Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 1

790.5/5–2853

Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)¹

top secret

Washington, 15 May 1953.

Subject:

• Report by Staff Planners to Military Representatives to the ANZUS Council, Report No. 1, dated 25 November 1952.²

1. Pursuant to paragraph “C” of the Agreed Record of Proceedings of the First Meeting of the Military Representatives of the Australian-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) Council,³ a copy of which was forwarded to you by our memorandum dated 15 December 1952,⁴ subject: “Report of the Initial Meeting of the Military Representatives to the ANZUS Council, 22 September 1952,” the Staff Planners to the Military Representatives have completed their study to determine the possible courses of action to meet the current Communist threat in Southeast Asia and in the event of further Communist aggression in the area. The Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC), as U.S. Military Representative to the Council, has forwarded the report of the Staff Planners, stating that the other Military Representatives are in general agreement with the report and are forwarding it to their respective Chiefs of Staff for consideration. A copy of the report is enclosed for your information.

2. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the attached report encompasses courses of action which fall primarily within the purview of the conferences on Southeast Asia being held by the military representatives of the regional commanders of Australia, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States (Five Powers). Although the Joint Chiefs of Staff have not specifically approved the courses of action listed in the report, CINCPAC has been authorized to seek the concurrence of the other Military Representatives to the ANZUS Council to use appropriate parts of the report in connection with the development of national plans for the defense of Southeast Asia through the Five-Power relationship. He has also been directed to coordinate within the ANZUS relationship those matters specifically aimed at mutual assistance and self-help as it applies to the defense of Australia, New Zealand, and their territories.

3. ANZUS Council procedure calls for the Military Representatives to report to the Council when the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chiefs of Staff, or the equivalent, of the other ANZUS countries have acted on the recommendations of the Military Representatives. The instructions to CINCPAC outlined in paragraph 2 above constitute action by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this matter.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Omar N. Bradley
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff

1. This memorandum, attached to a covering letter of May 28 to the Secretary of State from Nash, was signed on the latter’s behalf by Halaby. (790.5/5–2853)
2. Ante, p. 242.
3. Printed under date of Sept. 25, 1952, p. 222.
4. Not printed, but see footnote 1, ibid.