291. Record of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting1

Governor Harriman presided.2

1. INR (Mr. Hughes)

After reviewing the results of the U.S. strike in the Gulf of Tonkin, Mr. Hughes said that, while there was no official reaction from the CPR, diplomats in Peiping reported the CPR was taking a very grave view of the development. The U.S. strike would vastly increase chances of a direct Sino-U.S. confrontation in their view. There was continuing CPR silence on the original incident of August 3.

Japanese reaction was moderate and the Japanese were looking forward to the Security Council meeting.

DRV domestic radio has broadcast a statement attacking U.S. sabotage and subversive actions as well as an alleged U.S. air attack on a North Vietnamese village. The Maddox was alleged to have infringed DRV territorial waters on August 2, 3 and 4, and Hanoi radio claimed two U.S. planes have been shot down and three others damaged.

The British reaction was relatively favorable.

There was no official French reaction yet.

Governor Harriman said that, while South Vietnamese vessels have operated in DRV waters, participants in the meeting should tell their embassies in Washington that no U.S. vessels have done so.

Mr. Hughes said that Soviet comment so far was quite moderate.

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

2. FE (Mr. Green)

It looks as though the Tonkin Gulf action was very effective: about one-half the Swatows and PT boats were destroyed or badly damaged and the oil dump in Vinh has undergone 90 percent destruction. Various redeployments of U.S. forces are going on. The SEATO meeting was satisfactory. 3 The Japanese reaction has been surprisingly positive.

3 A brief report on the special SEATO Council meeting on August 5, which indicated that most of the Council representatives had privately expressed their satisfaction with the U.S. actions, was transmitted in telegram 141 from Bangkok, August 5. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S)

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 66 D 147. Secret. Drafted by Richard T. Davies, Deputy Executive Secretary.
  2. Secretary Rusk was at a breakfast with Senators Fulbright and Saltonstall and Representatives Morgan and Arends to discuss the Congressional resolution. Johnson Library, Rusk Appointment Book)