795.00/7–2750
The Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Foreign Military Affairs and Assistance (Burns) to the Deputy Undersecretary of State (Matthews)
My Dear Mr. Matthews: I refer to your letter of July 25 concerning military assistance by members of the United Nations in support of the operation in Korea. The Department of Defense has under study the general questions of criteria of useful military assistance and countries from which, from a military point of view, and in light of general strategic considerations, such assistance might be afforded. These views will be transmitted to the Department of State in due course.
[Page 482]I can, perhaps, clarify to you the position of the Department of Defense with regard to some of the questions raised in your letter. By letter of 7 July,1 the Department of State was informed that ground forces from Pakistan were desired. By telephone conversation between our respective Secretaries on 14 July and in discussions between members of our offices, you were informed of the Joint Chiefs of Staff opinion that useful aid, particularly in the form of ground units, could be provided from the United Kingdom, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and Canada, but that the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended that no aid be requested from the Philippines, Italy, Turkey or Saudi Arabia, since the latter countries may have urgent need for their own use of all the forces which are available to them.
With regard to minimum requirements, as for example size of units and arrangements for self-supply, I refer you to our letter of 26 July concerning New Zealand, Lebanese and French offers, which should furnish some guidance pending completion of the more general study previously referred to.2
Concerning the enlistment of Filipino nationals with combat experience in the U.S. Army, I am advised that present laws, subject perhaps to a few very minor exceptions, would not permit this to be done. The Joint Chiefs of Staff do not, at this time, recommend new legislation to permit acceptance of alien volunteers in the U.S. armed forces.
Sincerely yours,
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In the letter of July 26, not printed, Secretary of Defense Johnson forwarded the views of the JCS, with which he concurred, on acceptance of the French offer of a warship for use in Korean waters and the Lebanese offer of use of ports and airfields. The letter also advised acceptance of offers from New Zealand and Lebanon to furnish ground force units for operations in Korea. In regard to the latter offer, the following views of the JCS were transmitted for general guidance:
“… In order to permit ready integration of such units into the over-all military effort, it is considered that in accepting the offers of these countries it should be pointed out that it is desirable that the forces contributed by each should consist of one infantry battalion augmented by appropriate combat and service support, with a total strength of approximately 1,000. The forces so furnished should be fully equipped and should arrive in the field of operations with a sixty days level of supplies, on transportation provided either by the parent nation or by contributing U.N. nations. Parent nations should be responsible for full logistic support on a continuing basis utilizing shipping either available to them or as provided under an integrated shipping program. However, in the event such full support is not practicable, the units should be integrated into the U.S. supply program, to the extent that common supply items are usable by them. The cost of such items should be repaid to the U.S. Government. Items of supply peculiar to the forces furnished must be provided by the parent nations.
“It is desirable that sufficient personnel of the units speak English in order that language barriers will not unduly hamper operations.” (795B.5/7–2650)
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