THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 AUGUST 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976293
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: August 8, 1968

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A006300180001-8
The President's Daily Brief
--Tqy-Sec-,te_t_ 8 August 1968
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
8 AUGUST 1968
1. South Vietnam
. Suez Canal
The Egyptians are courting trouble
along the canal. UN officers assigned
to the truce supervision detail have
noted a series of relatively minor,'
but seemingly premeditated provocations.
These include Egyptian soldiers touch-
ing briefly on Israel's side of the
canal, advancing positions closer to
those held by Israeli troops, and shoot-
ing at Israeli aircraft.
The UN officers asked Cairo for
an explanation; they received no
answer at all. General Bull, the Nor-
wegian who heads up the UN truce ob-
servers, told the Egyptians he was "e
tremely concerned."
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3. France
4.
5. Syria
The US gained and the Soviet Union
lost ground in French public opinion
over the past year, but Frenchmen still
prefer to be independent of both super-
powers. These are the results of two
polls taken by the French in late July.
In terms of popularity, it looks this
way:
1967
Good opinion of US 22%
Good opinion of USSR 28%
1968
Good opinion of US 35%
Good opinion of USSR 24%
As for France's alignment, 53 per-
cent thought France should remain inde-
pendent. In this second poll, however,
19 percent did feel France should be
closely allied with the US--a rise of
6 percent.
The situation in Syria is gettin
yeasty again
/ The present ruling military
group has managed to muddle through for
three vears--something of a record--
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6. Cambodia
7. Mexico
A nationwide student strike has
been threatened unless, by tonight,
Diaz Ordaz meets a series of student
demands. This ultimatum called for
disbanding the riot police, indemnify-
ing injured students, and releasing
political prisoners.
If a strike is called, the stu-
dents will try to enlist support from
workers and peasants. They are not
likely to be successful as neither the
workers nor the peasants have much
patience with the students. The stu-
dents, however, are quite capable of
starting new riots without help.
Diaz Ordaz has the muscle to crack
heads, but he may try instead to offer
some concessions that will take the
heat off through October and the Olym-
pics.
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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 U S
Political Attitudes
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16
8 August 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
8 August 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
More on the Course of the War: Vietnamese Commu-
nist propaganda continues to promise additional mili-
tary pressure because of the "obdurate attitude" of
the United States. An article in Hanoi's army news-
paper on 3 August takes the same line as other recent
propaganda statements: the US. claims to have exer-
cised restraint, but in fact has stepped up the war.
It cites many details of US air attacks to underline
its point. The paper also condemns President John-
son's statements on 31 July calling on the Communists
to exercise restraint and notes that "he even threatened
that there was always the possibility of timely actions
and new military measures by the United States."
The article concludes that the "Johnson clique" is
still "very stubborn and bellicose" and that recent
US statements and actions constitute a "most brazen
and imprudent challenge." The paper said that allied
forces in South Vietnam are "fearfully awaiting" at-
tacks by Communist forces and promised that such at-
tacks would be forthcoming.
A statement from the Central Committee of the Na-
tional Liberation Front broadcast over the Viet Cong
radio on 6 August contains the same message: as long
as the US pursues its "aggression" in South Vietnam,
Communist forces will continue to fight. It says the
Communists are determined to step up the so-called
"general offensive and uprisings."
* * *
Hanoi Captures "Spy Group": Hanoi radio announced
on 7 August that a 12-man "spy-commando" group was re-
cently "put out of action" in a northwestern province
of North Vietnam. The radio said the group was on an
allied intelligence mission designed to pinpoint tar-
gets for US air attacks, set up counterrevolutionary
bases, and conduct sabotage operations. the
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announcement says this mission was conducted by the
US and Saigon authorities after President Johnson
announced restrictions on the bombing
North Vietnam picked up a simi-
lar group earlier this year and lately has been
stressing the need for security and vigilance against
sabotage and espionage.
* * *
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report to-
-2-
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Top Secret
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