March 19, 1968

6 Eur gold pool members reptd to have agreed not to draw gold from dwindling US supply in light of US pledge to fight inflation; pressure on France to cooperate seen; France was excluded from Washington talks reptdly because of alleged pattern of information leaks via Le Monde which caused friction among gold pool members; outlook on French role in coming Stockholm talks on IMF SDRs and on pool members 'ultimatum' to S Afr to shun free mkt

Kennedy attacks Johnson policy, ss, Kan; asserts US is in danger; urges bombing cessation, reduction of Amer involvement and negotiations with NLF as only reasonable alternative to increasing Amer mil effort; students cheer him

heavy fighting breaks out in Quangtri near buffer zone; 12 marines killed, 24 wounded; fighting reptd near Saigon and in other areas

formation of F-111s illus

CIA estimate concludes enemy strength prior to recent offensive was significantly greater than US officials thought at time; puts at 515,000-600,000 force available to enemy at time offensive was launched; natl intelligence estimate of enemy manpower current at time put range of enemy troops at 448,000-483,000 men; Gen Westmoreland Nov '67 statement that enemy strength declined to 242,000 noted; officials later acknowledge Westmoreland's figure was achieved by deleting pol apparatus and part-time irregulars; results of CIA estimate listed