THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974135
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: November 23, 1967

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The President's Daily Brief
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DAILY BRIEF
23 NOVEMBER 1967
1. Cyprus
3.3(h)(2)
The Turks have not moved and the
issue is still in the political arena
as of 5:00 AM EST (noon in Cyprus and
1:00 PM in Ankara).
The Turkish cabinet was in ses-
sion until early this morning consider-
ing Athens' reply to the Turkish note
of 17 November. "Not satisfactory"
was the verdict announced in a state-
ment after the meeting. The Turks
still are insisting on withdrawal of
Greek forces illegally on the island.
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2. South Vietnam
3. Soviet Union
3.3(h)(2)
4. Nonproliferation
Treaty
3.3(h)(2)
5. Chile
Analysis of recent communications
involving the 304th North Vietnamese
infantry division strongly suggests
that as many as four of its regiments
are moving toward South Vietnam. The
deploying elements seem headed for the
Laos panhandle rather than the Demili-
tarized Zone, which was the route for
the last division which infiltrated.
The long-awaited space shot failed
shortly after lift-off yesterday. We
believe this was to have been an un-
manned circumlunar mission. The Soviets
could try again in the next day or so,
but they probably will want to wait and
find out what went wrong.
There will be another good lunar
launch "window" about 20 December.
A general strike has been called
for today to protest anti-inflation
measures. This will be the first gen-
eral strike in four years and the gov-
ernment is not taking it lightly. Se-
curity forces have been put on alert.
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6. India
7. Syria
8. Japan
3.3(h)(2)
9. Japan
The fall of three state govern-
ments in two days has, if anything,
helped Mrs. Gandhi. The Congress Party
had been out of power in all three
states (Punjab, Hariana, and West Ben-
gal) and now has a chance to get its
hand back in. A Socialist-sponsored no
confidence motion will be debated in
Parliament today, but it has no chance
of passing.
West Bengal, with Communist-in-
spired mobs roaming Calcutta streets,
has the most potential for a nasty ex-
plosion, but the new state government
seems to be moving in with determination.
Damascus, despite growing isolation
in the Arab world, warnings from Moscow,
and its own extreme military vulner-
ability, goes right ahead with a hard-
headed rigidity that is quite likely
to bring on a serious clash with Israel.
The Syrians' latest moves include an
open call for another round of fighting
and denunciation of all resolutions put
before the UN.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
23 November 1967
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Ambassadors Return to Hanoi: The North Vietnam-
ese ambassadors to Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Rumania,
Hungary, and East Germany have all returned to Hanoi
in the sast ten days, 3.3(h)(2)
The simultaneous return of this many diplomats
s rong y suggests a conference is being held on some
kind of special problem.
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It seems unlikely that another general North
Vietnamese policy review is under way. The last
such review was held this past summer and appears
to have covered the entire range of issues related
to the war. We would expect Hanoi's chief diplomats
in France, Moscow, and Peking to return for another
gathering of that kind; so far, there is no sign
they have. Moreover, the North Vietnamese ambassador
to Indonesia just returned to his post after an ex-
tended stay in Hanoi following the earlier session.
* * *
Hanoi's Propaganda in Japan: The North Vietnam-
ese have opened a traveling exhibit in Japan. It
consists of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong weapons,
publications. and other items.
3.3(h)(2)
Report on Recent Hanoi Damage: On
Monday,
Hanoi.
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latest report on the bombings around
He conceded that the targets of the US strikes
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were probably military airfields and factories near
the capital. He nevertheless wondered whether "the
'bombs are also intended to break the will" of the
civil population. The use of pellet bombs and the
warning leaflets dropped from the air over Hanoi
lead him to suspect this, he reported.
The
ever, and
city.
noted no signs of panic, how-
no evidence of a general exodus from the
The also reported several observa-
tions in Hanoi just before the recent series of
raids. The Paul Doumer Bridge, hit again in late
October, was being repaired by "Chinese experts,"
he said. He added that the span could already sup-
port foot and bicycle traffic by mid-November. The
areas around the bridge and the power plant are now
"absolutely deserted" in daylight hours.
* * *
Cuban Military Delegation to Hanoi: A high-
level Cuban military delegation has arrived in Hanoi
at the invitation of the North Vietnamese Ministry
of Defense, according to a 21 November announcement
by Hanoi. The mission includes the Cuban armed
forces chief of staff and probably represents another
link in the growing ties between the two countries
in their struggle against "Yankee imperialism."
While in Hanoi, the delegation will probably inspect
the North Vietnamese air defenses--particularly air
defense and surface-to-air missiles--and exchange
information on guerrilla warfare tactics. The Cuban
representation in Hanoi has lona included a number
of military personnel
* * *
Other Travel Notes: The North Vietnamese trade
union delegation which has been in Italy since 15 No-
vember received a "rousing welcome" at the head-
quarters of the Italian United Socialist Party on
22 November, according to a press account. Socialist
Party officials reportedly reaffirmed their support
for the unconditional cessation of US bombing of
North Vietnam at the meeting.
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.Soviet Reactions: Interestingly, Soviet propa-
ganda media have not yet taken note of the recent
bomb damage to the Soviet attach�ffice in Hanoi.
This has, however, been reported in the press else-
where.
Pravda Home Office Worries About its People in
Hanoi:
the Pravda correspondent in
Hanoi and a man at the home office in Moscow.
Moscow, worried about the effects of the
most recent bombings,
"All of our people are unhurt, we
were very lucky,. .a hole was blown in Galya's room."
(Galya is evidently a Soviet female working at the
Hanoi Pravda office.) "The bombardment has gone on
for four days in a row...and the day before yester-
day (i.e., 18 November) delayed-action fragmentation
bombs rained down on our area."
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Viet Cong Comment on the Bunker-Westmoreland
Trip: The Liberation Front, in a clandestine broad-
FIR- in Vietnamese on 16 November, reported that
the recent return to the US of General Westmoreland
�and Ambassador Bunker "clearly reflects the confu-
sion and panic of these two US aggressors." The
broadcast claims that despite their awareness of
the "peril and stalemate," the US officials "dare to
lie to themselves and to fool the American people
by boasting enthusiastically over the situation in
South Vietnam." Continuing on this theme, the broad-
cast recounted the numerous "victories" won by the
Communists in the current "winter-spring" campaign.
The broadcast asserted that in view of these serious
US losses, "it is certain that Bunker and Westmore-
land will ask for more reinforcements, aid, weapons,
and money to expand and pursue their aggressive war
in Vietnam."
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�Liberation Radio went on to ridicule President
Johnson's recent tour of US military bases as an
effort to "flatter, deceive, and incite US troops
to go to South Vietnam and die shamefully," and to
contrast this with Governor Wallace's call for a
cut in US aid in order to force the US "satellites
to send mercenaries to �South Vietnam."
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