The enclosed memorandum by the Secretary of State on the subject is
circulated herewith for the information of the National Security Council and
the Secretary of the Treasury and, as recommended
[Page 402]
therein, is referred to the Senior NSC Staff for use in the preparation of a
report.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Secretary of
State to the Executive Secretary of the National
Security Council (Lay)
secret
Washington, October 26,
1950.
Subject: Proposed NSC
Staff Study on Collaboration with Friendly Governments on Operations
Against Guerrillas.1
During the last few years there have been a number of instances in which
communist skill in utilizing guerrilla if forces and tactics has been
apparent. This was true in Greece and is at present notably the case in
Indochina, in Malaya, and in the Philippines. Examples in Korea, and
elsewhere could also be cited. While there has been a certain amount of
exchanges of views between military representatives, as in the case of
the British and French in Southeast Asia, it does not appear that an
organized effort has been made to pool information, skills and
techniques among the friendly nations who have a common interest in
defeating this kind of activity. It is to be anticipated that the
international communist movement will continue to utilize similar
tactics in the future. We have recognized the need for a cooperative
defense on formal military lines in the North Atlantic Treaty area. We
have also begun coordination of information and propaganda activities
particularly with the British and French both in Europe and in Asia. It
would seem appropriate and important to extend the scope of such
cooperation to meet the problem of the most effective means of
anti-guerrilla warfare, mobilizing the experience gained in jungle
fighting during the war, in operations in Greece, in Korea, Malaya and
elsewhere, as well as taking into account the successes and failures of
both political and military action, or inaction, in the field of
anti-guerrilla activity.
Accordingly, I recommend that the NSC
Senior Staff arrange for a study of this matter and submit a report on
it for the consideration of the Council. The report might include a
brief statement of the problem from the military point of view as well
as indicating the most
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desirable and effective means for bringing about the desired
collaboration. In this connection, attention would need to be paid to
possible political sensibilities of the governments whose collaboration
is sought. It would be desirable also to indicate how many governments
should be approached, for example, whether Burma and Indonesia should be
included.
It should be noted that no part of the foregoing recommendation is
concerned with the field of special political operations, which
presumably could provide useful assistance and support in the areas
concerned, inasmuch as it is understood that adequate means already
exist for the exchange of information in that field.
