148. Editorial Note
In a December 7, 1965, memorandum to Secretaries of State Rusk and Defense McNamara and Director of Central Intelligence McCone, President Johnson informed them that he had approved “a paper on policy toward Southeast Asia as guidance for the work in this field for the coming months.” The paper, prepared by the Executive Committee of the National Security Council on December 2, considered Southeast Asia with special reference to South Vietnam, but it also contained specific references to Laos. In the initial “Concept” section of the paper, the third objective was to “maintain the security of other [than South Vietnam] non-Communist nations in Southeast Asia including specifically the maintenance and observance of the Geneva Accords of 1962 in Laos.” In that same section, the paper stated that the action program against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam would include as its first phase over the next 30 days: “intensified forms of action already under way, plus possibly US air protection of Lao aircraft making strikes in the Corridor, US armed reconnaissance and air strikes against infiltration routes in Laos.”
In describing the Thirty Day Action Program as it affected Laos and Thailand, the paper stated that, “in the case of Laos, we will obtain RLG approval of an intensified program of US armed reconnaissance and air strikes both in the Panhandle area and along key infiltration routes in central Laos. These actions will not be publicized except to the degree approved by the RLG.” The paper added that Thailand “will be asked to support our program fully, to intensify its own efforts in the north and northeast, and to give further support to operations in Laos, such as additional pilots and possibly artillery teams.” In describing “Intensified Military Actions,” the paper noted that “Lao military operations will be intensified, especially in the corridor areas and close to the DRV border. US air cover and flak suppression may be supplied where needed.” Also included under this heading was the statement that “US armed reconnaissance and airstrikes will be carried out in Laos, first against the corridor area and within a short time against Route 7 and other infiltration routes. (These actions will be subject to RLG concurrence and publicized only to the degree agreed with Souvanna.)” Finally the paper listed deferred actions not to be taken within the 30-day period, but to be considered for adoption in the transitional phase of the program. One of these actions was “GVN/Lao air strikes across the border [of the DRV], initially against infiltration routes and installations and then against targets south of the 19th parallel.” (Both Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. VII)
The full texts of the December 2 paper and Johnson’s December 7 memorandum are in Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, volume I, pages 969–974, and 984, respectively.