Office of the Historian

V. The Kong Le Coup and U.S. Policy Debate, August 9–October 18, 1960

415. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Felt)

Washington, October 3, 1960—5:21 p.m.

Source: U.S. Army Military History Institute, Department of Army Communications Center Files. Secret; Immediate. Repeated to Chief PEO, Laos, and Chief JUSMAG, Bangkok.

416. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, October 5, 1960—7 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–560. Top Secret; Niact; No Distribution.

417. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, October 5, 1960—11 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–560. Top Secret; Niact; Eyes Only. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, and CINCPAC for POLAD.

418. Memorandum of Discussion at the 462d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, October 6, 1960

Washington, October 6, 1960

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Boggs on October 6.

419. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Merchant) to the Acting Secretary of State

Washington, October 6, 1960.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–660. Secret; Eyes Only.

420. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, October 6, 1960—11 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–660. Secret; Niact. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, Phnom Penh, Paris, London, and CINCPAC for POLAD. Passed to USUN as Tosec 68.

421. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, October 8, 1960—12:11 a.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–660. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Steeves and cleared with SEA, Merchant, and O’Donnell of OSD/ISA. Also sent niact to CINCPAC for POLAD and Bangkok and priority to London, Paris, Canberra, and Saigon.

422. Memorandum for the Record of a Meeting, Department of State, Washington, October 8, 1960, 12:45 p.m.

Washington, October 8, 1960, 12:45 p.m.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 64 B 2170, 092 Laos. Top Secret. There is no indication on the source text who drafted this memorandum.

423. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand

Washington, October 9, 1960—4:01 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.15–PA/10–960. Top Secret; Priority; No Distribution Outside Department. Drafted by Steeves and cleared with Merchant in substance.

424. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, Washington, October 11, 1960

Washington, October 11, 1960.

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on October 12. On October 8, Dillon telephoned Goodpaster to arrange this briefing for the President. Dillon explained the need for such a meeting:

“CDD said the situation in Laos is not good, that they had a meeting yesterday afternoon with Gates, Lemnitzer, etc. and told him to be sure to see a copy of 384 from [to] Laos—that if he didn’t have one we would send him a copy. CDD told Gen. Goodpaster that we are sending Parsons, Irwin and Riley (CINCPAC) to see what is going on on-the-spot because there seems to be a difference of opinion between the people here and the country team over there so we have decided to send a group out. CDD said he thought the President ought to have a briefing about the situation, the alternatives that are before us and what we were considering because some of them are not very pleasant.” Goodpaster called Dillon back to tell him that the meeting could be held at 11:15 a.m. on October 11. (Notes of telephone conversation, October 8; Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199)

425. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, October 11, 1960—midnight.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1160. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Bangkok, London, Paris, Canberra, Saigon, and CINCPAC for POLAD. Received at 6:58 p.m., October 12.

426. Memorandum of Discussion at the 463d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, October 13, 1960

Washington, October 13, 1960

Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Johnson on October 18.

427. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, October 13, 1960—9 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1360. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated niact to Bangkok and CINCPAC. Received at 7:44 p.m.

428. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand

Washington, October 25, 1960—5:42 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1560. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Steeves and cleared with SEA, Dillon, and Cumming in substance and with L/FE. Repeated priority to Vientiane.

429. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State

Bangkok, October 15, 1960—10 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1560. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution.

430. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State

Bangkok, October 16, 1960—11 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1660. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated niact to Vientiane, priority to Saigon, Paris, London, Canberra, and to CINCPAC for POLAD.

432. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, October 18, 1960—8:31 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1860. Top Secret; Priority. Drafted by Steeves, cleared with O’Donnell (DOD/ISA) in substance, and approved by Dillon. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, Phnom Penh, and CINCPAC. This cable was initially presented to Merchant in the form of a memorandum from Steeves, October 16. (ibid., 611.51J/10–1660; included in the microfiche supplement) There are some differences in language between the memorandum and the cable.