Editorial Note
Annex A to NSC 5429/5, “Current U.S. Policy
Toward the Far East,” dated December 22, 1954, a report approved by the
National Security Council, contained the following list of objectives for
United States policy in Indochina:
- “a. Make every possible effort, not
openly inconsistent with the U.S. position as to the armistice
agreements, to defeat Communist subversion and influence, to
maintain and support friendly non-Communist governments in
Cambodia and Laos, to maintain a friendly non-Communist
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South Vietnam, and
to prevent a Communist victory through all-Vietnam
elections.
- “b. Urge that the French promptly
recognize and deal with Cambodia, Laos and free Vietnam as
independent sovereign nations.
- “c. Strengthen U.S. representation and
deal directly, wherever advantageous to the U.S., with the
governments of Cambodia, Laos and free Vietnam.
- “d. Working through the French only
insofar as necessary, assist Cambodia, Laos and free Vietnam to
maintain (1) military forces necessary for internal security and
(2) economic conditions conducive to the maintenance and
strength of non-Communist regimes and comparing favorably with
those in adjacent Communist areas.
- “e. Aid emigration from North Vietnam
and resettlement of peoples unwilling to remain under Communist
rule.
- “f. Exploit available means to make
more difficult the control by the Viet Minh of North
Vietnam.
- “g. Exploit available means to prevent
North Vietnam from becoming permanently incorporated in the
Soviet bloc, using as feasible and desirable consular relations
and non-strategic trade.
- “h. Expose Communist violations of the
Armistice in Indochina.
- “i. Conduct covert operations on the
maximum feasible and productive scale in support of the
foregoing policies.”
For text of NSC 5429/5, see volume XII.
