Office of the Historian

130. Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President1

Washington, April 29, 1964.

LAOS CROSS BORDER OPERATIONS

There will be raised with you this afternoon at the NSC meeting2 the question of authorizing military operations from South Vietnam across the border into Laos for the purpose of gathering intelligence on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The issues are as follows:

1.
Recent high level photographic surveillance has revealed a new truckable road between Route 12 and the area of Tchepone in central Laos, together with some apparent supply bases. There is a feeling in the JCS that we should take direct ground and air action against these targets if intelligence proves them out.
2.
Ambassador Unger discussed this problem with Assistant Secretary Bundy in Saigon.3 He is very much opposed to any kind of cross border operation into Laos which would be internationally visible, particularly at a time when Souvanna Phouma’s position in Vientiane is not secure.
3.
The Department of State will suggest a compromise designed to reduce the risk of causing trouble in Laos. They would permit small-scale, carefully controlled intelligence sorties into Laos organized in such a way as to avoid, to the maximum extent possible, creating an international hue and cry. State will probably recommend against direct involvement of U.S. personnel, except for emergency air transport to the intelligence teams. They will also recommend low level reconnaissance by U.S. aircraft. You may wish to ask what Ambassador Lodge’s position is on this question, since it is not clear from the cables.

Mike
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. 111. Secret.↩
  2. See Document 131.↩
  3. Reported in a memorandum by William Bundy, April 29. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 68 A 4023, 092 Laos)↩