THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 25 JUNE 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976219
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: June 25, 1968

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
The President's Daily Brief
25 June 1968
23
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
25 JUNE 1968
1. France
2. United Kingdom
Today will be a day of intense
bargaining as French politicians set
up slates for the run-off elections
this Sunday. The deadline for picking
candidates is midnight tonight.
The Gaullists are pressing center
candidates to withdraw in their favor;
the Federation of the Left and the
Communists are compromising on a single
candidate in each constituency.
De Gaulle and his allies got 43.6
percent of the vote on Sunday and an
unprecedented 142 Assembly, seats as-
sured. Only 12 opposition candidates
managed to obtain the 50 percent of
the vote necessary for election on the
first round. The Gaullists, however,
are anxious to avoid overconfidence,
and they are urging their followers to
get back and vote in the next ballot.
The government also may have some prob-
lems with voters who shift sides just
to keep De Gaulle from getting a land-
slide.
Labor troubles have raised new
threats to Britain's economic recovery
program. Airline pilots and auto work-
ers are out; railway workers are holding
a "slowdown." The railway men have a
tradition of brinksmanship, however,
and may back down. If they do not, and
the other strikes go on for any length
of time, the pound could come under
heavy pressure again.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
3. Korea
4. Berlin
5. Lee Kuan Yew
6, Dominican Republic
The West Germans are still groping
?around for some way to get back at the
East Germans for imposing travel re-
strictions. Bonn, however, is unwill-
ing to resort to tough measures, such
as counterrestrictions on interzone
trade. The Germans would prefer that
their allies make strong representations
to the Soviets.
Some of Lee's colleagues in gov-
ernment are questioning his plans for
a long sabbatical that would include a
rather lengthy stay in the US. Lee
wants to ?take off from August to Decem-
ber and, among other things, "observe"
the American elections. At the moment,
Lee is somewhat undecided as to just
what his timing will be. He does seem
determined, however, to visit the US
sometime during the summer.
Santo Domingo's Autonomous Univer-
sity is traditionally something of an
extremist cauldron. Friday's shoot-
out between rival student factions left
one dead. Tension is at' flash point
and it could happen again. Balaguer
may have to move against the university,
but, for the moment, 'it does not appear
that trouble will..spread beyond the
campus.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
7, Czechoslovakia
The Czechs apparently have had to
make the best of an unpleasant situa-
tion and allow some Soviet combat
troops into the country to join the
current Warsaw Pact exercise. Prague's
earlier opposition to the entry of Rus-
sian troops was emphasized by press re-
leases stating categorically that only
staff elements would come to Czechoslo-
vakia.
While the presence of Soviet
troops on Czech soil has an undeniable
psychological impact, the Russian units
are not large and the Czechs apparently
believe they will be pulled out when
the exercise ends later this week.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
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 50X1
16
25 June 19.6.8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2 50X1
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
25 June 1968
I. ,NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Peking-Hanoi Rail Service: There continue to
be indications that rail service between China and
North Vietnam is disrupted. The disruption of pas-
senger service was initially noted in a message of
7 June when Chinese rail authorities in Peking re-
quested Vietnamese officials in Hanoi to agree to
cease coach service between the two capitals until
further notice.
50X1 :
50X1
Despite some disruption, high priority mili-
tary shipments are probably getting through. The
rail difficulties may result partly from civil dis-
orders and partly from floods in south China. In
any event North Vietnam undoubtedly has sufficient
inventories to minimize the impact of delays.
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2 50X1
:II. ,NORTH :VIETNAMESE 'REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Reaction to Vice President Humphrey's State-
ment: Xuan Thuy told a luncheon meeting of the
Anglo-American press club on 24 June that Hanoi was
not prepared to conclude an armistice, as suggested
by Vice President Humphrey, before a total end to
? all US air raids on North Vietnam. Regarding
Humphrey's statement that a cease-fire would en-
hance chances for the Paris talks, Xuan Thuy said,
"We must not mix up aggressors and their victims."
He added that the only objective of the Paris
talks now is to agree on a cessation of the bomb-
ing.
-2-
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006200150001-2