Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volumes VII, VIII, IX, Arms Control; National Security Policy; Foreign Economic Policy, Microfiche Supplement

272. Memorandum from Gen. Taylor to President Kennedy, June 22¹

June 22, 1962

SUBJECT

• Military Force Levels and Nuclear Planning

A current review of the military aid program in Korea (the Cary Report) is being circulated through the agencies for comment. It appears to please no one since it does not come up with an easy solution to the problem of reducing force levels. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have also recently reviewed the matter and have come out strongly for the maintenance of present levels.

I have two observations to make on the matter. The first is that it is highly unlikely that responsible U.S. military authorities will ever recommend a reduction in Korean force levels unless assured of the availability of atomic weapons in case of the intervention in Korea of ChiCom forces in significant strength. With such an assurance, they would be justified in limiting the mission of South Korean forces to off-setting the North Korean establishment. Without that assurance and in the current atmosphere of growing reluctance to consider the use of any nuclears ever, there is no military ground to support a substantial cut in Korean conventional forces.

This thought leads to another, namely, that we should think through the questions of using atomic weapons outside of the NATO area. In connection with Berlin contingency planning, we have made considerable progress in establishing a role for nuclear weapons in the defense of Europe. However, we have not made a parallel study of the conditions for their possible use in the defense of non-European areas. Until some guidelines for these parts of the world are established, it will be difficult to arrive at realistic conventional force levels for either US or MAP-supported forces. Until we have such guidelines, we may anticipate a very conservative reaction to proposals to reduce MAP-supported forces, particularly in countries within reach of ChiCom military manpower.

I suggest that Secretaries Rusk and McNamara be asked to develop for your approval policy guidelines for the contingent use of nuclear weapons in non-European areas which, after approval, can assist the development of the FY 64 aid programs and the military budget.

Maxwell D. Taylor

1. “Military Force Levels and Nuclear Planning” Secret. 2 pp. Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Taylor 6/62–8/62.