THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974273
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: February 12, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 12 February 1968
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DAILY BRIEF
12 FEBRUARY 1968
1. South Vietnam Communist pressures eased over
(as of 5:30 AM the weekend around cities and towns in
EST) some parts of the country, but new at-
tacks took place against two provincial
capitals and two allied airfields in
the delta. In the north, the Communists
in Hue continue putting up stubborn re-
sistance.
2. Korea
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Life in Saigon is gradually re-
turning to normal despite continuing
Communist resistance to clearing opera-
tions in Cholon. Persistent low-level
reports, however, are still predicting
new "large-scale attacks" on the capital
within the next few days. Elements of
three Communist divisions remain within
striking distance.
The Khe Sanh situation is unchanged
Mr. Vance had his first meeting
with President Pak today to the accom-
paniment of a steady drumbeat in the
Seoul press insisting that the South
Koreans want a fuller US commitment,
not just more US military aid. No word
has yet come on the substance of the
talks.
Satellite photography of last week
shows that the Pueblo has been moved
from its anchorage inWonsan Bay to a
more secure berth at a nearby naval base.
This will facilitate examination of the
ship's equipment, presumably with the
help of Soviet experts.
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3. Cambodia
4. Australia
5. Nigeria
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6. Czechoslovakia
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�T-op-Secret�
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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12 February 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
12 February 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Front Activities: Liberation Front officials
abroad are continuing to make a big effort to be
seen and heard. Nguyen Van Hieu, the Front man in
Phnom Penh and one of the Front's most authoritative
spokesmen on foreign affairs, recently discussed
the Viet Cong plans to establish a coalition govern-
ment. Although radio propaganda and prisoners cap-
tured in the Tet offensive have indicated that this
is a Front objective, Nguyen Van Hieu is the first
responsible Front official to comment on it.
Hieu made his remarks at a press conference on
8 February which was attended by Wilfred Burchett.
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Other Communist representatives have been seek-
ing publicity contacts to emphasize the Viet Cong's
military successes. In Moscow and Prague, Front
representatives briefed prominent party personali-
ties amid much publicity. The official statement
issued after Dang Quang Minh's meeting with Brezhnev
emphasized the political aspect of the Tet offen-
sive. In recent days Moscow has also issued a
formal TASS statement affirming support of the Viet
Cong military action and of the North Vietnamese
"will talk" attitude.
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The Front spokesman in Hanoi this weekend is-
sued an unequivocal endorsement of the North Viet-
namese offer to talk with the US. Front represen-
tative Nguyen Van Tien told a Hungarian journalist
on 9 February that the Front "entirely agrees with
the North Vietnamese foreign minister's statement
and fully supports its contents." The Front also
used the interview to boast that it controlled
three out of eight districts in Saigon and said
the Viet Cong intended to mobilize the young people
of towns and villages and arm them to help defeat
any possible American "counteraction."
Other Front Activities: Just prior to the Tet
offensive, the head of the Front office in Djakarta
told Indonesian Government officials that he had at-
tended a Front central committee meeting last sum-
mer and had come away with renewed confidence about
the war. In a rare admission of past difficulties,
the official admitted that US forces had had some
success in the past two "dry seasons," but boasted
that Communist units now had new weaponry and much
greater experience and the US would not do so well
this year.
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Hanoi Continues Playing Up New Front Groups in
the South: A Hanoi broadcast monitored in Tokyo
yesterday reported what purported to be a decision
by the National Liberation Front to strengthen ties
with the "Alliance of National, Democratic, and
Peace Forces," which it Claims has sprung up in
various South Vietnamese cities since the onslaught
of the Tet offensive. Yesterday's broadcast claimed
that the Front had issued a call for talks with
the "Alliance" on "the most suitable way of reunify-
ing Vietnam."
Peking propaganda takes the story a little fur-
ther. A Chinese press agency report yesterday, quot-
ing a North Vietnamese army newspaper, reported that
the "rural people" in South Vietnam have resolved to
set up a "people's regime" in response to the Viet
Cong call.
U Thant's Travels: The Secretary General has
scheduled a meeting for today with the National Lib-
eration Front representative in Moscow, according to
press reports. Thant was received by Kosygin shortly
after he flew in from New Delhi yesterday, and plans
another meeting today, after whiCh he is sched-
uled to leave for London en route back to New York.
Little solid information is available to flesh out
press speculation that Thant is embarked on a major
new peace effort. Peking, reacting characteristically
to this speculation, blasted Thant yesterday for
trying to "peddle the US 'peace talks' scheme."
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Chinese Troops: In radio conversations between
Chinese units in North Vietnam intercepted on 30 and
31 January, one unit stated that the problem of food
shortages "troubles us very much" and that some people
might have to be sent to Nanning.
Another Chinese unit in North Vietnam said that
the North Vietnamese were "very kind," gave them food,
and invited them to attend their Lunar New Year Fes-
tival party at Thai Binh.
Voice intercepts of Chinese units in North Viet-
nam are rare. The only voice communications previously
noted were between antiaircraft observation posts.
US Pilots: Since the three American pilots sched-
uled to be released from North Vietnam did not make
the ICC flight on Friday, the ICC is trying to arrange
a special flight tomorrow. The next scheduled flight
is not until Friday.
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II. REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
World Reaction to,Senator Robert Kennedy's 8 Feb-
ruary Speech: The Senator's speech on Vietnam has re-
ceived only light coverage in world news media. Neither
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Hanoi nor Peking has yet commented. Moscow commen-
tators have referred to Kennedy's "admissions" only
in passing and have contrasted his statements with
the continuing "hawkish" stance of the administration.
Several press services in other Communist countries
have noted the speech in brief, factual terms. Such
comment as there has been in these countries has
used the speech to buttress claims that the American
public is becoming more disillusioned with the war,
or that the recent Communist offensive has caused
"anxiety and confusion" in Washington.
Free World press reaction has also been mini-
mal. Comments in British and West German papers
have been mixed.
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