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82. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of Treasury Simon, and the Director of Central Intelligence (Colby), Washington, November 18, 1975.1 2

Washington, November 18, 1975

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

November 18, 1975

MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

SUBJECT: American Arms Captured in Indochina

As a result of the events of last spring in Indochina, the Communist regimes of North and South Vietnam have acquired a vast quantity of American-supplied arms and military material, having an estimated acquisition cost of $6 billion. During the past few weeks there have been reports that the Vietnamese Communists have initiated contacts with several governments in an effort to sell some of this equipment.

It is requested that an analysis of possible responses by the United States Government to attempts to sell this equipment be undertaken immediately. Specific consideration should be given inter alia to the following issues:

  • — Should the United States attempt to control the transfer of captured US military equipment out of Vietnam?
  • — How should the United States respond to queries from friendly governments that have been approached by the Vietnamese Communists as potential recipients of captured US military equipment?
  • — What measures can the United States take to influence the flow of US military equipment out of Vietnam?
  • — What actions might the United States take in order to influence the transfer of US military equipment under domestic or international law?

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This review shall be undertaken by an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives of the addressees and the NSC Staff and chaired by the representative of the Department of State. The review should be conducted on a close hold basis. A full range of options together with recommendations should be forwarded to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs by November 26, 1975.

Brent Scowcroft

cc: The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

  1. Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 16, SRG Meeting, Taiwan, February 27, 1976 (3). Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.↩
  2. Scowcroft requested studies with recommendations on U.S. policy concerning American arms captured in Indochina.↩