THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 26 APRIL 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005974401
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: April 26, 1968

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006000280001-0
The President's Daily Brief
"rj-p---sre26 April 1968
23
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DAILY BRIEF
26 APRIL 1968
1. South Vietnam
2. South Korea
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The most
critical spot at
the mo-
ment is the area
around Hue
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-"N-day"
terminology has
appeared
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at least once in intercepts from this
region.
The South Koreans are delaying a
decision on the dispatch of 6,000 more
troops to Vietnam. They say they are
waiting until they can judge the extent
of infiltration from the north this
summer.
There are other considerations,
however. First, Pak probably wants to
register his concern over the recent
US initiatives in Vietnam. More impor-
tant, he probably hopes the delay will
get him more US military aid and a
stronger US commitment to help resist a
North Korean attack.
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3. Czechoslovakia-
Soviet Union
Relations had seemed to be settling
down in recent weeks, but now new signs
of mutual irritation a e
This friction has been punctuated
by a courtly but surprisingly explicit
debate between the media of the two
countries.
* * *
Some of the things General Sejna
has told us about the earlier rounds
in this spat suggest that the Soviets
have been heavy-footed throughout. He
says that during the Czech power struggle
late last year, they guessed wrong more
than once. At first they held aloof be-
cause they thought the dispute was be-
tween conservative factions. When
Dubcek's "radical" outlook became appar-
ent, it was the same Ambassador Cher-
vonenko who weighed in heavily on
Novotny's side while keeping lines of
communication open to Dubcek.
After Dubcek's victory in December,
the Soviets adapted quickly. They urged
Novotny to yield gracefully in order not
to drive Dubcek into the arms of the
doctrinaire liberals. Sejna thinks Mos-
cow is now concentrating on efforts to
influence Dubcek, but we suspect the So-
viets are keeping in touch with the con-
servatives as well.
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4. Soviet Union
5,.Poland
6. Syria -
Soviet Union
The students say there will be
demonstrations in all major university
cities beginning on Monday/
/to continue
through the May Day celebrations next
Wednesday. The students hope that by
emphasizing economic issues, they can
get more support than they had last
time from the workers.
The government has already rounded
up some student leaders and is keeping
others on the run. It is likely to
handle any demonstrations that do come
off in the same hard-nose way. The
students' militancy may in fact be
giving party hardliners a chance to
?better their position at the expense of
those who favor a more lenient policy.
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7. Israel -
Arab States
The Israelis are digging their
heels in on the diplomatic front. They
infuriated U Thant by flatly rejecting
his letter requesting a cancellation
of their parade in Jerusalem. Thant is
thinking of adding his complaint to
that of the Jordanians in the Security
Council.
An Israeli spokesman told a US Em-
bassy officer in Tel Aviv that the
Israelis had gone about as far as they
were willing to go in their position
on the Jarring mission. This position,
of course, leaves a big gap between
them and the Arabs.
The spokesman put on a show of
fatalism over future Arab-Israeli rela-
tions, He said that public opinion
inside Israel is hardening and that the
Israelis would be willing to hold to
their essential bargaining positions
for 20 years if necessary.
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
i 6
2@_ Atyr i 1-1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
26 April 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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Bridge Repairs: The completion of a rail by-
pass bridge south of the Doumer railroad/highway
bridge over the Red River at Hanoi may permit through
rail traffic into and south of the North Vietnamese
capital for the first time since mid-December 1967.
Since that time, the North Vietnamese have been
forced to rely on ferries to move rail cars across
the river or transship cargo by truck or watercraft.
* * *
Hanoi Civil Defense: People in Hanoi are still
diEuina in for new US air attacks
more
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antiaircraft artillery was being brought into the
city and new trenches being dug. Soon after the
bombing restriction, there were press reports that
civil defense preparations were being pushed for-
ward.
North Vietnamese Propaganda on Site Selection:
Yesterday Hanoi radio's daily offering on the talk
site issue was a rather limp piece from the party
newspaper rehashing the same arguments put foward
for the past two weeks. The broadcast breaks no
new ground but seems milder than earlier ones, as
if Hanoi were temporarily marking time in its
propaganda treatment of this subject.
* * *
Cyprus Holds Up Ship Registration: The Cyprus
Government is refusing to register a ship engaged
in trade with North Vietnam. The owners of the
ship, the Yvonne, are trying to get the decision
overruled in the courts.
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report.
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