756D.58/9–1754
No. 293
The Secretary of Defense (Wilson) to the Secretary
of State
top secret
Washington, September 17, 1954.
Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to General Smith’s
letter dated March 12, 1954 concerning the possibility of furnishing
U.S. officers on an individual contract basis to train Indonesian
defense forces, and to Mr. Murphy’s letter of April 19, 19541 on the desirability of sending a qualified
officer to make a survey of Indonesian training needs.
Inclosed is a copy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff memorandum in which they
express their views concerning the referenced letters, in which I
concur. Accordingly, I recommend that in discussions with the Indonesian
Government the furnishing of military training assistance be made
contingent upon the outcome of a survey of their training needs.
Sincerely yours,
[Page 465]
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense
(Wilson)
top secret
[Washington,] 31 August
1954.
Subject:
- Military Training Assistance to Indonesia
- 1.
- Reference is made to a memorandum by the Assistant Secretary
of Defense (International Security Affairs), dated 25 March
1954,2
subject as above, and to the letter attached thereto from the
Under Secretary of State, dated 12 March 1954, concerning the
question of providing selected U.S. Army officers on an
individual contract basis to aid in training the Indonesian
armed forces. Reference is also made to a memorandum by the
Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA), dated 27 April 1954,2 on the same subject and
the letter attached thereto from the Deputy Under Secretary of
State, dated 19 April 1954, which discusses a possible survey to
determine Indonesian training requirements.
- 2.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that it would be desirable
to furnish one or more qualified officers to survey Indonesia’s
training needs within the positive intent of NSC 171/1,3 and to recommend a training plan for the
Indonesians. In view of CINCPAC’s responsibility regarding Indonesia, it is
suggested that he be represented on the survey team if he so
desires.
- 3.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff note from NIE 65–542 and current intelligence reports that the
political situation in Indonesia has become less favorable to
the West since the appointment of the present Ali Cabinet. Since
certain top level members of the present Indonesian government,
including the present Minister of Defense, have pro-Communist
leanings, it would not appear to be in the U.S. interest to do
anything which would tend to strengthen the Government and
improve the Communist position. Consequently, any survey should
be discretely conducted in order that it would not be
interpreted as tacit approval of the Ali government.
- 4.
- Whether it would be desirable, from the military point of
view, to furnish officers to aid in training the Indonesian
armed forces is
[Page 466]
a
matter which the Joint Chiefs of Staff would prefer to
re-examine after reviewing the report of the officer or officers
making the survey. Should the survey determine that military
training assistance is desirable the Joint Chiefs of Staff will
then evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of providing U.S.
advisors to Indonesia on an individual contract plan.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Arthur Radford
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
