THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 DECEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976497
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 5, 1968

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600140001-9
The President's Daily Brief
?7"07?Sef-r-a.. 5 December 1968
23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
.DAILY BRIEF
5 DECEMBER 1968
1. Middle East The Arab-Israeli border areas were
quiet overnight.
2. United Kingdom
Yesterday, Eshkol informed Jordan
via the US Embassy in Tel Aviv that Is-
rael has "no intention of widening the
conflagration," that yesterday's action
was aimed directly at the Iraqis, and
that he hopes the Jordanian forces will
find it possible to prevent a further
deterioration in the situation.
It has long been clear to all par-
ties that Husayn is unable to control
the Iraqi troops, and Eshkol is prob-
ably trying by his message to put the
blame on Jordan if further deteriora-
tion does in fact occur.
The outlook for significant im-
provement in Britain's balance-of-pay-
ments is far from encouraging a year
after devaluation. Exports have risen
more or less in line with original es-
timates, but imports have not fallen
because London has not succeeded in cut-
ting consumer demand effectively. As a
result, the deficit this year in balance-
of-payments will be about $1.4 billion,
up considerably from 1967.
?By next year, the austerity meas-
ures of last April are expected to take
hold; imports hopefully will then drop
while exports continue to rise.
A number of contingencies, however,
could upset this forecast: renewed in-
flation if the government is unable to
resist demands for higher wages and
prices; sustained high demand for im-
ports; a fall in world demand for Brit-
ish exports; and devaluation of the
franc resulting in heightened pressure
on the pound.
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3, Cuba
4. Venezuela
5. Soviet Union
Recent rumors of unrest and organ-
ized resistance in Cuba are unfounded,
none of
the major acts of vandalism and sabo-
tage that have occurred since last
March were the result of an organized
effort
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bUAl
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officials seem to be living in a reason-
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The army has tightened security as
uneasiness builds because of the delay
in declaring an election winner. Chris-
tian,Democrat Rafael Caldera's slim mar-
gin over Gonzalo Barrios, the candidate
of the governing Democratic Action Par-
ty, is beginning to shrink after holding
steady for the past few days. Returns
from rural areas--a traditional source
of government support--account for the
decline in Caldera's strength.
Both candidates continue to claim
victory, and there have been minor
clashes between backers of the two
groups. ?Press accounts of widespread
shooting and fire-bombing in Caracas,
however, are exaggerated.
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,
Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of US
Political Attitudes
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16
5 December 1968
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006600140001-9
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
5 December 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
. Hanoi Radio Mentions Vance-Lau. Talks: . Hanoi
.Radio, in an_international service broadcast.in
'English on.3 December, discussed the private meet-
ing the previous day between.Ha Van.LaU.and-Cyrus
-Vance. This is the first time Hanoi propaganda has
alluded tO the private discussions in Paris.: The
broadcast mentioned only.that-Lau vigorously. pro-
tested alleged US violations of the bombing:halt.
There was no indication of discussions on other
matters.
* * *
Hanoi Reasserts its Independence-of Peking:
In,a series of-three broadcasts in,Mandarinto
Southeast Asia between,25 and 28 November, the .
North Vietnamese publicly reemphasized their inde--
pendence of Peking. .The broadcasts, which.report.
the results of -a meeting of the Federation of
Overseas Chinese Associations in Vietnam, paints
a glowing picture of the enthusiastic Support this
group is:giving to Hanoi's policies--a picture.
which is grossly exaggerated if not outright,false.
As reported by Hanoi, the main speeches at
the meeting paid only lip service to Chinese-Viet-
namese friendship, and the final communiqu?mpha-
sized that "the victories scored by the Vietnamese
people in the war are due to the correct militant
revolutionary line of the Vietnam Workers Party led
by President Ho." A speech by one Chang Jung at
the meeting reiterated that "the line adopted by
the Vietnam Workers Party in dealing with both in-
ternal and external affairs...has been correct all
along." Chang Jung also allegedly pointed out that
"Overseas Chinese inNietnam...would like to see a
truly independent Vietnam."
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Hanoi's tendency over the past few months to
disregard Chinese advice has been particularly ir-
ritating to Peking. Why, the North Vietnamese chose
to increase the irritation--much less why they used
an established pro-Peking group--is not clear.
They could be trying to hide the fact that Sino
Vietnamese frictions exist at all. The broadcast
could, on the other hand, be Hanoi's way of neutral-
izing a pressure group which is responsive to behind-
the-scenes direction from Peking.
Truck Movements: Reports from a roadwatch team
in the Mu Gia Pass area indicate that during the
last two weeks of November a daily average of 10
trucks moved south toward Laos. Similar numbers were
reported in the pass during November and early Decem-
ber last year. Roadwatch teams on Route 912, the
other major road linking North Vietnam and Laos, have
reported that during the month of November an average
of about five trucks per day moved south toward Ban
Laboy in Laos.
?The North Vietnamese may
be planning to step up traffic levels on Route
912. Signal intelligence indicates that an antiair-
craft artillery regiment may be deploying into Laos
to bolster defenses along this road, which has been
?under intensive aerial bombardment in recent weeks.
* * *
Trade Fair:
Hanoi has not yet decided when to hold its proposed
trade fair, when the fair is held,
only those foreign business interests now trading
with North Vietnam will be invited. Hanoi will be
promoting ,a wide range of native products at the
fair and will be seeking construction materials
from potential suppliers abroad.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report to
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Top Secret
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