Office of the Historian

369. Minutes of a Meeting, White House1

Washington, October 5, 1964, 4:15 p.m.

PRESENT WERE

  • The President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, McGeorge Bundy and, for the last two items, John McCone
1.
It was agreed that no decision would be taken at present on sending the Secretary of State to South Vietnam. The Secretary argued that at present such a visit would be misunderstood, lead to criticism, and have no positive results. It might be wise to reconsider the question later. Specifically, the Secretary suggested that after the British [Page 812] election2 it might be useful for him to go to the UK and then come home by way of the Far East.
2.
It was agreed that we would not at present respond affirmatively to Souvanna Phouma’s request for interdiction operations along Route 7. We should point out to him that such operations now would put the onus of escalation upon us. We should not, however, foreclose the possibility of a different decision in the event of renewed hostile activity by the Pathet Lao and the Viet Minh.
3.
The President approved the next scheduled marine operation under the 34–A program, a patrol proceeding to a distance of three miles from the North Vietnamese coast line.
4.
The President agreed to a program of Laotian bombing in the communications corridors of Southern Laos, using the T–28 force now available. The Secretary of Defense pointed out that there was implied in this program a limited use of U.S. fighters, at some stage, for suppressive strikes, but Presidential approval for this part of the program was neither asked nor given.
5.
The Secretary of State proposed the formation of a national committee for the Alliance for Progress, and the President agreed.
McG. B.3
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides File, McGeorge Bundy, Memos to the President. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Bundy on October 6.↩
  2. October 15.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.↩