490. Notes on the Acting Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, December 16, 19601
[Here follows item 1.]
2. Laos
Commenting on Mr. Cumming’s intelligence briefing2 on the situation in Laos, in which it was pointed out that the pro-Communist forces had mounted a counter attack on Vientiane with mortar and artillery fire indicating a high professionalism on the part of the gunners, Mr. Henderson expressed some doubt as to the ability of the anti-Communist forces to maintain themselves in control of the situation over the long term. He noted the easy access which North Vietnamese troops could have if the bloc were to decide on intervention on a larger scale. Mr. Cumming remarked that there is at present no firm evidence of North Vietnamese troop deployment on the frontiers, but it was the consensus of the meeting that there remained a real possibility of a greater involvement of the bloc in Laos than has been the case so far.
Mr. Steeves read a message from Prime Minister Boun Oum of the Laotian government requesting emergency economic military assistance from the United States.3 Mr. Steeves commented that this message [Page 1013] appeared to afford a legal basis for our support of the Boun Oum forces. In this connection, Mr. Steeves noted the urgent need for the dispatch of a medical unit from Thailand to Vientiane. He said that he favored airlift of this medical unit to Vientiane but noted that it would be necessary for certain American supervisory or technical personnel to accompany it. Mr. Hare observed that the President had approved support of friendly forces in Laos if such support could be given within a framework of legality. It would appear desirable, however, to obtain White House approval of any action involving the entry of American personnel into Laos.
Mr. Hare remarked that he had with him at the meeting the draft reply to the recent Soviet note on Laos. He said he hoped to clear it with Mr. Dillon later in the day, at which time the manner of delivery and the possible release to the press of the note would come up for discussion.4
[Here follow the remaining items.]
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75. Secret. Drafted by Emory C. Swank, Deputy Director of the Executive Secretariat.↩
- Attached was a list of items from which Cumming gave the intelligence briefing. Item 3 on this list was entitled, “Hanoi warns that Thai interference in Laos might force North Vietnam to intervene.”↩
- The text of this December 16 letter is contained in an unnumbered telegram from Vientiane, also December 16. The Department of State responded positively to this request in a letter to Boun Oum enclosed in telegram 658 to Vientiane, December 22. (Both Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–1660; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- See footnote 4, Document 486.↩