THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 30 DECEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976537
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 30, 1968

- Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600340001-7
The President's Daily Brief
7101-014g, 30 December 1968
23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
30 DECEMBER 1968
1, South Vietnam Ky's return to Paris may be de-
layed.
2. Portugal
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It seems unlikely that Ky has
given up altogether 50X1
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It is pos- 50X1
sible that Ky, with Thieu's agreement,
may have decided to wait out the?last
days of the Johnson administration in
Saigon.
In the press conferenceTriday,-
in which he announced Portugal's readi-
ness to reopen the Azores.base negoti
ations, ForeignAnnister Franco Nogueira
claimed: that Lisbon has a"right to de-
mand that others cooperate" with Portu-
:gal's African policies. This is the
most explicit warning yet that the Por-
tuguese will be trying to use the Azores
base as a lever to get US backing for
their activities in Africa. Our embassy
believes that the Portuguese think
world opinion in general--and the views
of the new US administration.in particu-
lar?will:be more sympathetic to.them
in the future.
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3, Brazil
4, Arab States -
Israel
The Brazilian National Security
Council has scheduled one of its rare
meetings for today. Normally the
council meets only to ratify decisions
made by the executive.
We know that Costa e Silva has
been under pressure from many sides to
get off the dime and do something, but
we have no word on what the council
will be asked to approve. Today's meet-
ing should provide a clearer view of the
relative strength of the various groups
competing for influence and whether
Costa e Silva is being pushed another
step toward undisguised military dicta-
torship.
The Israeli raid on Beirut air-
port may produce more Lebanese-based
terrorist activity rather than less.
The Lebanese populace is in an ugly
mood, and the government--which lacks
the means to attack Israel directly--
will probably relieve its frustration
by halting its efforts to rein in the
local terrorists.
Harsh reactions can be expected
elsewhere in the Arab world as well.
The US, with the announcement of the
sale of Phantoms fresh in Arab memo-
ries, will come in for a good part of
the blame for the Israeli reprisal.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
.) North Vietnamese Reflections of US
Political Attitudes
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?3-0 -December 1968
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? Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
30 December 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
_Hanoi Speeds Packages to US POWs:
Hanoi is following
through on its announcement that US prisoners in North
Vietnam could receive Christmas packages this year.
? Liberation Front Man Sees Debr?The 26 Decem-
ber call on Foreign Minister Debr?y Tran Buu Kiem,
chief Liberation Front delegate in Paris, was mainly
a "courtesy" visit, according to a French Foreign Min-
istry official. He described the call as in keeping
with France's policy of according equal treatment to
all four delegations to the :talks in Paris. Though
plausible and correct in terms of protocol, this po-
sition obviously suits the Communists and feeds South
Vietnamese fears about French intentions.
Tran Buu Kiem evidently made a standard propa-
ganda pitch during the visit with Debr?including
the stress on the need for a "peace cabinet" in Sai-
gon pending the establishment of a coalition govern-
ment. He would not be drawn out on what personalities
or political elements would be acceptable to the Com-
munists, but insisted that President Thieu, Vice Presi-
dent Ky, and Prime Minister Huong must all be removed.
The French official relaying this to a US Embassy
officer said that press reports about Debr?elling
Kiem that France was prepared to aid in postwar recon-
struction in Vietnam should not be construed as a sub-
stantive commitment to the Communists. He described
them as remarks made out of courtesy which parallel'
similar assurances to the US.
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Repairs to North Vietnamese Power Plants: The
North Vietnamese have made extensive repairs to three
of their major thermal power plants.
Construction efforts at the Hanoi Thermal Power
Plant are apparently intended to provide protection
from air strikes.
Similar construction is under way at the Hai-
phong Thermal Power Plant West,
The Thanh Hoa Thermal Power Plant, heavily dam-
aged by air strikes, is being restored
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Transportation in Hanoi-Haiphong Area:
in Hanoi reports all damage to major rail
lines in the Hanoi-Haiphong area has been repaired.
Work is going forward on an alternate railroad be-
tween Hanoi and the port city
Rail traffic in and out of Hanoi is heavy and
mostly freight. Some damaged equipment is coming up
from the south, however. Highways are being resur-
faced and many new trucks are to be seen.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report today.
-3-
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Top Secret
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