THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 MAY 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976164
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: May 24, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
May 1968
- 23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
24 MAY 1968
1. France
2. South Vietnam
Word has begun to leak out about
De Gaulle's package plan for getting
France back under control. When he
talks to the nation today, he will prob-
ably announce some arrangement by which
workers and students can participate in
the running of the factories and univer-
sities. He also is likely to schedule
a popular referendum--a tried-and-true
Gaullist device--for this summer. There
is still a good chance that he will
shuffle his cabinet, either now or in
the near future. All this will presum-
ably be flavored with De Gaulle's patent-
ed appeals to order and the glory of
France.
This package, plus the opening of
some splits between students and labor,
may permit De Gaulle to regain the ini-
tiative. The package, however, is clear-
ly not responsive to one demand essential
to many of the dissidents--the end of
Gaullism.
The ferocity of last night's pitched
battle with the police shows that the
students at least have not lost their
touch.
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3. Czechoslovakia -
Soviet Union
4. Czechoslovakia-
France
5. Communist China
414111 /f6
Dubcek and Premier Cernik on 22
May flew to the spa where Kosygin is
"vacationing." Both sides are doing
their best to pretend that there are
no serious differences between them,
and the Czechs have made numerous
small gestures to avert the Soviets'
displeasure. The media of the two
countries have continued their spar-
ring match, however, and we are cer-
tain that a good many important points
remain at issue behind the facade of
brotherliness.
As one of its conciliatory ges-
tures, Prague has agreed to partici-
pate in Warsaw Pact exercises this
summer.
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6. Panama
7. Communist China -
East Africa
8. Australia
Samudio supporters have now forced
the replacement of the vote-counting
board's president. This is the third
man to sit in this particular hot-seat
since the elections. The first was lit-
erally sickened by the pressures he was
subjected to by the Samudio forces; his
deputy and stand-in was simply too ob-
jective to be satisfactory.
Since the president can vote only
in case of a tie, the 6-to-4 Arias ma-
jority on the board will probably stand
up most of the time. Moreover, Valla-
rino has reaffirmed his promise not to
condone fraud in the vote counting.
Peking is pushing ahead with sur-
veys for the projected railway linking
Tanzania and Zambia. Over 300 Chinese
are now in Tanzania to do a detailed
study of that part of the route, and a
similar number is expected in Zambia
around September. Actual construction
could start in late 1969 or even ear-
lier.
The Chinese have made available
exceedingly generous financing for
their part in this project, including
an open-ended, interest-free loan to
be repaid partly in commodities. Chi-
nese generosity has already gained Pe-
king considerable leverage over Tanzan-
ia's foreign policy.
Our embassy in Canberra has it
from an influential Australian offi-
cial that Prime Minister Gorton would
like the ANZUS treaty strengthened.
He is thinking in terms of a permanent
watch committee to look for potential
trouble spots. The embassy believes
Gorton may float the idea during his
visit here next week.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
1 6
24 May 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
24 May 1968
- I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
* * *
* * *
Social Notes from Paris: The North Vietnamese
are not overlooking the social possibilities which
the French capital provides to promote their cause.
5(6)(1
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The Paris delegation has already staged one large
reception which included prominent French personali-
ties with some background in Vietnamese affairs--a
former prime minister, French Communist Party offi-
cials, and high-level French Foreign Ministry rep-
resentation. They are planning an even bigger party
for next Saturday to celebrate Ho Chi Minh's birth-
day. Xuan Thuy has composed a special poem for the
occasion. The entertainment will feature Vietnamese
national singing and dancing, and the guest list
will probably include prominent members of the over-
seas Vietnamese community.
* * *
On Cambodia: Hanoi has made a special effort in
the past few days to blame the US for raising the
issue of Cambodia in the talks. A Foreign Ministry
statement and extensive Nhan Dan commentary have con-
demned US "aggression" in CamEFaia. These charges
are coupled with accusations that the US is trying
to broaden the Paris talks to include issues other
than the bombing halt.
-2-
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing significant to report today.
?3-
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z '
Top Secret
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