Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI

751G.5 MAP/5–350: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom ¹

top secret
priority

Washington, May 3, 1950—7 p. m.

2049. For Merchant.² Pres on May 1 approved allocation of ten million dols from 303 to Defense to cover current early shipment urgently needed mil aid items to IC. Also approved was three million for Indonesia.

Dept has requested Defense immed to start supply action on two hundred thousand rounds 37 mm ammunition plus 9,000 links to Army of Fr Union IC consigned Comdr in Chief Saigon. At same time Dept has requested Defense to initiate supply action equipment (less small arms) for 12 infantry battalions for the Vietnam State Army (as separate from Fr Union Forces). Dept has requested at least a part of latter equipment if at all possible be included in same shipment with 37 mm ammunition and consigned High Mil Comite for Vietnam Army.³ Thus first shipment wld contain items for both Army Fr Union and Viet Army. Defense has no timetable yet for departure date of such shipment but Dept has pushed for early action. Aid will be subject usual bilateral agreements if in view Dept those required. Airplanes now under discussion between MAAG Paris and Fr authorities. When mutual agreement is reached on airplane types and firm program emerges, Dept will request further funds be allocated since ten million insufficient.

In view requests for info on US mil aid to IC from both Fr and Viets Dept believes above info shld be communicated to both Fr and Viet Govts for their confidential info.

Dept proposes communicate this info this week to Fr Amb Wash. US Del London notify Fr Del, Emb Paris notify Fr Govt and Leg Saigon notify High Commissioner and Viet Govt subj to comments USDel, Paris Emb and Saigon Leg.

Acheson

1. Repeated as telegram 1974 to Paris and telegram 251 to Saigon for action and to Djakarta, Moscow, New Delhi, and Bangkok, for information.
2. Livingston T. Merchant, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, was a member of the United States Delegation to the May tripartite Foreign Ministers meeting at London.
3. This information was transmitted to Maj. Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer, Director of the Office of Military Assistance, Department of Defense, by John H. Ohly, Deputy Director of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, in a memorandum of May 2, not printed (751G.5 MAP/5–250).