Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Vietnam, Volume I

14. Memorandum From the Regional Director, Far East, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Robbins) to the Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Young)¹

I–13469/8

Washington, April 16, 1958.

SUBJECT

• MAAG and TERM Proposal

Reference is made to memorandum, dated April 7, from Mr. Mendenhall² of your office to Colonel R.F. Evans, this office, transmitting a proposal for the handling of the MAAG–TERM problem in Viet-Nam.³

This proposal has been discussed at some length with representatives of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

It is considered highly desirable that steps be taken at the earliest practicable date to relieve MAAG Viet-Nam of the presently imposed ceiling on its personnel. Reference is made to conference held at the Department of State on 20 March 1957,⁴ when agreement was reached along these lines.

The proposal submitted by memorandum to ISA on 7 April is acceptable with the exception of the final sentence of the proposal paragraph, the final sentence of the proposed position, and the first sentence of paragraph C under the position.

The concept embodied in the first two exceptions mentioned, that the total U.S. military personnel in Viet-Nam can be reduced at this time, is not considered valid. Since the assumption of responsibility for training of the Viet-Nam Navy and Air Force, an acute shortage of MAAG personnel has developed in Viet-Nam which has only partly been relieved by the cover of certain individuals by the Embassy. It is not now clear whether additional personnel can be made available by the Services to MAAG Viet-Nam, but it certainly would be desirable if it can be done. In addition, there is the proposal under discussion of having MAAG Viet-Nam take responsibility for organizing, equipping and training the Garde Civile. It is hard to visualize doing this job successfully without making a major effort to get additional personnel over and above those now present.

In summary, the imposition at this time of a new and lower ceiling on U.S. military personnel would be rather like burning down the house to roast the pig. The principal interest of Defense is to remove the ceiling to permit additional personnel when and if needed.

The minor objection is the statement concerning technicians as opposed to combat instructors in paragraph C of the proposal. It is suggested that this be amended so as to make it a little less precise, possibly using the phrase, “will be generally technicians as opposed to combat instructors.”

It is strongly urged that steps along the general line indicated in subject memorandum be taken without delay.

B. A. Robbins Jr.

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 62 A 1698, 200 MAAG Vietnam. Secret.
2. Attached, but not printed.
3. Attached; identical to the recommendation which concludes Document 7.
4. The reference may be in error and refer to a conference on March 20, 1958. See ibid, for an indication that the Departments of State and Defense would consult on the issue. However, no record of a meeting on March 20 has been found.