THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974313
• 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 6, 1968

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The President's Daily Brief
--Thp�Serrrt 6 March 1968
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.DAILY BRIEF
� 6.MARCH 1968
. South Vietnam
2. Panama
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Close to 20,000 North Vietnamese
are estimated to have infiltrated South
Vietnam in January--the highest monthly
total of the war.
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.
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3. Laos
4, Czechoslovakia
5. Warsaw Pact
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The week-long lull in fighting con-
tinues, although the Communists still
threaten government positions.
on the Czech political scene and
on relations between the various East Eu-
ropean states.
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the Soviets originally ap- 3.3(h)(2)
proved Dubcek's nomination as party first
secretary, but began having second thoughts
when they, saw how far he intends to go down
the liberalization path. 3.3(h)(2)
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-3.3(h)(2)
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.
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.
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6. Japan
7. Bolivia-Chile
8. South Yemen
9. Liberia
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The last of Che Guevara's guerrillas
are headed back to Cuba 'ply 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.
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�To
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
6 March 1968
. .NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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Conditions in Hanoi: The morale of the people
of Hanoi appears high and they seem no less will-
ing to support the regime's war effort.I
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The electric power supply in the city is
-2--
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now restricted to three days a week for ordinary
residents, but foreign embassies have no restric-
tions placed on them. Gasoline and oil are in very
short supply, with embassies allowed,a monthly ra-
tion of 400 liters; requests for additional sup-
plies frequently are turned down.
Vietnamese students in China during the Cul-
tural Revolution were badly treated,
and many returned to North Vietnam
with feelings of hostility toward China.
the most evident economic
aid in Hanoi is that supplied by East Germany, par-
ticularly in the form of bicycles and medicine.
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II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
War Protest Activity: Hanoi's English lan-
guage broadcast reported on 5:March that American
playwright Arthur Miller had criticized US policy
in Vietnam at a meeting attended by some 5,000
persons in New Haven, Connecticut. Quoting various
press accounts of the meeting, the broadcast said
that Miller had compared US policy in Vietnam to
a cancer which undermines "even the pride of the
American life."
The same broadcast also reported that Dick
Gregory was going to stage another 40-day hunger
strike to protest the war.
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--Top�Seefe-t-
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