156. Memorandum for the Record by the Officer in Charge of Cambodian Affairs (Askew)1
Washington, November 11,
1960.
SUBJECT
- President’s Views on Jet Training and Jet Aircraft for Cambodia
The substance of the President’s remarks on this subject as relayed by Mr. Gray to Mr. Merchant, and by the latter to Mr. Parsons on November 11, 1960 are as follows:
The President authorized the Department to proceed on the basis of the Minute of the OCB Meeting, November 9, 1960,2 subject to the following conditions:
- 1.
- Evade a definite reply to the Cambodians regarding the provision of jet aircraft.
- 2.
- The jet aircraft are not to be provided through offshore procurement. Such a procedure is to be eliminated from consideration.
- 3.
- The President assumes the jet training is to be provided in the United States; if not, he is to be informed.
- 4.
- The jet training should start immediately.
- 5.
- If the plan is to train six pilots, the Cambodians should be asked to send ten candidates to allow for rejections, etc.