Office of the Historian

S/P–NSC files, lot 61 D 167, “ROK Troops to Laos”

Memorandum by the Executive Secretary (Lay) to the National Security Council

top secret
Washington, March 2, 1954.

Subject:

  • Proposed ROK Offer of Troops to Laos

Reference:

  • NSC Action No. 1043–a1
[Page 1755]
1.
In letters to General Hull (CINCUNC) President Rhee and the Korean Prime Minister2 have stated that the Government of the Republic of Korea is prepared to allocate a division of the Korean Army to help Laos in its struggle against Communist aggression, if the United States concurred. General Hull subsequently told the Koreans that he would refer the question to the United States Government for consideration.
2.
Attached are three studies3 of this question:
a.
A study by the Department of State of the political aspects of the proposed offer.
b.
A report by the Department of Defense of the military aspects, based on the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
c.
A memorandum from the Director of Central Intelligence assessing probable reactions to ROK participation in the Indochina war.
3.
In summary, the three studies conclude that the rest of the free world would react adversely to ROK participation in the Indochina war and that the military and political disadvantages of accepting the offer materially outweigh the advantages. The Departments of State and Defense, however, have alternate proposals as to the reason which should be expressed to the ROK Government for considering acceptance of the offer undesirable at this time.
4.
The NSC Planning Board therefore recommends, in response to NSC Action No. 1043–a, that General Hull be directed to advise the ROK Government that, after full consideration at the highest levels in the United States Government which commends the ROK Government for its determination to combat Communist aggression in Asia even outside the borders of Korea, it is considered that [for military reasons]* [in the best interests of the Free World]† it is not desirable at this time that a division of the Korean Army be sent out of Korea to Laos.
James S. Lay, Jr.

  1. NSC Action No. 1043–a, Feb. 17, read as follows:

    “Agreed that General Hull should be authorized to advise President Rhee that this contemplated offer is being considered at the highest levels in the United States Government; and that the NSC Planning Board should prepare recommendations thereon for Council consideration.” (S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) files, lot 66 D 95)

    ↩
  2. Neither printed.↩
  3. None printed.↩
  4. Department of State proposal. [Footnote and brackets in the source text.]↩
  5. Department of Defense proposal. [Footnote and brackets in the source text.]↩