ALTHE NATIONAL ARCHIVES - 1- is Da Authority Date 424 4 MEMORANDUM I THE WHITE HOUSE Wassinoron SANITIZED COPY INFORMATION August 22 1969 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM Henry A Kissinger SUBJECT Morning Briefing Items Communist ttered O round lling one US and wounding base was minimal a coaStal town enemy mortars killing 10 wounding 162 to press rep today aft the Sout Atlantic return to South Diem believes important consultations is involved with the Cabinet reshuffle - Mosque Fire Could Increase Tension The burning of a Mosque in Jerusalem has increased tension in the Middle East holiest places but City vacation for that Hanh's return 32 3 #43 47 02 H1 mannuuvmu nnurnvm I I - L u j DECLASSEFIED - i a Authority 258 Date fizz E0 12958 C 'Although the fire was probably accidental rumors are circulating that it was set deliberately as part of a plan to drive the Arabs out of Palestine and Cairo radio has linked the fore to the barbarism of Israeli Nazism At Tab A is a message to you from Habib Bourguiba President of Tunisia concerning the incident Story of Husak Svoboda Meeting with Brezhnev - - 22 uusak and svobOda met With Breznnev in Crimea in early August at Czech reguest over the Opposition of the Soviet Embassy in Prague Czech leaders feared exces sive Soviet military reaction to August 21 demonstrations and convinced Brezhnev that Czech forces could handle their own situation The Soviets agreed to scale down planned movements of Soviet troops in Czechosldvakia increase their- numbers as inconspicuously as possible and route maneuvers around CZechoslovakia in exchange for completion of Czech consolidation and normaliZation -by January 1 1970 The Embassy finds the story plausible if unverifiable Repertedly when Czech leaders told the Soviets that exceSsive violence in Czechoslovakia might have repercussions in Poland Hungary and Romania Brezhnev commented we ll wipe Romania off the map when it suits us 3012958 Romanian-Consular Cenvention and Trade c AF Relations - 1 I i gfx final negotiations on UB Romanian Consular Convention co ld start about a week after the arrival of Ambassador Meeker Macbvescu also reiterated earlier the Romanian suggestion that both sides exchange drafts before the start of negotiations -According to Macovescu when Ambassador Bogdan returns to Washington he will carry with him two lists one covering Romanian products that might be sold in US if lower tariffs prevailed and another showing plant and equipment Romania buy during their next five year plan -- Indicators Concerning ChineSe and Soviet Behavior Peking has paid its back dues to the International Red Cross another indication of its interest in moving toward more normal diplomatic relations with the non Communist world Its action entitles it to participate in the forthcoming Red Cross Conference at Istanbul but Peking has yet to answer the invitation Peking long ago attended such conferences but walked out in 1957 because the Republic of China was also invited and Peking has not since participated cow r E s l 1 - I Authority Date 10 12958 3 4 b C Meanwhile leaders of the Australian Communist Party have concludedi that the Soviets intend to launch a large-scale military operation against the Chinese The Australians reportedly were much upset at such an eventuality The Australians probably have no inside information as to Soviet thinking but it is intereSting that Soviet behavior has generated such alarm among Communists who have long been close students of Moscow's intentions A Soviet second secretary this Week asked a State Department officer pointeblank how US would react if the USSR took out Chinese nuclear facilities mama cow