THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 JULY 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976267
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: July 24, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
July 1968
23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
24 JULY 1968
1. Czechoslovakia
2. Soviet Union
Moscow's announcement that a mas-
sive military exercise will be held near
the Czechoslovakian border all but put
a gun on the table for talks with the
Czech presidium. Along with this threat-
ening move, the Russians have turned up
their propaganda against Prague. The
Czechs, however, are maintaining at least
an outward appearance of calm.
Neither side has said yet just
where or when the meeting between Soviet
politburo members and their Czech count-
erparts will take place
/ Nor has 'Prague com-
mitted itself to send the whole 11-man
presidium as requested by-Moscow. The
Soviets, aware that-various factions are
represented on the Czech presidium, hope
that one or more members will cave in
under pressure.
? .
Some Soviet troops remain in Czecho-
slovakia.
The Soviets apparently are post-
poning their latest Attempt to get off
an unmanned circumlunar-flight. It had
looked as if the launch would come this
week but several of the support ships
Are- now moving off their stations in
the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The
_ships are not headed home, however. We
do not know.just what caused the delay.
The Russians may try again:in-August.
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3. Bolivia
4. Chile
5. Communist China
6. Iraq
Using the authority of the state
of siege he declared Monday, Barrientos
has clapped 40 opposition leaders in
jail.- This seems to have defused the
Guevara diary crisis. Arguedas, the
Cabinet officer who claims he gave the
diary to the Cubans, has been asked by'
the Chileans where he would like to go
for asylum. Cuba has already publicly
offered to take him-in.
The worst drought in 100 years is
Adding to Frei'seconomic problems. Not
only agriculture is being hurt badly;
depleted reservoirs have meant reduced
hydroelectric power and a Corresponding
:cut in copper production.. A loss in
copper revenues at a time when Chile
may have to buy more food abroad could
easily set off a new round of inflation
China has far more water than it
needs. Flooding in central and south
China has ended all chance for a good
early rice harvest; About ?25 million
tons were ready for harvestingwhen the
rains began 'in mid-June. Despite ef-
forts to protect the dikes, some crop
loss is inevitable and the trouble will
be compounded by the delay in planting
the next crop.
As the dust settles in Baghdad
after the coup, the new regime is be--
ginning to look a little more moderate
than its predecessor. There are not
likely to be any marked shifts in at-
titude toward Israel or the US, however.
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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
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17
24 July
1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
24 July 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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.Press Conference in Phnom Penh: North Viet-
nam's ambassador inPhnomPenh took the line at a
press conference yesterday, that the three US pilots
a-re already free, as they have been handed over to
members of American pacifist organizations. Accord-
ing to the French press agency, he refused to say
when or by what route the pilots were to leave North
Vietnam.
The ambassador also dismissed the Honolulu con-
ference between Presidents Johnson andiThieu as a
meeting of "master and valet." Everything is decided
at the White House and the Pentagon, he said.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report to?
day.
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