THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 19 JUNE 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976209
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: June 19, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
--TO7r.S.f.c.zas 19 June 1968
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
19 JUNE 1968
1. West Germany
. South Vietnam
3. Panama
4. Guatemala
Willy Brandt traveled to East Ber-
lin yesterday to talk for almost nine
hours with the Soviet ambassador to East
Germany. The trip was made at the am-
bassador's invitation, apparently to
discuss East German moves against West
Berlin,
With votes for the National Assem-
bly still being counted, President-
elect Arias is trying to sew up his co-
alition's control over it by rigging
the results in two important provinces.
He believes that otherwise his domes-
tic programs and ratification of a canal
treaty might go by the board. National
Guard chief Vallarino is working behind
the scenes to put in his own supporters.
President Robles, now out of the pic-
ture, has apparently given up on block-
ing Arias and is making plans for a re-
turn to private life.
There are more rumblings of coup
plotting by right-wing military offi-
cers. Their discontent stems from
President Mendez' shakeup of the mili-
tary hierarchy in late March.
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5. Sierra Leone
6. Malaysia
7.
8. French Africa
Leftists around Prime Minister
Stevens are doing their best to persuade
him that the West is out to torpedo his
new government, The US has been the
principal whipping boy of cabinet .radi-
cals and the press, and the cabinet is
now debating the future of the Peace
Corps.
The foreign minister says the gov-
ernment hopes to "coax" aid from the
US, failing which it would be free to
oust the corps. We would not be sur-
prised to see it try to play both sides
of the street. Like most African gov-
ernments, it is hard up for cash.
Communist terrorists on 17 June
killed 15 Malaysian police and Wounded
14 others in an ambush near the Thai
border. The attack marked ?the 20th an-
niversary of the start of the twelve-
year Communist insurgency and was the
biggest since its end.
We do not believe that this sig-
nals a rebirth of the rebellion. It
is a reminder, however, that a nucleus
of the old movement remains, holed up
mainly in southern Thailand and re-
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France's ex-colonies in Africa are
in for a period of belt-tightening.
There will be considerable cutbacks in
aid from Paris because of the domestic
crisis,
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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
16
19 June 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
19 June 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Soviets Support Hanoi in Paris Talks: Moscow
has authoritatively reiterated its full support for
Hanoi at the Paris talks. An unsigned editorial
article in the 17 June issue of Pravda states that
Moscow stands behind Hanoi's demand for "an end to
the bombing and other US acts of war against the
North," and charges that the US is blocking progress
at Paris by putting forward proposals for "reciprocity
and de-escalation" on the part of North Vietnam. The
piece concludes by alleging that a peaceful solution
to the war is available if only Washington will match
Hanoi's good will with concrete actions.
* * *
Views of the Economy:
shortfall in planted acreage for the spring crop,
adulterated rice rations, and a high percentage of
women cultivating rice paddies. Industry and agri-
culture have been seriously disrupted for at least
two years, and rising levels of imports have been
necessary to sustain daily life. For quite some time,
the food ration has been adulterated by ur to 40 or
50 percent with imported rice substitutes
Further food im-
ports will be necessary to cover an estimated 200,000-
ton shortfall in the spring harvest this year. The
proportion of women in the agricultural labor force
has always been high--60 percent before bombing be-
gan. The labor problem Consists of a shortage of
skilled workers, but foreign technical assistance has
relieved some of the strain on skilled manpower.
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,Air Raid Alerts: North Vietnam is keeping its
population on the alert against a possible resumption
of air attacks north of the 20th parallel. According
to press reports, air raid alarms went off in the
capital area on Monday for the first time in months/
-2-
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?Czech Aid: Hanoi's Politburo-level aid mission
has signed a military and economic aid agreement with
Czechoslovakia which
includes both free assistance and long-term loans.
Some of the economic items were disclosed: ship motors,
diesel motors, trucks, tractors, bicycles, and medical
supplies. In terms of military assistance
only "various kinds of capital invest-
ment" to strengthen the defense potential. The dele-
gation is off to Berlin for its next stop.
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
_ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report.
-3-
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Top Secret
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