81. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State1
2724. For Parsons from Durbrow. Reference Embassy Telegram 2698.2 Because of the delicate nature of following information, I am sending it to you personally for your background and such dissemination as you believe necessary.
Reftel states FYI that under current TERM and ARVN procedures TERM would require approximately thirty months to receive and dispose of remaining matériel. Actually only seven TERM personnel are working full time on salvage and disposal operations but much of remainder TERM personnel are occasionally involved on part-time basis in processing matériel at various military depots Vietnam. Thus it is obvious that by using all 350 team [TERM] personnel, bulk of job could in fact be wound up in about 12–15 months despite delays set forth numbered paragraphs reftel. (General Williams states this would be uneconomical use of that many people on TERM task alone.) Although we have told Brits and Canadians that [Page 213] overt TERM tasks occupy “significant number” TERM personnel (Embtel 25243) facts are exact opposite. Canadians and Brits may already realize actual situations and Indians probably very suspicious. We are, therefore, skating on very thin ice if we attempt continue maintain TERM cover much longer.
In view these facts and exhaustion all other arguments re term with ICC, I believe if ICC in forthcoming meeting June 27 permits one more extension life on TERM, it will be last can expect. We will be finally forced in next few months or year to find some other solution this problem. Only acceptable alternative seems to be all-out effort to increase MAAG ceiling. In order to get any increase above 342, we may even eventually be forced to agree in order to obtain Indian, Canadian, and British concurrence that over-all MAAG ceiling would be somewhat less than combined MAAG–TERM ceiling of 692. It seems to me it is better to be prepared, if we have to accept something less than 692 if the alternative might be only 342. (General Williams does not think we should abandon theoretical right to 888.) Seems to me merging of MAAG TERM would bring greater efficiency and permit some over-all reduction. We could, of course, refuse to comply with eventual firm ICC and British demand we liquidate TERM, but such drastic step would risk causing serious strains on our relations with British, Canadians, and Indians at time when much more vital matters require US maintain closest relations particularly with British and Canadians.