S/S–NSC files, lot 63 D 351. NSC 5405 Series
Memorandum by the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)
to the Executive Secretary of the National Security
Council (Lay)
top secret
Washington, May 6, 1954.
Subject:
- Suspension of U.S. Military Aid to Indochina in Event of a Cease
Fire
Forwarded herewith, for the consideration of the National Security Council at
an early date, are the recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the
above subject, with which I concur.1
[Annex]
Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)
top secret
Washington, [April 30, 1954.]
Subject:
- Suspension of U.S. Military Aid to Indochina in Event of a Cease
Fire
- 1.
- The possibility exists that a cease fire in Indochina may be
agreed upon either at Geneva or unilaterally between the French and
the Viet Minh. In that event, the Viet Minh would likely covertly
extend their control over large areas currently held by French Union
Forces and cause major defections of these forces. This would result
in a quick deterioration of the entire French Union position and
enable the
[Page 1494]
Viet Minh to
seize large amounts of U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Program
(MDAP) matériel and
supplies.
- 2.
- In light of the foregoing, the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider it
necessary that the United States adopt the following position
reference future MDAP assistance to
Indochina:
In the event of a cease fire in Indochina, the shipment of
military end items under U.S. MDAP provided under the “Agreement for Mutual
Defense Assistance in Indochina between the United States of
America and Cambodia, France, Laos, and Vietnam,” will
immediately be suspended, except for such spares and
associated maintenance items necessary to the maintenance of
equipment in operations. The entire question of U.S. aid to
Indochina will be reexamined in the light of circumstances
then existing.
- 3.
- It is the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the “Agreement
for Mutual Defense Assistance in Indochina between the United States
of America and Cambodia, France, Laos, and Vietnam,” of 23 December
1950,2 provides
adequate legal basis for subject suspension.
- 4.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that you secure governmental
acceptance of the position proposed in paragraph 2 above.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Arthur
Radford
Chairman Joint
Chiefs of Staff
