792.5 MAP/7–1050
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President
Memorandum for the President
Subject: Request for the Allocation to the Department of Defense for the Purpose of Providing Military Assistance to Thailand in the Amount of $10 million from the Funds Provided by Section 303 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 19491
The Departments of State and Defense have agreed upon a program of military assistance to the Government of Thailand in the estimated amount of $10 million which it is proposed should be financed out of funds made available for fiscal year 1950 under Section 303 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949. These funds continue available during July, 1950 for obligation pursuant to H. J. Resolution 492, 81st Congress.2
[Page 116]The outline of this program, which may be refined in certain details in light of the recommendations which the Survey Team now enroute to Southeast Asia will make, is summarized in the last paragraph of this memorandum. This program of assistance has been developed in response to your letter of March 10, 1950, in which you approved in principle the furnishing of military aid to Thailand.3
The allocation of $10 million at this time is needed to enable the Department of Defense to undertake supply action to the Government of Thailand. The unsettled conditions in the general area of China have generated apprehensions among the friendly Governments of the area, and it is therefore believed desirable to accelerate the furnishing of military assistance to the Government of Thailand as well as to Indochina. This program of military aid will be administered, if you approve, in accordance with Executive Order No. 10099,4 under which other mutual defense assistance programs are conducted.
In my memorandum of July 3, 19505 requesting the allocation of $16 million for furnishing additional military assistance to Indochina, I indicated that the interested agencies are re-studying the problem of applying effectively all the means available to this Government to advance our political, military and economic objectives in the critically and strategically important countries in the general area of China. The Survey Mission to countries in Southeast Asia, consisting of representatives of the Departments of State and Defense and of the ECA, is expected to be of assistance in recommending conclusions on this problem. As soon as this work has been completed, I shall advise you further on the questions raised in your letter dated May 1, 1950.6
The principal components of the fiscal year 1950 program for Thailand follow.
Army—Equipment for 9 Thai Infantry Battalions, and essential mission-type items for 3 Infantry Regimental Headquarters Companies, together with one year’s ammunition and maintenance supplies.
Air Force—Items consisting of Ordnance items, ammunition and spare parts for training aircraft in the possession of the Thai forces. Additional training aircraft are also to be provided, along with spare parts, and about 36 F–51 fighter aircraft, complete with spare parts for one year.
Navy—Weapons and equipment to rearm and re-equip 18 ex-U.S. vessels in the possession of the Thai Navy; communications equipment; arms and equipment for about a 4000-man Thai Marine Corps, and Naval aircraft.
Training which will be needed to assure effective utilization of this equipment is also to be provided.
- In letters to the Secretaries of State and Defense dated July 14, President Truman indicated his approval of the request contained in this memorandum (792.5 MAP/7–1450).↩
- H.J. Res. 492 (Public Law 585, June 29, 1950) provided temporary appropriations for fiscal year 1951. Under Section 2, funds available in fiscal year 1950 were continued available until July 31, 1950, for Mutual Defense Assistance and other programs (64 Stat. 302).↩
- For text, see footnote 2, p. 41.↩
- 15 Fed. Reg. 499.↩
- Post, p. 835.↩
- Post, p. 791.↩