THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 4 NOVEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976443
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: November 4, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
7-t-rLet,4 November 1968
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
4 NOVEMBER 1968
1., South Vietnam
* * *
The Vietnamese Communists are do-
ing their best to exploit differences
between the US and Saigon. Over the
weekend, both the Front and Hanoi began
inserting the word "unconditionally"
in front of all references to the bomb-
ing halt.
The Front, in its first statement,
has laid down five points which prob-
ably will represent its position in
Paris. These points are a capsulated
version of the Front political program
and call for a US troop withdrawal, a
coalition government, and new elections--
in that order. These are followed by
demands for the neutrality of South
Vietnam and gradual steps toward reuni-
fication.
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2. Jordan
3. Egypt
.Various terrorist acts, including
.Saturday's mob scene at our embassy, -
goaded.Husayn into sending .his army
against some of the smaller terrorist
groups early. this morning. There Was
.shooting in.various.parts of Amman,
and a curfew is in effect.
The larger groups so far seem.to
have.heeded Husayn's warning to stay
out of trouble, but he has asked us to
get word to the Israelis that some of
the terrorists may try to.create diver-
sions along the cease-fire .line.
The Egyptians are still pretending
that the damage from Thursday's Israeli
raid is minimal,.,,
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4. Czechoslovakia -
Soviet Union
5. Australia
Signs of squabbling within the
Czechoslovak party presidium are be-
ginning to accumulate. Liberals are
angry that Dubcek has failed to curb
the conservatives, several members
are at odds over a draft formulation
of party tasks, and some are busy try-
ing to fix the blame for the "mistakes"
since last January. All this may force
yet another postponement of the oft-
scheduled Central Committee meeting.
We assume the Soviets hope that
the bickering in the presidium, com-
bined with the resurgence of the con-
servatives, will make Dubcek's position
untenable.
Ambassador Crook comments that Gor-
ton remains determined to reduce Aus-
tralia's commitment in Malaysia unless
he gets more backing from the US, and
intends to concentrate more heavily on
national problems in. any case.
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4).
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
16
4 November 196 8
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
4 November 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Ho Chi Minh Appeal: Yesterday Hanoi broadcast
an appeal by Ho urging continued struggle in South
Vietnam. Ho's message was close in tone and content
to the official government statement made on Satur-
day.
Ho began by claiming the "unconditional" bombing
halt was a "glorious victory" for the North. But it
was only. an "initial victory," he said. Ho followed
this point with an exhortation to carry on the fight
until final triumph was achieved. The message con-
cluded with four demands:
--That the US end its "war of aggression against
Vietnam";
--That all US and "satellite troops" be with-
drawn from South Vietnam;
--That the internal affairs of South Vietnam be
settled in accordance with the Front's program; and,
--That the question of reunification be settled
by the Vietnamese, North and South, without inter-
ference.
Peking Reports: There still has been no Chinese
comment on the bombing halt. Saturday, however, Pe-
king domestic service broadcast the verbatim text of
the North Vietnamese statement.
Hanoi Diplomat on Bombing Halt:
The diplomat Stated that cessation'
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of the bombing would mean that the US respects the
sovereignty of North Vietnam, but would not change
the status of the US as "aggressors." The bombing
halt.should be followed by US recognition of the
National Liberation Front, according to the diplo-
mat. He claimed that a new offensive was in prepa-
ration and that the US would be forced to recognize
the Front as the "legal" representative of the
South Vietnamese people.
* * *
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL'.
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report today.
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