THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05947662
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: March 6, 1968

Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
The President's Daily Brief
Top Secret 6 March 1968
2.-QP�SECITEF
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
3.5(c)
TOP SECRET -
DAILY BRIEF
6 MARCH 1968
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
1. South Vietnam
2. Panama
Close to 20,000 North Vietnamese
are estimated to have infiltrated South
Vietnam in January--the highest monthly
total of the war. The 304th and 320th
divisions which moved into the Khe Sanh
area probably account for more than half
of the January figure.
The US Embassy has taken a prelim-
inary look at damage done by the Tet of-
fensive to the South Vietnamese economy
and concluded it has been severe. Aside
from the serious disruption to movement
of goods and products, industrial facili-
ties have suffered extensive damage, and
most business activity has been suspended.
As for the offensive itself, there
have been no major clashes reported so
far today. Communist units continue to
move toward cities in the north, and
there are indications that a major attack
may be mounted on Da Nang later this
month.
Robles is refusing to compromise;
Arias is equally determined to get con-
cessions or proceed with impeachment;
the National Guard remains uncommitted;
and the situation is ugly.
The National Assembly is scheduled
to meet today to hear the report of the
commission that was to investigate the
charges against Robles. It is not clear,
however, whether the assembly will meet,
and there are reports that the government
is planning some action--such as suspen-
sion of the constitution--in an effort to
keep it from convening.
Meanwhile, Arias-controlled radio
stations are broadcasting inflammatory
reports on the situation.
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
1.0P-SEeltET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
3.5(c)
T 0-P-SECRE T -
3. Laos
Approved for Release:,2019/04/17 C05947662
3.5(c)
4. Czechoslovakia
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
5. Warsaw Pact
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
LO_B-S-EeRE T -
The week-long lull in fighting con-
tinues, although the Communists still
threaten government positions.
the Czech political scene and
on relations between the various East Eu-
ropean states.
the Soviets originally ap-
proved Dubcek's nomination as party first
secretary, but began having second thoughts
when they saw how far he intends to ao down
the liberalization path.
the Soviets do not under-
stand how popular this course is.
they could run into serious trouble if they
overplay their hand in trying to restrict
Dubcek's reforms.
Dubcek is plan-
ning some major personnel changes. One of
these came Monday when an old Novotny war-
horse was eased out of his job as the party's
top ideologist.
We note Novotny was not on the Czech
team Dubcek led to the Warsaw Pact meeting
in Sofia.
Top leaders of the pact countries sit
down today in Sofia; Russian-Rumanian fire-
works are expected.
the Ru-
manians intend to propose some major
changes in the pact's command structure
which would dilute Moscow's authority. The
Rumanians may even
threaten to withdraw from the pact.
We doubt the Ruman-
ians will go through with such action, but
they will probably use the threat for tac-
tical bargaining.
The Rumanians and Russians also will
be crossing swords on the nonproliferation
treaty and on relations with West Germany.
4-GP-6EeftEr
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
3.5(c)
T g_a_S-E-eRET -
6. Japan
7. Bolivia-Chile
8. South Yemen
9. Liberia
T -
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
I I L.. S-0 I I
Loose security in the Japanese De-
fense Agency has given Sato's political
enemies another handful of mud to sling
at the prime minister. They are taking
full advantage.
Classified documents have found
their way into the hands of opposition
members of the Diet, who are using the
material as "evidence" that Sato has
sinister plans to revive prewar milita-
rism. What Sato would like to do is
get public support for an increased de-
fense effort, but all the muck-raking
is hurting his chances.
The last of Che Guevara's guerrillas
are headed back to Cuba by way of Easter
Island, Tahiti, and Paris.
The five survivors had crossed
from Bolivia into Chile, where they were
arrested on 22 February. With the prompt
intervention of Salvadore Allende, Chile's
left-wing senate president, the five were
freed and then whisked off to Easter Is-
land to begin their homeward journey. Bo-
livia is protesting release of the guer-
rillas, but is not likely to get much sat-
isfaction.
A South Yemeni delegation has re-
turned from Moscow with an offer of So-
viet military hardware. This group
from Aden had asked for Soviet money,
but the Russians turned that down and
countered with the suggestion the South
Yemenis take tanks and MIGs instead.
President Tubman is probably going
to ask for more US aid when he visits
Washington on 27 and 28 March. Despite
$270 million in US aid since 1946 and
massive foreign investment of about $550
million, Tubman is up to his neck in
debt. The basic problems are fiscal mis-
management and graft.
-T-GLP-SeeRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C05947662
3.5(c)
3.5(c)