THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 22 MAY 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976787
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: May 22, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007100180001-9
The President's Daily Brief
22 May 1969
19
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MAJOR PROBLEMS
VIETNAM
*
In a backgrounder for the American press corps on 17 May,
President Thieu put forward a flexible line on the key issue
of Communist participation in elections and in the government.
He ruled out any interim or coalition government prior to free
national elections, but he opened the door to discussions with
the Communists on the modalities of arranging such elections.
Thieu also stated publicly for the first time his will-
ingness to abide by any decision made by the voters, even if
they chose a coalition government or a pro-Communist govern-
ment. He pointed out to the press corps that such a govern-
ment could amend or change the constitution and follow a pol-
icy of neutrality or any other policy it might choose.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Thieu probably calculates that by expressing a willing-
ness to go along with a coalition or pro-Communist government
he will reduce American press criticism of his attitude to-
ward the talks. At the same time since he feels the Commu-
nists will not quickly accept any arrangements he might pro-
pose for holding elections, he probably thinks this maneuver
will win him more time to prepare a political organization to
compete with the Communists.
MIDDLE EAST
The Israelis used a large number of aircraft and tanks
in yesterday's attack against a terrorist base in Jordan.
They always use a striking force that is big enough to do
the job with minimal losses, but this time they may have been
especially interested in reminding the Arabs of Israeli mus-
cle. We suspect they chose a target of only moderate impor-
tance in order to minimize the risk of escalation.
The Israelis have shown a willingness in recent weeks
to engage in harsher reprisals, and further serious clashes
are sure to occur.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
Late yesterday the Soviets conducted their third ex-
tended-range flight test of an SS-9 ICBM carrying multiple
re-entry vehicles. As in the two previous tests in April,
three re-entry vehicles were carried by the ICBM some 5,100
miles from Tyuratam to a Pacific impact area. Four Soviet
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Laos: Government Counteroffensive Blunted South o
Plaine des Jarres
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LUANG PRABANG
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WALTERS
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
missile range instrumentation ships, which we noted earlier
were moving to the impact area, monitored the re-entry phase
of the test.
EUROPE
There is nothing significant to report.
II OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
LAOS
The Communists seem to have begun a major effort to re-
gain positions south of the Plaine des Jarres ?lost during
the government's current counteroffensive. North Vietnamese
troops have overrun a number of positions on Phou Khe, a
highpoint overlooking the Xieng Khouangville area captured
by government guerrillas in April. Two North Vietnamese bat-
talions were recently deployed into the Phou Khe - Xieng
Khouangville vicinity; and villagers report that additional
reinforcements have moved in from the north. The Communists
apparently hope to redress their situation before monsoon
rains make the going more difficult.
The Communist threat may force Meo leader Vang Pao to
curtail his ambitious plans to capture the southern half of
the Plaine des Jarres. Government guerrillas last week cap-
tured a number of Communist positions along the southern edge
of the Plaine and almost 1,000 troops are to be moved into
position to harass Communist logistic movements along Route .
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
North of the Plaine, the threat against a number of gov-
ernment guerrilla outposts appears to have eased in recent
days.
PERU
The government is now likely to speed up moves already
under way to strengthen military ties with West European coun-
tries. A high-level military mission left a few days ago for
France and other European countries. This visit was scheduled
before the public disclosure of the suspension of US military
sales to Peru.
TURKEY
As we suspected it would, the Turkish Senate yesterday
yielded to the army's bluster. The constitutional amendment
which would have restored political rights to certain poli-
ticians who were anathema to the military has now been shelved
indefinitely.
Satellite photography
NORTH KOREA
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shows that the Pueblo 50X1
is probably no longer at Najin, near the Soviet border, where
it has been since shortly after capture and at least until
early this month. The North Koreans may either have moved the
Pueblo to a port or naval base elsewhere on the east coast or--
less likely--turned the ship over to the Soviet Union.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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