THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 28 DECEMBER 1967

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005974194
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 28, 1967

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The President's Daily Brief
op etre t 28 December 1967
N.
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DAILY BRIEF
28 DECEMBER 1967
1. Vietnam
2. Laos
3. Cambodia
Government forces are reported to
have recaptured the central Laotian
town they lost to the Communists on
Christmas Day. Elsewhere, there is
Communist pressure, but no major moves.
Press reports out of Laos have tended
to exaggerate the Communist campaign,
although it is more extensive than in
recent years.
Sihanouk is reacting predictably
to the US note. Assuming his favorite
role as the Cambodian David up against
the US Goliath, the Prince is trying to
build international opinion--and pres-
sure--against any moves into Cambodian
territory.
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4. Communist China
5. South Korea
6. Chile
Fists flew in the National Assembly
this morning as progovernment legislators
stormed the speaker's platform and re-
captured it from opposition members.
The opposition had been holding a live-
in on the platform since they seized it
last week in protest over the govern-
ment's failure to check election irregu-
larities. Early reports indicate the
government majority quickly rammed
through the 1968 budget. The Assembly
is scheduled to adjourn tomorrow.
Chilean Communists hope to combine
all the country's leftist political
parties into a united front to capture
the 1970 presidential election.
The Communists recently had some
success in a by-election by teaming up
with one other party. This success may
help them pull in other leftist parties
and give their front a good start to-
ward 1970.
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7. Yemen
8. Congo
The battered republicans are now
seeking mediation. On Tuesday a top
republican leader said he would welcome
the services of a three-nation commis-
sion formed last summer to seek a nego-
tiated solution to the civil war. Ear-
lier the republicans had rejected the
commission's efforts. The royalists--
who are not losing the war, but are far
from winning it--may be agreeable to
talks.
The fate of the mercenaries re-
mains unsettled. The Congolese still
want them, and Rwanda still says no.
Congolese Foreign Minister Bomboko as-
sured the US charg?hat the mercen-
aries would be treated tenderly if re-
turned. He said they would be "put in
a comfortable prison" and their trial
would be "in the best tradition of
European justice." There is no indi-
cation the mercenaries care to take
their chances on Congolese concepts of
European justice.
9. France De Gaulle may be ready to lift his
Middle East arms embargo.
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soon and a torpedo boat al-
ready was on the way. The French also
have indicated their willingness to sell
aircraft to Iraq. If De Gaulle is end-
ing the embargo, it is probably because
he feels he has made all the political
profit he can and now it is time to look
to the commercial side of the ledger.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
Top Secret
28 December 1967
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
28 December 1967
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
.More on Living Conditions: Reports on living
and working conditions in North Vietnam continue
/women have replaced men in "virtually every
field of endeavor," and that women constitute the
great majority of the militia and about one-half of
the armed security service.
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Agricul- 50X1
tural and construction workers usually work about a
seven-hour day and are 50X1
subjected to short, political indoctrination ses-
sions about once a week--a not excessive requirement
in view of war needs and the Communist penchant for
political indoctrination, the draft age 50X1
as 18 and illegal deferments are not 50X1
uncommon, citing examples of the successful bribery
of both medical officials ana.personnel cadre in
charge of assignment and recruitment.
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II. . NORTH .VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US 'POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report.
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Top Secret
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