38. Letter From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Nolting) to the Vietnamese Secretary of State at the Presidency and Assistant Secretary of State for National Defense (Thuan)1

Dear Mr. Secretary: My Government has carefully considered the request for four T-33 jet aircraft contained in your letter to me of December, 10, 1962.2 We appreciate your Government’s desire to be come better equipped to counter any threat to South Viet-Nam posed by unauthorized incursions into Vietnamese air space. We understand, however, that there has been no actual confirmation of such incursions and that there is insufficient evidence to concluded that a threat of this kind exists at the present time.

My Government’s position in this matter rests essentially on the following considerations. The delivery of jet aircraft to your Government could open our two Governments to charges of violating the specific prohibition against jet engines contained in Article 17 of the Geneva Accords. It could also lead to the acquisition of jet aircraft by the North Vietnamese regime, thereby enhancing the threat which that regime poses to South Viet-Nam.

As you know, for some time our Military Assistance Program for Viet-Nam has included four RT-33 jet aircraft. However, because of the considerations referred to above, the delivery of these aircraft has not been authorized. In our view, these considerations continue to outweigh the advantages which a jet reconnaissance aircraft capability would have for our joint efforts to restore internal security in South Viet-Nam. Additionally, the requirement for a jet aircraft reconnaissance capability, as you are aware, is at present being met by other means.

I wish to assure you that we have this matter under continuous study. Should any new information be brought to our attention which would materially change our assessment of the situation, we would be prepared to review our present position.

Accept, Mr. Secretary, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Frederick E. Nolting, Jr. 3
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 19-3 US-S VIET. Secret; Limit Distribution. Transmitted to Washington on February 18 as enclosure 2 to airgram A-435 from Saigon.
  2. Not found.
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.