128. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group1

SUBJECT

  • Military Situation in North and South Laos and Public Line Regarding Certain South Vietnamese Operations

PARTICIPANTS

  • Chairman—Brig Gen. Alexander. M. Haig
  • Defense
    • Mr. David Packard
    • Mr. Dennis Doolin
    • Mr. Daniel Henkin
  • JCS
    • Adm. Thomas Moorer
    • Lt. Gen. John W. Vogt
  • CIA
    • Lt. Gen. Robert E. Cushman
    • Mr. George Carver
  • State
    • Mr. John N. Irwin
    • Amb. William Sullivan
    • Mr. Robert J. McCloskey
  • NSC
    • Mr. John H. Holdridge
    • Mr. Robert C. Houdek

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS

1.
The Group agreed to deny any knowledge of South Vietnamese seaborne operations north of the DMZ against North Vietnamese shipping.
2.
A position on U.S. SAR operations in support of downed U.S. helicopters and crews in south Laos was agreed upon. This had been drafted by Mr. Henkin.
3.
It was noted that while we might be vulnerable to charges that the south Laos operation had caused the enemy to launch this north Laos attack, no criticisms on this had yet developed.

[Omitted here are the minutes of the meeting.]

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H-115, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals 1971. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House. According to a February 16 memorandum for the record by Doolin, the meeting ended at 7:10. (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330-76-207, Box 4, 334 WSAG)