July 1966–December 1968: Reconciliation Attempts; Assessing Cambodiaʼs Support of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese; Attempts to Encourage Cambodia To Confront the Problem; Cambodian Detention and Release of the U.S. Crew of LCU 1577
216. Notes of Meeting
Source: Johnson Library, Tom Johnsonʼs Meeting Notes. Top Secret. The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room at the White House. There is also a “Summary of the Meeting on Cambodia on December 5, 1967 in the Cabinet Room 6:02 p.m.–7:15 p.m.,” which has no drafting information. (Ibid., Transcripts of Meetings in the Cabinet Room, 12/5/67) Tom Johnsonʼs record is more extensive, but the few minor differences are noted in footnotes below.
217. Telegram From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler) to the Commander in Chief, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Westmoreland)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Cambodia, 5 E(1)a, 5/66–1/68. Top Secret; Immediate; Specat; Exclusive. No drafting officer appears on the source text; Wheeler approved the transmission. Repeated to Sharp.
218. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Australia
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 32–1 CAMB–VIET S. Top Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted and approved by Bundy, cleared with Lacey, Steadman of DOD/ISA, Rostow, and in substance with Rusk. Repeated to Saigon and Ottawa.
219. Memorandum From Marshall Wright of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E(1)a, 5/66–1/68, Cambodia. Top Secret; Nodis.
220. Special National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–R 01012A, ODDI Registry. Secret/[classification indicator not declassified]; Controlled Dissem. A note on the covering sheet indicates that the Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of Defense and State, and the NSA prepared this estimate. It was concurred in by all members of the USIB except representatives for the AEC and FBI who abstained on the grounds that the subject was outside their jurisdiction.
221. Memorandum From the Ambassador at Large (Harriman) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Cambodia, Miscellaneous Memos and Cables, 1/67–12/68. Top Secret; Nodis. Also sent to Acting Secretary Katzenbach. Rostow sent this memorandum to the President on December 16, noting Harrimanʼs “deep opposition to military action” and his urging of diplomatic action via the ICC. Rostow stated that if renewed ICC action failed, a campaign to educate the public should be undertaken. Only after these steps were taken, should American military power be taken in violation of Cambodiaʼs borders. Rostow observed that, “at the moment he [Harriman] is supporting the track we are on.”
222. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Westmoreland) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)
Source: Center for Military History, Westmoreland Papers, Message Files, COMUSMACV, 1 Dec-31 Dec 1967. Top Secret; Limit Distribution; Noforn. Repeated to CINCPAC for Admiral Sharp.
223. Telegram From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (1)a, 5/66–1/68, Cambodia. Secret. Received at the Johnson Ranch at 8:55 p.m. This was originally a Department of State situation report on Cambodia, drafted by Lacey and Perry and cleared by Habib. Read sent it to Rostow on December 27. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 2 CAMB)
224. Telegram From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (1)a, 5/66–1/68, Cambodia. Confidential. Received at the Johnson Ranch at 10:20 a.m. Central Standard Time.1
225. Telegram From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (1)a, 5/66–1/68, Cambodia. Secret. Repeated to George Christian. Received at the Johnson Ranch at 12:50 p.m. Central Standard Time and relayed to San Antonio Communication Center at 1:10 p.m. These recommendations were drafted by William Bundy. (Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, WPB Chron, Nov-Dec 1967)
226. Telegram From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (2)a, 1/68–10/68, Cambodia. Secret; Eyes Only. There is an indication on the source text that the President saw it.
227. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–14 CAMB. Secret; Nodis. Rostow sent a copy of this telegram to the Johnson Ranch in Texas for the President as CAP 80186, January 8. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (2)a, 1/68–10/68, Cambodia)1
228. Information Memorandum From the Legal Adviser (Meeker) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 32 CAMB. Secret. Drafted by Meeker, Salans, and Aldrich. Copies sent to Harriman and Bundy.
229. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/Bowles. Secret.1
230. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CAMB–US. Secret; Eyes Only; handled as Exdis. A copy of this telegram was sent to the Johnson Ranch as CAP 80311, January 12. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Cambodia 5E (2)a, 1/68–10/68)
231. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Read) to the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 32 CAMB. Confidential. Drafted by Herz and Perry on February 23 and cleared by Bundy.
232. Note From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (2)a, 1/68–10/68, Cambodia. Top Secret.
233. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency (Smith) to the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow)
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, 5E (2)a, 1/68–10/68, Cambodia. No classification marking.
234. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 CAMB. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Cowherd and Leonhart.
235. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Cambodia, Miscellaneous Cables & Memos, 1/67–12/58. Top Secret.
236. Telegram From the White House to the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Cambodia, Miscellaneous Cables and Memos, 1/67–12/68. Secret. Received at the Johnson Ranch at 8:25 p.m. CST.
237. Telegram From the White House to President Johnson in Texas
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Cambodia, Miscellaneous Cables and Memos, 1/67–12/68. Secret. Received at the Johnson Ranch at 9 p.m. CST.
238. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CAMB–US. Secret;Exdis; No Distribution Outside Department. Drafted by Herz and Bundy, cleared by J.R. Burke of EA/VN, and approved by Bundy.
239. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 33–4 CAMB–US. Secret; Priority; Exdis; No Distribution Outside Department. Drafted by Bennett, cleared by Leonhart, Corcoran, Richard H. Moorsteen of U, and Murray J. Bellman, the Deputy Legal Adviser, and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Canberra and Saigon.
240. Action Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Brown) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 33–4 CAMB–US. Secret. Drafted by Trent, Corcoran, and Charles A. Schmitz of L/EA.
241. Information Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Brown) to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CAMB. Secret. Drafted by Trent and approved by Corcoran.
242. Memorandum of Meeting With President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of Bromley Smith, [Luncheon with the President, 7/30/68]. Secret. This was a regular weekly Tuesday lunch meeting with Rusk, Clifford, Wheeler, Taylor, Helms, George Christian, Bromley Smith (acting for Rostow), and Tom Johnson. According to the Presidentʼs Daily Diary, the meeting lasted until 2:05 p.m. (Ibid.) Tom Johnson also prepared a memorandum of this meeting. (Ibid., Tom Johnsonʼs Notes of Meetings, July 30, 1968) Additional information from Tom Johnsonʼs account is noted in footnotes below.
243. Letter From Senator Mike Mansfield to Secretary of State Rusk
Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 33–4 CAMB–US. No classification marking.
244. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson
Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, SEA Development Program, Vol. III (Black Comm) ADB. No classification marking. Drafted by Wright.