des Rapides, according
to photos taken last weekend, has suffered two
dropped spans totaling 214 feet and damage to another
107-foot span.
Judging from past performance, the North Viet-
namese will require several weeks to repair the
latest damage.
* * *
the embassy re-
ported that the targets of that day's strike were
the Paul Doumer Bridge "and other outlying points of
the city."
* * *
Recent Photographs of North Vietnam: The most
recent high altitude BLACK SHIELD photography pro-
vided excellent coverage of North Vietnam on two suc-
cessive days, 15 and 16 December.
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All six of North Vietnam's major airfields were
covered. A total of eight to twelve operational MIG
fighters, including four or five MIG-21s, were identi-
fied. Since these pictures were taken, at least five
MIG-21s have been returned to North Vietnam from re-
serves in China. This will more than compensate for
the MIG-17s lost to US planes during the past week.
The return of these MIGs also demonstrates that Hanoi
intends to maintain a limited but aggressive interceptor
force to oppose the US bombing effort.
Another highlight from the 15-16 December pic-
tures is evidence that the North Vietnamese have de-
vised a way to move rail cars in and out of Haiphong,
despite the continuing unserviceability of the only
rail-highway bridge into the port. A rail ferry ap-
pears to be operating adjacent to the destroyed bridge.
* * *
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Hanoi Radio: North Vietnam apparently has taken
steps to maintain operations by Radio Hanoi in case
its primary broadcasting facilities are damaged by
US bombings
* * *
Hardships in North Vietnam:\
/evacuees from Hanoi and
Haiphong were given a six-month rice ration upon ar-
rival in Thai Nguyen and that they did not receive
any additional special treatment. They were expected
to resettle themselves and to obtain employment which
would qualify them for food ration cards before they
had consumed their special ration.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Nothing of significance to report today.
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