Office of the Historian

106. Memorandum for the Record1

Washington, June 29, 1964.

SUBJECT

  • Meeting of the National Security Council—June 29, 1964 to Discuss the Souvanna Phouma Plan for Action in Laos

IN ATTENDANCE

  • The President, McNamara, Vance, McNaughton, Wheeler, McGeorge Bundy, Dillon, Rusk, Ball, Harriman, McCone, William Bundy, Forrestal
1.
Rusk discussed the Muong Soui disclosure; stated that the odds were better than even that the PL would attack Muong Soui therefore the FAR operations proposed by Souvanna Phouma had been under serious consideration; however in evaluating the operation we must recognize they would undoubtedly bring on an attack on Muong Soui.
2.
William Bundy then reviewed in considerable detail the Souvanna Phouma FAR plan of attack on Routes 13 and 7. After some questioning, McNamara stated that he, Vance and the JCS supported the plan.
3.
General Wheeler stated that the Joint Chiefs feel the plan had reasonable chances of success, mentioning that they are better than 50–50 and that the Joint Chiefs should unanimously support the plan.
4.
The President turned to me and asked my opinion. I said that I personally supported the actions but noted that the movement of 1800 troops from Attapu and weakening Attapu defenses would very possibly cause Attapu to fall to the Pathet Lao. McGeorge Bundy said that an attack on Attapu would open up an entirely new set of problems as Attapu was considered one of the Mekong towns.
5.
McNamara said that a more serious problem would be the chances of success or failure of the effort. If the effort failed, then we would have a more serious problem on our hands in Laos; however he felt there was a good chance of success. All agreed that it was extremely difficult to forecast success of the FAR/Lao operation.
6.
After some discussion the President approved the attached cable subject to drafting modifications.2

[Here follows a brief discussion of improved morale in South Vietnam and the success of 34–A operations against North Vietnam.]

  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B 1285A, Meetings with the Pres, 1 May–31 Oct, 1964. Secret; Eyes Only. Dictated by McCone and transcribed by his secretary. The meeting lasted from 5:38 to approximately 6 p.m. (Johnson Library, President’s Daily Diary)↩
  2. Document 107.↩