Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXVIII, Laos
January to December 1968: The Fall of Phou Pha Thi; Reassessment of Policy; Laos and the Paris Peace Talks; Increased Bombing in Laos: Document List
Document 326: Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler) to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, January 2, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 73 A 1250, Laos 385.1, 1968. Top Secret. A note on the source text indicates that McNamara saw the “brief.”
Document 327: Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Sharp) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)
Honolulu, January 21, 1968, 1948Z.
Source: Center of Military History, Westmoreland Papers, Message Files, COMUSMACV, 1 Jan-31 Jan 1968. Secret. Repeated to Westmoreland.
Document 328: Memorandum of Conversation
Washington, January 22, 1968.
Source: Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, Sullivan, William H. Secret; Personal Files Only.
Document 329: Central Intelligence Agency Information Cable
January 30, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Cables, 1/68–1/69. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Routine.
Document 330: Memorandum From the County Director for Laos and Cambodia (Herz) to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, February 1, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret. Drafted by Slutz. Copy sent to Habib.
Document 331: Memorandum of Conversation
Washington, February 15, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Bohlen and approved in S on February 19. The source text is Part II of VI.
Document 332: Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Bohlen)
Washington, February 23, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret. Drafted by Slutz and cleared by Herz.
Document 333: Editorial Note
Document 334: Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Laos and Cambodia Affairs (Herz) to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, February 27, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret. Drafted by Slutz and Herz.
Document 335: Memorandum From the Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (McConnell) to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, February 27, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 73 A 1250, Laos 385.1, 1968. Top Secret. A note on the source text indicates that the Deputy Secretary of Defense saw this memorandum.
Document 336: Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, February 28, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5 EE (1) Laos, 10/67–12/68. Top Secret; Exdis.
Document 337: Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, February 29, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 73 A 1304, Laos 385.1, 1968. Top Secret.
Document 338: Telegram From the Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Westmoreland) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Sharp)
Saigon, March 3, 1968, 0323Z.
Source: Center of Military History, Westmoreland Papers, Message Files, COMUSMACV, 1 Mar-31 Mar 1968. Top Secret; Limited Distribution. Repeated to Wheeler.
Document 339: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 9, 1968, 0730Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, London, Moscow, and CINCPAC.
Document 340: Central Intelligence Information Cable
March 9, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, 1/68–1/69. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; No Dissem Abroad; Background Use Only. According to a note on the source text, advance copies were transmitted to the White House, State, DIA, Army, Navy, Air Force, JCS, NIC, NSA, and OCI.
Document 341: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 11, 1968, 0532Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to JCS, CINCPAC, CINCPACAF, 7th AF, and 7/13 AF.
Document 342: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 13, 1968, 0558Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to JCS, CINCPAC, CINCPACAF, COMUSMACV, 7AF, and 7/13 AF.
Document 343: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 14, 1968, 0841Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, CINCPAC, COMUSMACV, JCS, 7th AF, and JCS.
Document 344: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 16, 1968, 1100Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, CINCPAC, JCS, COMUSMACV, 7 AF, and 7/13 AF.
Document 345: Note From the President's Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson
Washington, March 19, 1968, 12:20 p.m.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Cambodia 5 E (2)a, 1/68–10/68. Top Secret.
Document 346: Special National Intelligence Estimate
Washington, March 21, 1968.
Source: Department of State, INR/EAP Files: Lot 90 D 165, SNIE 58–68. Secret; Controlled Dissem. The CIA, the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and the National Security Agency participated in the preparation of this volume. All members of the USIB concurred with its release except the representatives of the AEC and FBI who abstained because the topic was outside their jurisdiction.
Document 347: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 23, 1968, 0620Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Exdis; No Distribution Outside Dept.
Document 348: Letter From the Country Director for Laos and Cambodia (Herz) to the Ambassador to Laos (Sullivan)
Washington, March 23, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret; Official-Informal.
Document 349: Memorandum From Marshall Wright of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant (Rostow)
Washington, March 25, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5EE (1) Laos, 10/67–12/68. Top Secret; Exdis.
Document 350: Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Read) to the President's Special Assistant (Rostow)
Washington, March 26, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret. For the additional drafting information on this study, see Document 348. Sent also to Steadman, Special Assistant to Clifford, and on April 2 to Taylor at the White House. (Department of State, Central Files, DEF 1–1 LAOS)
Document 351: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, March 27, 1968, 0610Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Exdis.
Document 352: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Warnke) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Nitze)
Washington, March 28, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 72 A 1499, Laos 000.1—(Laos 381), 1968. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Mobley.
Document 353: Letter From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Habib) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Steadman)
Washington, March 30, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret. Drafted by Slutz.
Document 354: Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, March 30, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 72 A 1499, Laos 000.1—(092 Laos), 1968. Top Secret; Sensitive.
Document 355: Memorandum From Robert N. Ginsburgh of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant (Rostow)
Washington, April 22, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Cambodia 5 E (2)b, 1/68–10/68. Top Secret; Sensitive.
Document 356: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, April 23, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret. Drafted by Herz.
Document 357: Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, April 23, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret. Drafted by Herz.
Document 358: Editorial Note
Document 359: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, April 24, 1968, 0346Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Priority; Nodis.
Document 360: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, April 24, 1968, 0942Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Priority; Nodis.
Document 361: Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Washington, April 29, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret. Drafted by Slutz and cleared in draft by Herz and Habib. An April 29 covering note from Bundy to Rusk informed the Secretary that Bundy told the JCS and DOD (at staff levels) of this proposal and they were sympathetic. Wheeler insisted that the President must make the decision and that the initiative must come from Rusk. A note on the covering note indicated that Rusk agreed to include it on the April 30 luncheon agenda.
Document 362: Letter From the Ambassador to Laos (Sullivan) to the Country Director for Laos and Cambodia (Herz)
Vientiane, April 29, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret.
Document 363: Intelligence Memorandum Prepared by the Directorate of Intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, May 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Memos 1/68–1/69. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. A note at the bottom of page 1 reads:” This memorandum was prepared solely by CIA. It was prepared by the Office of Economic Research and was coordinated with the Director's Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs and the Office of Current Intelligence.”
Document 364: Letter From the Ambassador to Laos (Sullivan) to the Country Director for Laos and Cambodia (Herz)
Vientiane, May 6, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret; Official-Informal.
Document 365: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 7, 1968, 0435Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 6 LAOS. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 366: Letter From the Under Secretary of State (Katzenbach) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Nitze)
Washington, May 8, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret. Bundy sent a draft of this letter to Katzenbach under cover of a memorandum of May 3, drafted by Herz on April 23, recommending that Katzenbach sign the letter and give it to Nitze on the evening of May 8. A note on another copy indicates that Nitze saw it. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 73A 1304, Laos 381, 1968)
Document 367: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, May 16, 1968, 0430Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Nodis; Exdis. Repeated to Bangkok.
Document 368: Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Sharp) to the Director of the Joint Staff (Spivy)
Honolulu, May 24, 1968, 0229Z.
Source: Center of Military History, Westmoreland Papers, Message Files, COMUSMACV, 1 May–31 May 1968. Top Secret. Repeated to Westmoreland, General Beach (CINC–USARPAC), General Ryan (CINPACAF), and Admiral Hyland (CINCPACFLT). Lieutenant General Berton E. Spivy, Jr., was Director of the Joint Staff April 1, 1967–July 31, 1968.
Document 369: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Sharp)
Vientiane, May 30, 1968, 0847Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to the Department of State, which is the source text.
Document 370: Intelligence Memorandum Prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, June 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Memos 1/68–1/69. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. A note on the source text indicates that this memorandum was produced solely by the CIA's Office of Economic Research in coordination with the Director's Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs.
Document 371: Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara
Washington, June 17, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 72 A 1499, Laos 000.1—(381 Laos), 1968. Top Secret. A note on the source text indicates that Warnke saw this memorandum.
Document 372: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Embassy in France
Vientiane, June 20, 1968, 1106Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 2 LAOS. Secret. Repeated to the Department of State, which is the source text, Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 373: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, June 21, 1968, 0541Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret. Repeated to Bangkok, Paris for Ambassador Sullivan, Saigon, JCS, CINCPAC, COMUSMACV, Seventh AF, and DIA.
Document 374: Memorandum From the Chief, Far East Division, Directorate of Plans (Nelson) to Director of Central Intelligence Helms
Washington, July 12, 1968.
Document 375: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, July 18, 1968, 0602Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–4 LAOS. Confidential. Repeated to Bangkok, Paris, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 376: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, August 9, 1968, 0601Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 6–6 Laos. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 377: Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Laos Paramilitary Program Prepared by the Chief of the Far East Division, Directorate of Plans (Nelson)
Washington, August 15, 1968.
Document 378: Paper Prepared by the East Asian and Pacific Interdepart- mental Regional Group
Washington, September 10, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam 5 EE 910 Laos, 10/67–12/68. Secret. According to a covering memorandum from the Staff Director of the Group to its members, including William Bundy who was its chairman, the EA/IRG (formerly FE/IRG) was asked on May 29, 1968, to prepare a paper on the repercussions in Laos of de-escalation in Vietnam. This paper, coordinated with the relevant agencies and with the Embassy in Laos, was the result. The staff director asked for any final comments or changes before it was discussed by the EA/IRG.
Document 379: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, September 25, 1968, 1044Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 7 LAOS–US. Secret.
Document 380: Intelligence Memorandum Prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, September 25, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Memos, 1/68–1/69. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. A note on the source text indicates that this memorandum was produced by the CIA's Office of Current Intelligence and coordinated with the Office of National Estimates and the Clandestine Services.
Document 381: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, September 26, 1968, 0451Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Nodis.
Document 382: Memorandum From Marshall Wright of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant (Rostow)
Washington, September 26, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security Files, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Memos 1/68–1/69. No classification marking.
Document 383: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, October 8, 1968, 0440Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 LAOS. Confidential; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, London, Moscow, Paris, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 384: Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Acting Secretary of State Katzenbach
Washington, October 9, 1968.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Memos, 1/68–1/69. Secret; No Foreign Dissem.
Document 385: Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Warnke) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)
Washington, October 17, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 72 A 1499. LAOS 000.1—(381 Laos), 1968. Top Secret. Drafted by Steadman. Also sent to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis.
Document 386: Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Brown) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Bohlen)
Washington, October 21, 1968.
Document 387: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, October 23, 1968, 1141Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, INT 2–2. Top Secret.
Document 388: Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to the Ambassador in Laos (Sullivan)
Washington, October 24, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, Ambassador's Private Correspondence, 1967–68. Secret; Personal—Eyes Only.
Document 389: Special National Intelligence Estimate
Washington, October 31, 1968.
Source: Department of State, INR/EAP Files: Lot 90 D 165, SNIE 58–1–68. Secret; Sensitive; Limit Distribution; Controlled Dissem. Prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and the NSA. All members of the USIB concurred with its release except the representatives of the FBI and AEC who abstained because the subject was outside their jurisdiction.
Document 390: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, November 4, 1968, 0950Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 391: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, November 11, 1968, 1045Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Paris for HARVAN (Harriman and Vance, the U.S. negotiators in Paris), Saigon, and CINCPAC.
Document 392: Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Warnke) to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy)
Washington, November 11, 1968.
Source: Department of State, EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret.
Document 393: Airgram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Washington, November 18, 1968.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 1 LAOS–US. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Bangkok, Paris, Saigon, CINCPAC, DEPCHJUSMAGTHAI, DIA, London, Moscow, and Tokyo.
Document 394: Memorandum From the Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (McConnell) to Secretary of Defense Clifford
Washington, November 20, 1968.
Source: Washington National Record Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 73 A 1250, Laos 0385.1, 1968. Secret. A note on the source text indicates that Clifford saw it.
Document 395: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, November 26, 1968, 1220Z.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVIII, Memos 1/68–1/69. Secret; Limdis. Marshall Wright sent this telegram to Rostow under cover of a memorandum of November 27. Responding to an earlier question to him and Robert Ginsburgh, Wright wrote Rostow, “it is not what we should do but what we can do. The answer, in Ginsburgh's judgement is 'nothing'.” In a postscript, Wright noted that Ginsburgh asked that he amend his view to read, “Nothing, unless we want to go to war with China.” (Ibid.)
Document 396: Paper Prepared by the Department of State
Washington, undated.
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Laos EE (1), 10/67–12/68. Top Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text, but it was apparently prepared by EAP as a part of the interagency reassessment of policy toward Laos described in Documents 392 and 389.
Document 397: Telegram From the Ambassador to Laos (Sullivan) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (McCain)
Vientiane, December 3, 1968, 0553Z.
Source: Center of Military History, Abrams Papers, Messages, No. 1944. Top Secret. Repeated to [less than 1 line of text not declassified], JCS, COMUSMACV, and CIA. This telegram was not sent over Department of State communications channels.
Document 398: Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (McCain) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)
Honolulu, December 11, 1968, 0320Z.
Source: Center of Military History, Abrams Papers, Messages, No. 1984. Top Secret; Limdis; Eyes Only. Repeated to Abrams and Sullivan.
Document 399: Memorandum From the Secretary of the Air Force (Brown) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Nitze)
Washington, December 11, 1968.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/Admin Files: FRC 73 A 1250, Laos 385.1, 1968. Secret. A note on the source text indicates Nitze saw it.
Document 400: Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (McCain) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)
Honolulu, December 21, 1968, 0403Z.
Source: Center of Military History, Abrams Papers, Messages, No. 2058. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Repeated to Abrams and Sullivan.
Document 401: Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State
Vientiane, December 31, 1968, 0545Z.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Top Secret; Exdis; No Distribution Outside Dept. “Nodis” was handwritten on the source text.