THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 AUGUST 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976321
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: August 24, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
24 August 1968
23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
24 AUGUST 1968
1. Czechoslovakia
(As of 5:00 AM
EDT)
There were no major changes in the
situation overnight.
Main interest is focused on. Woscow
where Svoboda remains for a second day
of talks with Soviet leaders, There are
no real clues on how these talks are go-
ing, although Svoboda; who Originally
had planned to return to Prague last
night, may have found the Russians will-
ing to negotiate some concessionsin
order to get an acceptable regime in
Prague as quickly as possible.
In Czechoslovakia the Soviets con-
tinue their efforts to round up liberal
party and government leaders where and
.when they can find them. There has
been some shooting in Prague, but the
embassy reports it "hardly of the dra-
matic proportions" being reported by
the press services this morning.
The extraordinary congress of the
Czechoslovak Communist Party Adjourned
yesterday after designating another lib-
eral acting first secretary pending
Dubcek's return. There are Unconfirmed
reports that Dubcek has been taken to
Moscow and is now with the Svoboda dele-
gation.
Outrage at the invasion of Czedho-,
slovakia is not confined to the Free
World. Many bloc representatives have
been embarrassed and some openly criti-
cal.-
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2. Rumania
3. Communist China
The Rumanians are deeply concerned
over the possibility of a Soviet inva-
sion.
Red Guard fighting has destroyed
the heart of Nanning, the important
South China city on the rail line to
North Vietnam. Satellite photography
:taken on 11 August shows fire-gutted
buildings covering an area one mile .
by one-,half mile in the center of cthe
city. The destruction probably took
place in late July when Red Guard fac-
tions fought it out in Nanning , There
is no sign of damage to the rail line.
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4. South Vietnam
5, Algeria
6. Nationalist
China
The country-wide attacks of the
past few days follow a pattern prison-
ers said would characterize the open-
ing phase of the "third offensive."
The Communists appear to be probing--
and perhaps feinting--to screen troop
movements.
This approach, certainly more
cautious than the slam-bang tactics of
the Tet or the May-June offensives,
seems designed to cut down casualties
while preserving the capability to
launch major attacks against key tar-
gets.
Huong now says he has succeeded
in damping down the frictions that
have plagued his government. As a re-
sult, he has decided that the cabinet
reshuffle which has been in the works
for several weeks is no longer neces-
sary.
Plots and rumors of plots against
Boumediene continue to point up the un-
easy political situation. Boumediene's
chronic inability to come to grips
with the country's many problems only
fuels the intrigues.
Coup plotters in exile, however,
lack backing in Algeria and those in
the regime spend as much time plotting
against each other as they, do against
Boumediene. If some of these diverse
groups could pull themselves together,
they might be able to piilll him down.
Chiang Kai-shek has given effec-
tive control of the Kuomintang Party
to his son. This pretty well ties up
the succession for Chiang Ching-kuo,
who also runs the defense and security
establishments.
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
16
24 August 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
24 August 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Propaganda: Communist propaganda is giving heavy
play to the current fighting in South Vietnam, but the
treatment falls well short of the emphasis given to
the opening phases of offensives earlier this year.
As of 23 August, the new fighting was still not being
characterized as anew country-wide general offensive.
The Liberation Front's first significant commentary
on the fighting, broadcast late on 20 August, ad-
dressed itself only to the attacks on Tay Ninh Prov-
ince. It characterized these as the prelude to a
general offensive throughout the province. This
treatment is in marked,contrast to the radio commen-
tary which accompanied not only the Tet fighting but
also the second round of action in early May. In the
May attacks, the Communists were on the air within
twenty-four hours calling the outbreak of fighting a ,
"new phase" and "another general offensive."
Some of the propaganda commentary seems to say
that this time the Communists are trying to avoid the
mistakes and excessive losses of earlier offensives
by tailoring their tactics to more modest objectives
than were set before. References to skillful use of
infantry and artillery, timely attacks in many places
at the same time, and proper use of the three kinds
of Communist forces (guerrilla, regional, and main
force) all suggest a more careful and deliberate em-
ployment of military resources than has been true in
earlier offensives this year. Although deductions
based on propaganda are far from conclusive, the Com-
munists' treatment of the attacks so far suggests
they are trying to sustain a more effective offensive
effort than they were able to mount earlier this year.
The conclusion of the Liberation Front commentary
on 20 August also suggests the Communists are sensi-
tive to charges that the lull in the fighting'In'Junel
and July showed weakness. In a defensive remittal oI
this charge,, the commentary said that the scale of the
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new fighting gives the lie to the contention that there
is a "lull in the fighting" and that the Viet Cong "are
not.in a position to stage large-scale attacks."
This statement cOuld be interpreted as an official
denial--by southern Communists .at least--that the lull
of the past two months is related to the peace talks in
Paris. The broadcast, however, was in Vietnamese for
domestic consumption and was probably aimed at putting
the best possible face on recent Communist activity.
* * *
Floods: Photography of 18 August confirms that
there has been.widespread flooding in northern North
Vietnam. The flooding has extensively damaged the rail
lines from Hanoi to Haiphong and Yen Bai and the line.
to the south as well. Photography did not cover the
rail line from Dong Dang to Hanoi
* * *
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report today.
?3-
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