Office of the Historian

182. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, May 3, 1962—6:03 p.m.

1281. Task Force Viet-Nam.

[Page 375]

Seoulʼs 1135 to Department.2 Unless Task Force/Saigon, CINCPAC or Embassy Seoul has other view we believe a quiet covert Korean military experts survey mission to Viet-Nam outlined reftel should not be discouraged.

Request Embassy Seoul inform Koreans we appreciate fact their experience may be useful in Viet-Nam and would like to have them work closely with MACV informing it fully of recommendations they may formulate as result their survey. ROK ideas on intelligence management materiel and anti-aircraft might conceivably cross lines with MACV thinking so full discussion and clarification between MACV and ROK would be desirable prior to ROK submission any report to GVN.

Ball
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.5811/4-2862. Secret. Drafted by Cottrell, and cleared with Loftus, Harriman, and Rice. Also sent to Seoul and repeated to CINCPAC for Polad.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 181.↩