THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974325
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: March 13, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 13 March 1968
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DAILY BRIEF
13 MARCH 1968
� 1. Vietnam Military activity remains at a low
level in most of South Vietnam.
2. Panama
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Clouds obscured most of the terri-
tory photographed on the BLACK SHIELD
mission of 8 March, but good coverage
was obtained around Khe Sanh.
The photographs showed further de-
velopment of the Laotian road network
to the west of Khe Sanh. In addition
to Route 9, the Communists have built
(over the past several months) two
spurs running east from Route 92. These
roads appear to have advanced about two
miles since January and are now well
within South Vietnamese territory.
All of the routes west of Khe Sanh
appeared to be in serviceable condi-
tion. No vehicles were photographed,
but extensive tracking suggests that
moderate to heavy traffic uses these
roads.
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3. Eastern Europe
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Police in Warsaw had to use tear
gas again yesterday to put down demon-
strations, and students in other Po-
lish cities are beginning to voice sup-
port for their colleagues in the capital.
The government is cracking down on
people it thinks instigated the demon-
strations or failed to rein in the dem-
onstrators. Yesterday, for instance,
it fired three high government officials
whose children had been seen leading the
protestors. The official line has be-
gun to take a heavily anti-Semitic slant.
There may be unrest in the labor
movement, too, the government's propa-
ganda to the contrary notwithstanding.
At least, that was what four workers
claimed yesterday when they turned up
at our embassy to ask if they could use
its printing press to print an anti-
regime pamphlet. (This may have been
a provocation; the embassy turned down
their request.)
Labor leaders in Czechoslovakia
are also having their troubles. Prague
radio yesterday announced the resigna-
tions of three of them, including the
head of the central council of trade
unions. This official said he took on
himself part of the blame for various
"shortcomings" in the labor movement.
The union hierarchy has been a Novotny
stronghold.
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4. Egypt-Israel
5. Communist China
6.
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Both Jarring and the Israelis
think Cairo will soon take its griev-
ances back to the Security Council.
Nasir's domestic troubles prob-
ably are behind his renewed intransi-
gence. Our embassy in Cairo believes
that the recent student and worker
demonstrations have made Nasir back
away from even indirect talks with
the Israelis. The regime apparently
plans to have another go at diverting
internal public opinion with a noisy
hassle in the UN.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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13 March 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
13 March 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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Conditions in Haiphong: L_
The people in the port city appeared to
be well or at least adequately fed but poorly
dressed, a large number of children in
the city--probably just for the holiday. The offi-
cials seemed confident in ultimate victory,
but not be sure about the civilians.
work in the port area continued on
an around-the-clock basis.
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Hanoi Calls Local Elections: Hanoi announced in
an 11 arc omes ic roa cas hat the triennial
election of representatives to people's councils in
North Vietnam's two autonomous zones, 17 provinces,
and two special cities will be held in April. These
organizations carry out functions on the local level
similar to the National Assembly.
The most recent election in North Vietnam was
held last April when representatives for the districts,
small towns, and provincial capitals were voted into
office. In the upcoming vote, the Communist Party, as
usual, will present the electorate a list of accept-
able candidates from whom to choose.
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Hanoi Reports Court-martial of USAF Captain
Hanoi has been quick to comment on the court-martial
of Captain Dale Noyd. In an 11 March broadcast, the
North Vietnamese recounted the particulars of his
trial and conviction, and noted that despite his
punishment, Noyd continued to voice his disapproval
of the war in Vietnam, where he considered the US
was fighting a war of aggression. The same broad-
cast also noted that according to a recent Gallup
Poll, more Americans now than at any previous time
feel the US was wrong to get involved militarily in
Vietnam. The broadcast commented that this poll
also showed that at present "the Americans have be-
come increasingly concerned about the cost in lives
and money caused by the US war of aggression in
Vietnam."
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