356. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk 1

SUBJECT

  • Expansion of “Prairie Fire” Operations in Connection with Operation Delaware
1.
General Westmoreland is proposing, and DOD will be raising at the luncheon today,2 an operation into Base Area 607 which is in Laos just across the border from the Ashau Valley. Although this is presented in terms of an “expansion” of Prairie Fire operations, it is really a conventional battalion-sized operation although limited in time. It is supposed to last four to six days.
2.
A battalion-sized operation across an international border cannot be kept secret, even if it is Top Secret. The record is replete with cases where Top Secret operations in Laos of less intrinsic newsworthiness have been compromised within a short period of time. The press is more likely to exaggerate than to underplay the scope of the operation.
3.
Ambassador Sullivan has not commented on this proposed operation because he considers that it involves a major political decision which can only be made in Washington. In the past, he has consistently expressed strong doubts that any such operation could be realistically limited in duration, extent of U.S. troop involvement, or publicity.
4.
Souvanna Phouma has repeatedly made clear that he would oppose any intervention of U.S. ground forces in the war in his country. In undertaking an operation which could not (as in the case of Prairie Fire operations) be concealed from him and from the world, we would risk a strong public reaction from him.
5.
The proposed operation into Laos would be widely judged to constitute escalation of the war in Vietnam. We would be accused of bad faith at a time when we are seeking to get negotiations going. We would also be accused of violating the neutrality of Laos. In the U.S., the UN and in world capitals, there would be questions and accusations for which we would lack plausible answers.

Recommended Action: That you withhold concurrence in the proposed “expansion” of Prairie Fire operations in the Ashau Valley.

  1. Source: Department of State,EA/Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Files: Lot 75 D 394, TS. Top Secret. Drafted by Herz.
  2. See Document 358.