446. Editorial Note
On May 15, 1962, from 9:15 to 10 a.m., President Kennedy, Secretaries Rusk and McNamara, Assistant Secretary Harriman, Director McCone, General Taylor, McGeorge Bundy, and Michael Forrestal met with the Democratic and Republican leadership of the Senate and House. According to Forrestal’s memorandum of the discussion, written on May 23, the meeting opened as follows:
“The President opened the meeting by expressing concern over the deterioration in Laos and its possible effect on Thailand and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to explain moves decided upon in interests of meeting our commitments to Thailand.”
McNamara and McCone then briefed the congressional leadership on the Lao military situation and Rusk provided information on the political situation. Rusk then turned to Thailand:
“Meanwhile, Secretary Rusk continued, we are much concerned over Thailand. Thailand has a long common border with Laos, and the sensitive situation in Northeast Thailand combined to create a situation in which the fall of Nam Tha has shaken the confidence of the Thais. But there is a need for some encouragement to the Thais, and it is largely for this reason that we are now recommending some build up in the forces in Thailand. We are also planning to seek the support of certain SEATO countries in this undertaking. Secretary Rusk then turned the discussion over to the Secretary of Defense.
“Secretary McNamara reviewed his meeting with Marshal Sarit and outlined the dangers of the exposed border, and then explained in detail the planned troop deployment in Thailand. He said that this build up of force would lead to a total level of about 8,000 Americans.”
The Senators and Congressmen asked general questions, but Senator Richard B. Russell and Congressman Leslie C. Arends asked specific questions about Thailand:
“Senator Russell asked the Secretary of Defense why our engineers should be engaged in building Siamese roads, and Secretary McNamara replied that he did not believe that we should use U.S. personnel, on a permanent basis, for road-building in South Asia. The Speaker asked whether South Koreans might be used in Southeast Asia. The Secretary of State remarked that it would be better for them to stay where they were, if there were going to be any serious test in that part of the world.
“In answer to Representative Arends’ question, General Lemnitzer stated that the Thais had four divisions and three regimental combat teams well equipped by the United States but under strength—60% to 70%. These troops are well trained, but their will to fight remains questionable and will only be known when it is actually tested.”
Senator Thomas H. Kuchel asked about the authority for the move into Thailand and the conversation ended as follows: “Senator Kuchel [Page 939] asked under what obligations we were moving in Thailand. Secretary Rusk answered that we had both multilateral and bilateral commitments here. This was a precautionary movement of forces, and not a movement which could rest formally on either paragraph 4(1) or 4(2) of the SEATO Treaty. Senator Dirksen asked what we would do ‘if it caves in Laos.’ The President replied we would then try to hold in Thailand. Senator Saltonstall asked about Cambodia, and the President replied that this was a neutral area but not one which appeared immediately and sharply threatened.”
The full text of this memorandum of conversation is printed in volume XXIV, pages 770–774.