THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 DECEMBER 1968

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005976529
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
11
Document Creation Date: 
September 16, 2015
Document Release Date: 
September 16, 2015
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 24, 1968
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PDF icon DOC_0005976529.pdf192.25 KB
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 ( The President's Daily Brief -"TroTrret--24 December 1968 23 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 OUA 1 ? THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 DECEMBER 1968 . Turkey 2, Iraq Undaunted by their recent failure to organize anti-US and antigovernment demonstrations, leftist students will probably try again in the next few days. This time they are planning to oc- cupy, and possibly sabotage a foreign- financed factory. near Istanbul. The students' p n call for a two-part campaign against foreign capital investment in Turkey. Phase two is only in the planning stage, but it is tentatively scheduled for March. Since the Demirel government is probably aware of these plans, it should be able to cope with major dem- onstrations. Individual acts of sabo- tage, however, will be difficult to prevent. President Bakr's six-month-old revolutionary government is preparing to suppress another military coup at- tempt, The latest rum- blings indicate that middle-level offi- cers are planning to take over the-gov- ernment within the next week or two and to turn it over to civilian control. The incumbents, however, seem to know about the plot and its chances for suc- cess are slim. 50X1 50X1 501 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 3. Lebanon 4. Nigeria We doubt that federal troops will honor Biafra's declaration of an eight- day truce, which began at midnight local time on 23 December. Federal troops did not even observe a one-day truce they themselves had announced for last week, and there is ?no reason to think they will hold off during a sec- ond truce they have announced for Christ- mas. ? The International Red Cross has managed to get a 15-day extension from the government of Equatorial Africa authorizing continued relief flights to Biafra. A new agreement on future flights must be worked out during that period. 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 1 5. Czechoslovakia - Soviet Union 6. Panama Last week's trade agreement ties the Czechoslovak economy more closely ,to the Soviets. According to the few details we have, the agreement calls for more of the same--expanded Soviet exports of fuels, raw materials, food, and tech- nology, in return for Czech manufac- tures. Even though this agreement is somewhat open-ended, we do not think it will be an adequate substitute for the Western technology which Prague had wanted. These developments probably re- inforce the growing impression within Czechoslovakia that Dubcek is being painted into a corner. In order to maintain public order and control over political developments, Dubcek has been forced to warn that further "undemo- cratic measures" might be necessary if resistance to retrenchment is not ended. Any such moves will cost him additional support from the liberals, who up to now have been his strongest backers. The balance between the two lead- ers of the military junta is beginning to shift. Both men are still inter- ested in maintaining unity, but compet- ing National Guard factions are crystal- lizing around them. If the rivalry be- tween these factions becomes more in- tense, there could be a falling out at the top. 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 , Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 1.AL, Top Secret FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY 1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam 2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of US Political Attitudes Top Secret 50)(1 16 24 December 1968 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Special Daily Report on North Vietnam for the President's Eyes Only 24 December 1968 I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 bUA1 Plans for Port Construction: Vice premier Le Thanh Nghi, in a recent speech broadcast over Hanoi Radio's domestic service, said that Haiphong harbor "must be enlarged." He also asserted that "other ports.. .are going to be built or enlarged." Hon Gay, to the northeast of Haiphong, may be one of those slated for expansion,i * * * -2- 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 IL NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL :ATTITUDES ON THE WAR Hanoi Notes Criticism of Ky: Radio Hanoi, quot- ing Western news agency dispatches, on 22 December broadcast the derogatory comments made by Senators Young and McGovern about South Vietnamese Vice Presi- dent Ky. The brief statement over Hanoi's interna- tional service also cited remarks by the senators that the US should begin a troop withdrawal as soon as possible. _3- 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600300001-1