Office of the Historian

489. Telegram From the Delegation at the North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting to the Department of State1

Paris, December 25, 1960—9 p.m.

Secto 6. Department relay Vientiane niact unnumbered. Reference: Tosec 8.2 Agree MAP supplies in Thailand should be drawn on meet Laos requirements but that Thai Special Forces (paragraph 4) should not be employed unless emergency assistance required in special situations in which their capability could be critical. In such event maximum security consistent with effectiveness should of course be observed. FYI. At official level discussion with UK and French in Paris morning 15th Merchant said we had no indication Thai intervention actual or impending and implied no present need for it. British and French obviously jumpy about this possibility. End FYI.

Re paragraph 5 use of CAT as required already approved December 12. However believe US military aircraft (other than MAAG, PEO, Attaché planes) should not be utilized for missions within Laos without specific Presidential approval in view desirability avoiding action which would heighten risks of broadening conflict internationally and frighten neutral and allied opinion outside SEA.

Fully agree maximum action medical and disaster relief which should be publicized and employ US military aircraft if required to [from] Udorn.

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Re paragraph 9 while aerial reconnaissance may be only marginally useful in Laos except for populated areas, recognize it may be required. Believe aircraft should to extent possible not be identifiable as US or Thai military planes.

Agree PEO military advice to FAL is important and should be given but US personnel should not be with troops at battalion or lower level in field (except in Headquarters areas such as Vientiane where they should avoid involvement in actual direction of combat operations).

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–1560. Top Secret; Niact. Also sent to CINCPAC for POLAD and repeated niact to Bangkok, to London, Phnom Penh, and Saigon. Instead of being repeated to Vientiane, the text of this telegram was summarized and sent as telegram 644, December 16. (ibid., 751J.00/12–1560)↩
  2. Printed as telegram 641 to Vientiane, Document 486.↩