THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976931
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 13, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
The President's Daily Brief
13 August 1969
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOVIET AFFAIRS
50X1
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The group of Soviet warships in American waters has com-
pleted its Caribbean operations, which included port visits
to Havana, Martinique, and Barbados. Most of the ships are
headed east into the Atlantic.
EUROPE
The EEC proposal to adjust the Common Agricultural Pol-
iay to the devaluation of the franc by removing France from
the uniform pricing system for 28 months was opposed by the
Dutch. The Hague fought for a short term arrangement and
the resulting compromise exempts France for the 1969-70
crop year only. The Dutch wanted to deny the French a def-
inite solution in order to keep pressure on Paris--presumably
to open discussion of British membership.
MIDDLE EAST
King Husayn has been talking about a reform of his cab-
inet for some time. Yesterday he reshuffled a few of the
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
familiar political figures ending up with a team as weak as
its predecessors.
In a conversation with US officials, the King said his
government would not repair the damaged East Ghor canal with-
out Israeli permission. King Faysal of Saudi Arabia will
make up the losses if the crops are lost because of the lack
of irrigation, Husayn believes, and he is not able to offer
Israel.any stronger guarantees against attacks by the fedayeen
than he gave in June.
CAMBODIA
General Lon Nol may have received a somewhat freer hand
in forming a government than Sihanouk has given to previous
prime Ministers. The major surprise is Prince Sink Matak,
a forceful figure who has been openly critical of Sihanouk's
economic and foreign policy. His decision to join the gov-
ernment as first deputy prime minister suggests that he ex-
pects to be more than a rubber stamp for Sihanouk.
Lon Nol has not yet chosen ,ministers for the economy,
however, an area in which Sihanouk has called for sweeping
reforms and which the Prince claims will be the principal
testing ground for the new government. Further, Sihanouk is
not likely to allow Lon Nol an important role in determining
the course of foreign relations.
Lon Nol has a reputation for dealing firmly with anti-
government elements, particularly insurgents now active in
the countryside. He has also advocated more aggressive mili-
tary countermeasures against Vietnamese Communist incursions.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOVIET UNION - COMMUNIST CHINA
The United States Intelligence Board yesterday approved
National Intelligence Estimate 11/13-69 titled "The USSR and
China." Its principal conclusions are:
--Sino-Soviet relations have deteriorated since the,
Ussuri River clashes in March and there is little or
no prospects for improvement. The potential for a war
between them clearly exists.
--A deliberate Chinese Attack on the USSR is unlikely.
The Soviets would probably not want to become involved
in a prolonged, large-scale conflict, but there is some
chance that Moscow may think it could launch a strike
against China's nuclear and missile facilities without
getting involved in such a conflict. In any case, a
climate of high tension, marked by periodic border
clashes, is likely. Escalation in the scale of fight-
ing perhaps involving cross-border raids by the So-
viets, is .a possibility.
--Moscow has recently shown a desire to improve the
atmosphere of its relations with the West to obtain
-benevolent neutrals in a "containment" of the Chinese.
Peking,which appears to regard the USSR as its most
immediate enemy, will face stiff competition from the
Soviets in attempting to expand its influence in Asia.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400110001-3