Office of the Historian

45. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to the Ambassador to the Republic of China (Wright)1

Washington, September 4, 1964.

Dear Jerry:

Thank you for your letter of August 7 sending us the report on “Blue Lion” planning.2 We are glad to have your comments and, as you suggested, are transmitting a copy of the report as well as a copy of your letter to CIA.

I believe there are few, if any, on our side who would be surprised at the conclusion reached by COM US TDC that the various operations contemplated in this planning exercise are beyond GRC capabilities with present forces. In my opinion the greatest value of this planning exercise is the point noted in your letter, i.e. that it has brought home to the GRC the magnitude of such operations and its own deficiencies in resources for carrying them out. This has no doubt reduced any tendency the GRC may still have toward irresponsible military ventures and, perhaps even more significant, it should help place GRC political thinking on a more realistic foundation. I am glad to see that the “Blue Lion” Committee is to continue since it has served, and I think can continue to serve, a very important purpose.

In conjunction with the “Blue Lion” report, I was interested in seeing the further amplification of the mainland recovery subject which you sent us in your A–138.3 The shift in emphasis in GRC planning which you traced is a natural one in the circumstances, though it is not something we can welcome wholeheartedly. Obviously GRC objectives in Southeast Asia differ widely from our own and we must continue to watch closely everything it does there, even while we continue to encourage suitable GRC activities in those limited areas where our interests coincide.

With best regards,

Sincerely yours,

William P. Bundy 4
  1. Source: Department of State, ROC Files: Lot 75 D 76, Blue Lion Consultations. Top Secret. Drafted by Officer in Charge of Republic of China Affairs John B. Dexter on August 31.↩
  2. Wright’s letter enclosed a letter of June 30 to him from Admiral Melson reporting on the work of the “Blue Lion” committee. (Ibid., Central Files, POL CHINAT-CHICOM)↩
  3. See footnote 2, Document 44.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩