Office of the Historian

336. Letter From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McGuire) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)1

Washington, 21 June 1956.

Dear Walter: In a letter of 1 May 1956,2 Deputy Under Secretary Murphy restated the basic terms of reference for the Temporary [Page 714] Equipment Recovery Mission (TERM) Viet-Nam, and requested a reply from the Department of Defense summarizing our views on the subject.

The Department of Defense agrees with the views of the Department of State regarding the functions of TERM, namely:

(a)
Supervising the recovery (identification, inventory and accounting control) of MDAP equipment in Viet-Nam, including out-shipment of excess; and
(b)
Assisting in the improvement of Viet-Nam logistic capabilities.

We have been concerned over the apparent desire of the International Control Commission to exercise detailed supervision of TERM operations. Such control, if permitted, would jeopardize the entire operation and provide the Communist members with valuable information on Vietnamese military operations. Therefore, the TERM responsibilities of preparing information for submission through the Vietnamese Government to the Commission should at most be limited to (a) general summaries on outshipment and inshipment and (b) brief statements regarding numbers and names of U.S. military personnel assigned to TERM.3

Prior to the arrival of the first contingent of TERM approximately $100 million of MDAP Indochina assets had already been shipped from Viet-Nam. In establishing the basic records, it is most important that the United States be credited with this amount. Such credit will provide a basis for shipments into Viet-Nam within the provisions of the Geneva Agreements of 1954.

Although the establishment of TERM meets the requirements for American military logistic personnel in Viet-Nam during the coming months, there is still a deficiency of military personnel for combat training. The Chief, MAAG Viet-Nam, in submitting his minimum requirements last February asked for approximately 300 military personnel in addition to the numbers authorized for TERM. We recognize that it would not be appropriate at this time to add the combat training officers to the present MAAG strength. It may become necessary some time within the next twelve months, however, to reconsider this entire problem.4

One half of the 350 military personnel authorized for TERM are now in Viet-Nam. The remaining two contingents will be sent to Viet-Nam in early July and early August. The Chief MAAG has informed [Page 715] us that the provisions regarding the wearing of civilian clothing wherever practicable are in effect.

I suggest that the administrative questions raised in Mr. Murphy’s letter of May 1 be jointly considered by appropriate representatives of our two departments as soon as possible. Our office is prepared to meet with your representatives on these matters as soon as you wish.

Sincerely yours,

Perkins McGuire
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.5–MSP/6–2156 Secret↩
  2. Document 321↩
  3. General Williams’ views on these matters are set forth in his memorandum to Ambassador Reinhardt dated June 3. (Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Memos to and from Ambassador 1955–1956 (6))↩
  4. Next to this paragraph is a marginal note in an unidentified hand which reads “Next request coming up.”↩