THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 7 JUNE 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976815
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: June 7, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
The President's Daily Brief
7 June 1969
19
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MAJOR PROBLEMS
VIETNAM
Last night Da Nang city and air base were hit by several
dozen rounds of rocket fire. Nearby military installations
also were shelled. There were a number of military and civil-
ian-casualties. These Attacks followed the widespread ones of
the night of 5-6 June which evidently launched the "June phase"
of the Communists' summer offensive.
Vietnamese Communist spokesmen are coming down hard on
the line that the talks are deadlocked and that there is no
prospect for an early break unless the US changes the guard
in Saigon. Le Duc Tho took this position in his session with
Ambassador Lodge on 31 May
It is not clear why Soviet diplomat Tcherniakov, in a
chat with Assistant Secretary Green, got out of step with the
current line. He said Thieu did not have to step down, just
agree to a coalition. This seems much closer to the position
the Communists will ultimately take if the US makes it clear
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
that Thieu must stay and be dealt with. But it is equally
clear that Hanoi is not yet ready to retreat to this position.
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27: CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MIDDLE EAST
The second anniversary, of the .1967 Arab-Israeli war was
marked by Pravda with an article strongly advising the Arabs
against any action which might risk another war. The article,
one of Moscow's bluntest public statements warned those Arabs
who want to recarve the map of the Middle East that such ef-
forts are a boon to Israel and a threat to "progressive Arab
regimes." The article seems aimed both at recent fedayeen
actions against the oil line in the Golan Heights and any dis-
position on Cairo's part toward rash activity in the canal
area.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
In a move clearly timed to undercut Moscow's position in
the world Communist conference, Peking yesterday rebutted re-
cent Soviet charges of border provocations by issuing lengthy
allegations of its own.
The Soviets will feel compelled to respond in full, al-
though they obviously would prefer not to become involved in
full-scale acrimony during the sensitive proceedings of the
conference. A preliminary foreign ministry statement yester-
day maintained that the frontier i "absolutely quiet."
Moscow's sensitivity to this sort of friction, however,
is evident from the high level of Soviet military activity
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
along the border since early May. In addition, the Soviets
appear to be preparing for a large-scale combined forces ex-
ercise, perhaps to emphasize their military superiority in
the area.
There already has been discord in the Communist con-
ference over the Chinese question. Two speakers--Poland's
Gomulka and the Paraguayan delegate--lashed out at Peking.
It can be taken for granted that they had the Russians'
blessing. The Rumanians, who had been given to understand
that this would not happen, lodged an immediate protest.
On past form, the Rumanians should walk out if the issue is
pressed too hard. By sticking together, however, they and
such others as the Italian and British party delegates could
yet succeed in getting the Russians to back down. Brezhnev's
speech, scheduled for this morning, should point the way.
EUROPE
Poher's supporters are slipping away. The small right-
wing Republican Alliance Party has decided to endorse Pompi-
dou, and the National Center of Independents, which also en-
dorsed Poher originally, is sharply split. Other center lead--
ers are either privately leaning toward Pompidou or keeping
silent.
In the most recent poll, only 42 percent of those who
have made up their minds to vote support Poher, while Pompi-
dou polls 58 percent. Of Poher's supporters 25 percent said
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A067200060001-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
they might change their minds before 15 June; only 9 percent
of the Pompidou backers were not firm in their decision. Fur-
thermore, the poll showed that 51 percent of those who supported
Duclos on the first ballot are planning to abstain. Although
the polls erred by a fairly wide margin last Sunday, they are
likely to be more accurate this time because the voters have
only two choices.
II. OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1
Top Secret
A '4,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007200060001-1