317. Memorandum From the Secretary of Defense (McNamara) to the President 1
SUBJECT
- Defoliant/Herbicide Program in South Vietnam
Defoliant operations have been completed in the areas in South Vietnam that you approved 9 August 1962. The technical team charged with evaluating the program considers the results of the spray operations as excellent. The effectiveness of herbicides against the types of vegetation sprayed in previous operations is evaluated by General Harkins as follows:
- Mangrove forest—90-95% effective
- Evergreen forest—60% effective
- Tropical scrub—60% effective
The operation conducted in the Bien Hoa Air Base area during July has increased horizontal visibility from approximately 5 feet to 30-50 feet while improving vertical visibility by 80-90 percent. The susceptibility of the sprayed areas to ambush has been significantly reduced.
United States advisors working in the vicinity of areas sprayed report that there has been no apparent reaction by the populace to the spray operations. Radio Hanoi commentaries to Asia and Europe, 13, 14, and 16 October, claimed that chemicals sprayed by the United States had injured hundreds of people. No neutral or friendly press coverage or comments have been reported.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff and CINCPAC have reviewed the overall effects and operational value of defoliants in South Vietnam and have recommended that general authority be granted to General Harkins to plan and conduct future operations to achieve specific military objectives by use of herbicides, without reference of each detailed plan to Washington for approval. The authority proposed would not extend to crop destruction and would be limited to field decision concerning operations to clear grass, weeds, and brush around depots, airfields, and other fixed installations; to clear fields of fire to inhibit surprise attack by the Viet Cong; and, in conjunction with military field operations, to spray defoliants in areas wherein attainment of a military objective would be significantly eased. Plans and arrangements for each operation would be reviewed and approved both by the United States Ambassador to Vietnam and by the Commander of the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.
Meanwhile the Joint Chiefs of Staff have also received field recommendations for extension of the defoliant operations which you approved in August to five additional specific areas. The five recommended areas, shown on the attached map, are examples of the type of operations that we propose be conducted in the future on the authority of Ambassador Nolting and General Harkins. They are segments of highways 1, 13, and 14, a rail line and a power line, each located in an area regularly harassed by the Viet Cong. The military objectives sought in defoliating these five areas are improved visibility and reduced susceptibility to Viet Cong ambush.
Specific psychological warfare precautions taken in previous defoliant operations would be applied as appropriate for these and all future operations involving use of herbicides. These measures include loudspeaker warnings, dropping of leaflets, discrimination to avoid damage to cultivated and inhabited areas, and avoidance of areas near the Laotian or Cambodian borders.
I recommend that employment of herbicides be authorized in the five specific areas shown on the attached map2 and that Ambassador [Page 734] Nolting and General Harkins be delegated authority to approve employment of herbicides in future operations not involving crop destruction to achieve specific military objectives in South Vietnam. The Department of State concurs. Your approval is requested.3
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam Country Series. No drafting or clearance information is given on the source text.↩
- Not found.↩
- On November 27, McGeorge Bundy informed McNamara that the recommendations had been approved along the lines indicated, adding that the President wanted to be consulted on any operation beyond these limits and desired to be informed of the results of future operations. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Vietnam 1962, 370.64) This decision was transmitted to Saigon on November 30 in telegram 561. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam Country Series)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩