THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 9 JANUARY 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005974214
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: January 9, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 9 January 1968
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DAILY BRIEF
9 JANUARY 1968
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1. Vietnam
2. Communist China
There are major enemy build-ups
in three areas. Perhaps the most im-
mediate and serious threat is just be-
low the Demilitarized Zone, where ele-
ments of four North Vietnamese divisions
are concentrating around the allied base
at Khe Sanh.
Peking, in a series of year-end
statements about the Communist insur-
gency movements in Southeast Asia,
made no pledge, even a pro forma one,
of immediate or future Chinese support.
Although the Chinese claimed "bril-
liant victories" for the Communists in
Laos, Burma, and Thailand, they preached
the necessity of self-reliance in
"people's war." The Burmese party, for
instance, was lauded for its twenty-
year "revolutionary civil war," then
given the cheery word that "protracted
struggles" lie ahead.
Peking's preoccupation with domes-
tic affairs and Vietnam probably ac-
counts for its caution. There are also
signs, however, that leaders opposed to
the Red Guard style diplomacy that ran
riot last summer may be regaining in-
fluence.
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3. United Kingdom
4. United Kingdom
5. Australia
A Foreign Office official says
that Wilson's visit to Moscow is defi-
nitely set for 22-24 January. No agenda
has yet been fixed, but briefing papers
are being prepared on all the "usual"
subjects, including Vietnam. The offi-
cial believes that, although Wilson
will not discuss an Anglo-Soviet
friendship treaty, the subject will
come up in connection with a final com-
muniqu?
John Gorton will be the new prime
minister, and may be sworn in tomorrow.
His administration is not likely to
make any significant changes in foreign
or domestic policies. This morning he
reaffirmed Australian determination to
stay in the Vietnam war and show the
Communists that "aggression does not
pay."
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6. Middle East
7. Brazil
8. Iran
Jordanian and Israeli forces ex-
changed fire along the border yester-
day. This was the fourth such incident
this month, but the first since 21 No-
vember in which Israeli planes were
used to silence Jordanian artillery.
These exchanges can be expected as long
as Arab terrorists continue to enter
Israel from Jordan.
* * *
The Arab summit conference set for
17 January has been postponed indefi-
nitely. This highlights continuing dis-
agreement over how to deal with the Is-
raeli problem. Syria and Saudi Arabia
seem primarily responsible for scuttling
the conference/
Costa e Silva has again publicly
stated that Brazil will insist on its
right to make and use atomic devices
for peaceful purposes. His foreign min-
ister has been exploiting this nation-
alistic issue for some time. The Presi-
dent's statement, however, commits the
whole government to this stand, and
puts Brazil where it could not sign the
nonproliferation treaty.
The Western-owned oil consortium
has agreed to cough up an extra $12 mil-
lion. This is the amount the Shah,
furious over the issue, claimed was
still owed on the last quarterly pay-
ment because of the devaluation of the
pound. Iranian officials have hinted
that this payment may help them compro-
mise with the consortium on other dif-
ficult problems, such as the level of
oil exports.
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9. Congo
Mobutu is now described as will?
ing to let most of the mercenaries be
evacuated at once from Rwanda to Europe.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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9 January 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
9 January 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Hanoi on Negotiations: We have no additional
North Vietnamese commentary on the subject of nego-
tiations.
A Japanese news agency is carrying the replies
of North Vietnamese Foreign Minister Trinh to a
questionnaire submitted by two Japanese correspond-
ents. Trinh disparaged the President's San Antonio
speech as a "deceitful attempt" to mask new escala-
tion of the war. Trinh cited his statement of a year
ago that a bombing halt is the precondition for any
US - North Vietnamese talks. The interview adds
nothing to Hanoi's position on this issue and the
questionnaire probably was submitted to Trinh be-
fore his recent and authoritative remarks on this
subject on 30 December.
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Report of Ho's Death Premature: Hanoi's sensi-
tivity to rumors of Hoini Minh's health
the regime has gone out of its way recently to have
Ho meet with foreign delegations and to demonstrate
that he is relatively fit at present.
* * *
Minority Problems:
minority peoples of
North Vietnam remain a continuing problem for the
regime. These people are only an irritant, however,
and certainly not a serious element of instability.
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report.
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