Office of the Historian

JCS Records, CCS.092 Asia (6–25–48), sec. 42

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

confidential
[Washington,] 11 June 1953.

Subject:

  • Temporary Loan of an Aircraft Carrier to France
1.
With reference to your memorandum, dated 9 June 1953,1 subject as above, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have considered the French request for the temporary loan of an aircraft carrier of the Lafayette type.
2.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that this loan is militarily sound for the following reasons:
a.
The military situation in Indochina is, and it appears likely will remain, most difficult. Carrier air operations have proved valuable in the conduct of the campaign to date.
b.
The French must conduct continuous training to maintain proficiency of carrier flight personnel and to provide replacements. Concurrently, the carriers themselves must receive periodic refit and overhaul. The continuous commitment of one of the two currently available CVL to combat operations in Indochina, therefore, imposes a difficult burden on the French. The loan of a third CVL would enable maintenance, training and combat operations to proceed simultaneously.
c.
The French can man and operate the third CVL without detriment to their current North Atlantic Treaty Organization naval commitments. Required aircraft and personnel are available in France to utilize this vessel effectively.
d.
A light carrier of the same type as the Lafayette is currently in U.S. mobilization reserve status. Provision of a ship of identical type will simplify problems of logistic support, and provide maximum flexibility in personnel and equipment.
3.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff therefore recommend that:
a.
The proposed loan of a CVL to France for use in Indochina be approved.
b.
This vessel be authorized for inclusion in the FY ’54 Mutual Defense Assistance Program for France.
c.
At such time and under such terms as Congress approves the loan, [Page 609] the Secretary of State be requested to negotiate a change in the bilateral agreement with the French Government to permit the utilization of this vessel in Indochinese waters.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
F. F. Everest

Lieut. General, USAF
Director, Joint Staff
  1. Not printed.↩