THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 31 MARCH 1967

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005973706
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: March 31, 1967

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1
The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 31 March 1967
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1
50X1
'11
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1 50X1
DAILY BRIEF
31 MARCH 1967
1. South Vietnam
2. Greece
Thieu will announce the new "na-
tional reconciliation plan" tomorrow,
along with the official promulgation
of the constitution. The draft of his
proclamation offers the enemy political
and economic integration, but does not
spell out the specific rights and bene-
fits returning Viet Cong can expect.
The King, who yesterday accepted
Premier Paraskevopoulos' resignation,
may try to form another government from
the present fragmented parliament. Ex-
premier George Papandreou's party, how-
ever, is demanding new elections--which
it could well win--within 45 days.
Should consultations with political
leaders fail to solve the crisis, or
if the situation threatens to produce
a government headed by Papandreou's son
Andreas, the King might resort to some
form of military dictatorship.
The Papandreous head a loose col-
lection of leftists, centrists, and
miscellaneous types in which father and
son head separate, and at times antago-
nistic, factions. They have sometimes
played ball with the Communists and
Andreas has adopted a bitterly anti-
American pose. We suspect some of this
is opportunism rather than conviction,
however.
Thus Greece would appear headed
for a major crisis, but it could yet
be papered over.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1_xi
3. Soviet Union
4. India
5. Communist China
We now have evidence that the
meningitis epidemic, noted in south-
east China in February, is affecting
most of the populous eastern portion
of the country. It has been spread
by the constant movement of Red Guards.
The regime is sending medical
teams into the countryside from many
of the large cities. The epidemic
should run its course by about the
end of April, but in the meantime
will almost certainly put further
crimps in the economy. '
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1 50x1
6. Rhodesia
7. Communist China
Our Consul General in Salisbury
believes the British authorities are
being dangerously optimistic about the
effects of mandatory sanctions--on the
books for about three months now.
He grants that major sectors of
the Rhodesian economy are encountering
"important difficulties," but sees no
evidence that these difficulties are
creating serious pressure on Smith and
company to change their political course.
The rising cost of living, although
pinching everyone, is being taken in
stride like similar privations in World
War II Britain.
The Consul General also notes that
there is no effective dialogue between
the regime and the African majority.
He sees, however, no evidence of unrest
that could pose a major security prob-
lem in the near future.
The thought of Chairman Mao is
getting ever closer to the Chinese
people, if we can judge from the latest
rage in Peking fashions--underwear
adorned with quotations from his works.
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1
Top Secret
,
,
\
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24 : CIA-RDP79T00936A005100090001-1