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

178. Memorandum From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Felt) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff¹

3120/2

Honolulu, June 30, 1960.

SUBJ

• Counter-Insurgency Operations in South Vietnam (U)

REF

• (a) CINCPAC ltr ser 00212 of 27 Apr 1960²
• (b) JCSM-232–60 of 6 Jun 1960³

ENCL

(1) Proposed memorandum for the Secretary of Defense

(2) Draft National Plan for counter-insurgency operations by GVN⁴

(3) Draft State-DOD–ICA directive to CINCPAC and U.S. Country Team Vietnam⁵

1. By reference (a), a study was transmitted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the subject of counter-insurgency operations in South Vietnam and Laos. By reference (b), the Joint Chiefs of Staff submitted the study to the Secretary of Defense recommending that he initiate action necessary to obtain U.S. Government support of counter-insurgency operations.

2. The following steps are necessary to coordinate fully and control a maximum counter-insurgency effort in South Vietnam:

a. Development of a GVN national estimate and plan.

b. Development of U.S. support requirements in terms of personnel, matériel and funds.

c. U.S. policy approval and funding.

d. Gaining acceptance of the plan by GVN.

e. Provision of U.S. advice, support, and funds on a phased basis, in keeping with the ability of the GVN to conduct operations and properly utilize available U.S. support.

3. The development of a GVN national plan and support requirements will necessitate coordinated action by all U.S. agencies in South Vietnam. Enclosure (2) has been prepared as an outline plan to facilitate action by the U.S. Country Team. The development of U.S. support requirements will require a joint directive from Washington agencies concerned; enclosure (3) is a draft of such a directive.

4. It is recommended that enclosures (2) and (3), as finally approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, be transmitted to the Secretary of Defense for further action. Enclosure (1) is a draft of a memorandum transmitting the proposed plan and directive to OSD.

H.D. Felt⁶

[Enclosure 1]

Draft Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense

SUBJECT

Counter-Insurgency Operations in South Vietnam

1. The Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that encouraging the Government of South Vietnam to adopt a national course of action designed to reduce the growing threat of Communist insurgent actions is vital to the continued freedom of that nation and an important action to preclude the necessity for implementing U.S. or SEATO war plans. Further to this idea and in extension of JCS Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense (JCSM–232–60) of 6 June 1960 there are transmitted herewith for your consideration, a draft outline plan prepared for the Government of South Vietnam, and a draft State DOD–ICA directive to initiate U.S. support of this plan.

2. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that the following steps should be taken to initiate counter-insurgency operations in South Vietnam:

a. The enclosed draft outline plan, prepared for the Government of South Vietnam, should be forwarded to the U.S. Country Team for study, comment and further development.

b. A joint State-DOD–ICA directive should be issued to cause the preparation of estimates of U.S. personnel, matériel and budgetary support required for execution of the national emergency plan of the Government of South Vietnam.

c. The expanded national plan of the Government of South Vietnam and the estimates of U.S. support required should be reviewed jointly by the U.S. Government agencies concerned.

d. When policy approval and budgetary support arrangements have been completed by U.S. Government agencies, the U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam should be required to initiate action to gain acceptance of the plan by the Government of South Vietnam.

e. Provided the plan for counter-insurgency operations is approved and implemented by the Government of South Vietnam U.S. personnel, matériel and budgetary support should be provided according to the ability of the country to receive and effectively utilize such support.

3. It is recommended that the Secretary of Defense initiate action necessary to obtain support of and transmit the draft outline plan for the Government of South Vietnam and the joint State-DOD–ICA directive to the U.S. Country Team and to the Commander in Chief, Pacific for necessary action.

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2170, 381 Vietnam. Secret.
2. Not found.
3. Not printed; copy is attached to a letter from Irwin to Parsons, September 16, 1960, in Department of State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 66 D 193, 97. VN 1960, Overall Security Plan.
4. Attached, but not printed. The approved version of this plan is in Document 195.
5. Attached, but not printed. The approved version of this draft, with only minor revisions, is printed as Document 205.
6. Printed from a copy which bears this typed signature.