THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974269
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: February 9, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
9 February 1968
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DAILY BRIEF
9 FEBRUARY 1968
1. Vietnam We have no word of enemy action
(as of 5:30 AM in the Khe Sanh area today. Late re-
EST) ports say that some 124 enemy troops
were killed in the fighting there yes-
terday; US casualties were 21 killed
and 27 wounded.
2. North Korea No new developments have been re-
ported overnight.
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3. Jerusalem
4. West Germany
5. South America
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Antiwar demonstrations by leftist
students against US installations in
West Germany are becoming more and more
violent. An especially bold assault
on the Frankfurt Consulate early this
week almost broke in.
US officials on the scene believe
that the local authorities have been
too lenient, and that this is encour-
aging the agitators. Th6 next target
is likely to be the Hamburg Consulate
this weekend.
Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bo-
livia are considering the establishment
of diplomatic and formal commercial re-
lations with the Soviet Union this year.
Influenced by Colombia, which restored
relations last month, and by Chile, '
which did so in 1964, these countries
hope the move might help them unload
some of their hard-to-sell commodities
and thus ease growing economic troubles.
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6. Sweden
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The number of US deserters known
to be in Sweden now stands at 24:
13 have been given asylum.
7. Rhodesia Ian Smith wants to visit the US
soon.
8. Congo
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Mobutu says he will propose at a
meeting of the Organization of African
Unity later this month that the mercen-
aries be allowed to leave for Europe.
Although Mobutu still believes these
men should be punished, he apparently
� will not attach any strings to their
departure.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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9 February 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
9 February 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
North Vietnamese Diplomat Comments: Hanoi is
keeping the door to talks open but is not giving any
greater appearance of flexibility.
U Thant Meets With Hanoi Representative in New
Delhi: UN Secretary General Thant met with the North
Vietnamese consul general in New Delhi on .8 February,
according to press reports. UN spokesmen character-
ized the meeting as "useful" and claimed that Thant
met with the Hanoi representative in a personal capa-
city and not as Secretary General. No indication was
given as to the matters discussed.
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Hanoi has maintained a consistent position in
opposition to UN involvement in the Vietnam situa-
tion. The North Vietnamese have, however, never
openly criticized Thant personally. They probably
view any meeting with him as an opportunity to con-
vey their position on the war and negotiations to
an influential international figure who is on record
in favor of several aspects of their stand, particu-
larly on the end of the bombing.
* * *
.American Prisoners to ,be Released Today: Hanoi
has confirmed its intention to send the three cap-
tured American pilots out of North Vietnam on the
ICC.flight today. Hanoi has cabled the head of the
ICC in Saigon a manifest for the Hanoi-Vientiane
leg of the flight; the names of the three pilots'
Are on the passenger list. The plane left Saigon
for Phnom Penh and Hanoi at 11:30 local time today.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing significant to report at this
time. Hanoi radio has for some days now been
saturated with propaganda relating to the Tet offen-
sive.
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