THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974281
• 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 16, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
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DAILY BRIEF
16 FEBRUARY 1968
1. South Vietnam
2. Soviet Union
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The military situation did not
change significantly overnight. Fight-
ing continues in Hue and there were
several sharp clashes on the outskirts
of Saigon between allied sweep forces
and Viet Cong units. The enemy contin-
ues menacing movements in the Quang Tri
city area suggesting that another round
of attacks may be forthcoming in that
sector.
On the political front in Saigon,
Ky is talking of dissolving the South
Vietnamese side of the joint emergency
task force or of resigning as its chair-
man. Actually, he probably hopes his
threat will force Thieu to delegate him
greater authority. He is concerned
about the government's sluggish approach
to current problems and feels something
must be done to provide more effective
leadership. But he does not want to
seem to be usurping power.
Moscow moved again yesterday to
intensify frictions among the Western
allies over the Berlin issue. In
nearly identical letters to the US and
British ambassadors, Moscow accused
Bonn of trying to "undermine" the al-
lied position in Berlin and of using
Berlin "as a means of whipping up ten-
sion in Europe." The Soviet note to
the French, however, merely noted that
these letters had been sent and re-
ferred to the common Soviet-French in-
terest in maintaining the status quo
in Berlin.
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3. Israel-Jordan
4. Greece-Turkey
5. Panama
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Yesterday's fighting along the
frontier was more extensive than the
incidents that have been taking place
almost daily for the past ten days.
The Jordanians are jittery over the
Israeli military build-up in the area
last week. The Israelis have taken a
very tough line in recent public
statements. Still, there is no sign
that the Israelis intend an early move
across the Jordan river.
It now appears that the Greek and
Turkish foreign ministers really made
a positive effort to bury the hatchet
during their secret meeting early this
month. They agreed to work toward set-
tlement of some troublesome bilateral
issues and even attacked the intracta-
ble Cyprus problem itself.
Their scheme for Cyprus involves
the promotion of secret talks among
the concerned parties for some form of
constitutional accommodation between
the island's Greek and Turkish commu-
nities. This plan is so fraught with
pitfalls that it is hard to see how it
can come to much. At least Athens and
Ankara are now thinking positively,
but Makarios has yet to be consulted.
Pre-election maneuvering has
reached a dangerous stage, and Ambas-
sador Adair warns that a direct con-
frontation between the opposing sides
could come without warning. The forces
of government candidate Samudio, faced
with the likelihood of defeat at the
polls in May, seem determined now eithpr
to lay the basis for a fraudulent vote
or to cause a breakdown in the electoral
system. The Arias forces are repeating
their threat to fight any attempt to
cheat them of victory.
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6. Dominican
Republic
7. Brazil
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At this point it looks as though
Balaguer may have successfully faced
down what could easily have become a
very messy situation at the University
of Santo Domingo. A massive show of
military force, coupled with unusual
restraint by the soldiers, seems to
have brought rampaging students to
heel.
The incident that set off the
trouble on Wednesday came after more
than a month of student unrest.
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Costa e Silva is apparently not
the man Brazilian military officers
thought he would be when they put him
where he is. Disenchantment is grow-
ing in the officer corps over the ad-
ministration's clear ineptitude and
over hints of corruption in high
places. This reflects badly on the
military as a whole, they say, and
some officers are about to launch a
drive for a thorough house cleaning.
Among other things, they want to fire
most of the cabinetand start over fresh.
The President himself is not
threatened--yet, but he will have to
meet the officers half way.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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16. -'eloruary 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
16 February 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
-Hanoi on Bombing Halt: Hanoi has been in touch
with a number of Western governments recently to
present its case and to underscore its readiness to
talk if the US stops the bombings. The Italian For-
eign Office announced on 14 February that North Viet-
namese representatives had contacted Rome early this
month with such a message.
The Swiss Govern-
ment announced yesterday that its ambassador in Pe-
king was en route to Hanoi to offer his country's
good offices for a peaceful settlement. Although
press reports say this was entirely a Swiss initia-
tive, Hanoi doubtless chose the time by giving per-
mission for the visit.
the Tet offensive and Hanoi's statements
on negotiations are all part of the same package: on
the one hand, Hanoi tries to demonstrate its strength;
on the other, it tries by making semantic changes of
position to put the ball in the US court. He rejects
the notion that the Tet offensive is a "final fling"
because he cannot find the slightest evidence of a
willingness to compromise. He concludes that the
North Vietnamese are ready to settle down to a long
war and prepared to make whatever sacrifices are
necessary to do this. He also believes that, while
the North Vietnamese "would be delighted" to come to
a conference table with the US if the bombing is
stopped, they are not prepared to make any fundamental
concessions to get there.
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French Press Report from Hanoi: French Press
Agency correspondents in Hanoi took note of North
Vietnamese current tactics in a story on 14 Febru-
ary. If the story was not actually inspired by
the North Vietnamese, they probably at least ap-
proved of its contents. The story says that the
Communists are trying to demonstrate simultaneously
their military strength and their desire for a peace-
ful settlement. It claims the Communists, although
"very satisfied" with the results of the offensive
in the South, are stressing that it is not over yet
and new attacks are likely if the US fails to stop
the bombing and begin negotiations.
The story stresses the moves made by Hanoi to
make its position appear more forthcoming. It con-
cludes, however, that Hanoi does not intend to
compromise on its demand for an unconditional bomb-
ing halt. If Washington insists on any form of reci-
procity, even the "modified" version of President
Johnson's San Antonio formula, the war will continue.
* * *
U Thant's Comments on his Contacts with North
Vietnamese: Don Cook of the Los Angeles Times in-
formed the US Embassy in Paris that one of his col-
leagues had managed to see U Thant in Paris yester-
day. The following were said to be the secretary
general's impressions:
could see no movement in Hanoi's position;
--Hanoi nevertheless appears very interested
in getting talks started on the condition that the
US stops bombing;
--U Thant thinks Hanoi would open talks with-
in two weeks of a bombing halt;
--His conversations in Moscow forced him to
the conclusion that there is no "give" in Russia's
position, which continues to support Hanoi 100 per-
cent;
--He cannot agree with Prime Minister Wilson's
conclusion that differences between Hanoi and Wash-
ington are "very narrow";
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--He is therefore returning to New York "not
optimistic";
--A one-hour conversation with De Gaulle pro-
duced nothing of interest.
* * *
Hanoi Denies US Sent Envoy: Another French
Press Agency item broadcast by Paris yesterday says
that an "informed North Vietnamese source" in Hanoi
has "categorically denied" reports that the US sent
a special envoy to North Vietnam to explore pros-
pects for peace. The story notes that Canadian ICC
Commissioner Dier had been in Hanoi recently, but
that he was not acting for the US.
* * *
Bomb Damage in Haiphong: Bomb damage in the
port is limited to certain sections of the city and
is less serious than has been generally assumed,
according to Robert Eaton, a member of the crew of
the yacht Phoenix which was in Haiphong during late
January. Eaton, who gave his views to a French
correspondent in Hong Kong, also claimed that much
of the city was deserted and that on a tour of the
port he was shown civilian areas which had been
damaged. Eaton claimed bombing effects were not
evident in most sections, and that life was being
conducted in a normal fashion in many areas.
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Hanoi Prepares for Intensified Air Raids: Hanoi
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is making more extensive civil
in anticipation of retaliatory
munist offensive in the South,
defense preparations
air raids for the Com-
construction
of bunkers and air
a furious pace and
the exterior, most
raid shelters is continuing at
speculates that, judging from
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if not all of the government ministries in downtown
Hanoi will soon be able to operate around the clock
,with skeleton staffs deep underground. Public air
raid shelters are also being enlarged,
and are being equipped with im-
proved ventilation systems.
Most diplomats in the capital are said to dis-
count the possibility of an all-out US air raid,
the exceptions being the Chinese and North Koreans,
who are ostentatiously enlarging and deepening
their air raid shelters.
* * *
Trade Mission in Singapore:
the North Vietnamese
trade mission has limited its activities to bona
fide trade matters and has gone about its business
in low key. The mission has had direct talks with
the Singapore government, but made no inquiries
concerning establishment of a permanent trade mis-
sion in Singapore. It is not clear how much longer
the mission intends to stay, but the government
hopes it will leave soon.
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* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Hanoi Propaganda Yesterday's English lan-
guage broadcast by radio Hanoi contained a section
devoted to quotes from recent statements on Viet-
nam by several members of the US Congress.
Senator Robert Kennedy's speech of 8 February
came in for some more attention. He was quoted as
saying that the Vietnam war could lead the US to
national tragedy. Senator Mike Mansfield is quoted
as saying last Sunday that the recent Viet Cong of-
fensive had demonstrated that the Saigon political
structure is no stronger today than it was three
years ago. "Indeed," Mansfield is quoted, "its very
survival appears more dependent on US military power
than at any time in the past."
Senator Thruston Morton is quoted by Hanoi as
saying that the tragedy of the US commitment in
Vietnam is that most of the people of South Viet-
nam couldn't care less. Morton, Hanoi claimed,
"again accused the Johnson administration of hood-
winking the American people about the war." Rep-
resentative Margaret ,Heckler of Massachusetts is
said by Hanoi to have accused General Westmoreland
of "deluding" members of Congress.
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