Office of the Historian

790.5/3–2051: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Legation at Saigon

top secret
Washington, March 20, 1951—11 a. m.

1215. Re tripartite mil talks.1 Joint Chiefs on Mar 13 approved US items for joint agenda and transmitted them to Fr and British mil reps Wash. Those govts invited respond submitting their views on US items and proposing their own. Joint Chiefs suggest talks be held Singapore beginning by mid-April. Adm Struble2 US chief deleg Gen Brink Deputy. Fol are US agenda items:

  • “1. A review of the situation in Indochina and Southeast Asia.
  • 2. Recommended mil courses of action in the current situation to secure Indochina, Thailand, Burma, and Malaya.
  • 3. Probable effects and recommended subsequent mil courses of action in case of Commie uprisings within Thailand, Burma, or Malaya.
  • 4. Probable effects and recommended mil courses of action in the event the Chi Commies invade Indochina, Thailand, Burma, or Malaya.
  • 5. Other unconventional warfare measures to be employed in Indochina in support of guerrilla activity.
  • 6. Measures for coordinating convoy, routing and protection of shipping arrangements in the South China Sea-East Indian Ocean area.”

Sent to AmLegation Saigon 1215, AmEmbassy Paris 4904, Am-Consul Singapore action 572, AmEmbassy London 4256.

Acheson
  1. For extracts from the conference report of the Singapore Tripartite Talks on Southeast Asia, May 15–18, see p. 64.↩
  2. Vice Adm. Arthur D. Struble, Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.↩