SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CONFERENCE ON VIETNAM, HONOLULU - 6 MAY 1963

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 16386050
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 31, 2024
• Document Release Date: June 25, 2024
• Case Number: F-2014-01314
• Publication Date: May 8, 1963

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8 MAY 1963
MEM *mum fr 14.mm of Central listaWoo=
Deputy Director (Plans)
.Secretary of Volume and-maceoa Vietaanti
itiftelatal 4Wgy 1963
tAIMMAIIX
The conference reviewed the �Curtest situationI Vietnam end projected
Likely Intern developments. It was noted that moo of the build-up of
American essinbmce had been completed and that a number of budgeters
point toward a turning of the thin against the VietiCeng. 'General Harkins
ex4;tregsal the belief that the military phase al the ineurpncy would have
Its back broken within asoduer year. Ambassador Netting tsarina. en
the increated xenophobia of the OVhi and its Oren to reduce the 'political
itowt of Amerlesa advisors. Howe co r e behoved that taut= Is no
major crisis at hand and these temporary problems can be solved with tact
and patience. The strategic hatolet program to pmeediag with great effective
-
wee. The $ecretary of DetitZES directed that planning be initiated ao that
Americans can be 'withdrawn from dime* fighting roles as soon as Vietnamese
can be trained, and to roaditile CNN tere4410 as soon as the insurgency declines,
in order to avoid the economic burden of large forces which would require
continuing taro scale U.L aid. North Vietnam vendors were disclutsted
and to some truest disputed between Admiral Felt and General Wheeler, but
the matter was left that the Army's plea would- be further staffed threttlit the
JCS before a decision was *ought on It and that Is the meantime CIA operations
shoulAt continuo end expand as much as pastas.
I. Getteral Harkins .preeented a &tailed run &Arm of the entensive
step* which lutd been taken by the U.S. to strengthen the Vitri and Its forces.
A review of tho indiratore such as Inside= rates, VC &factors. etc.. all
show a considerable strengthetdas of the OVN. The strategic hamlet and
provincial pacification programs are proceeding in an excelled manner,
except for sums weeknesses to IV Corps. The LeoiCatabcalla border was
viewed as a cantina* problem which would have to be met by hot', regular
and paramilitary forces. General tiarkina* conclusion was that it Is
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esseattal to keep the pressure' relax with those first indtmtless
of SUCCOBO. 11 this is dmis, he indicated that clear indiratteas of victory
would appear is about a year.
2. Ambassador bioittvg commented that In recent we there is
less of as razootrpare of trust and confidence between the OW tmd the
U.S. 146610 the situation Is by no mums critical. ft Is clear that GVN
ceeidsuce is victory has twee increased sod that it is aware of the toilette
hrossitt by Americas advisors and assismuce. It hes. hosvver. Weenie \
setnewitat restive wider the U.S. advisory efforts for the following reasons:
Vietnamese seasithe witiosalleas. long a characteristic of
the loelte-
E A resolution to be independent of whatthey envision the
uncortststtes of U.S. policy. In this regard the Mansfield report
With its invited *mentos of Americen widtdmwal from &adman
Asia caused constdemble tmpact. The U.S. position In Leos has
ids* contribumid to this belie thst U.S. *ley Iseacettele,
e. The =Wilt* impact et advisory effort at sit
levels has sharply consumed the M.
Detrisim these /Palms. Ambassatbr Mling *Atm* that the GV141wu
continue the present programs provided we display tact :told patiesce. The
problem Is dtiefly,at the pruvincial level where many Arnerir.en .advlsors
surround the Dorms province chief, and their own eloctiveuess frequently
dominates his dectsleas. The ertticioto is addressed at both shillala
and military advisors, bet dose Viatt apply to military advisors With military
=tut. Is the civilian sector sows elements to the Racal Affairs Division
of VS-014 believe that a men agreement to ascot an advisory rather duns
a contrellIng role is the dispensing of the .cotmterissargenty fund Waal to
MI owned) will cause the program to fail since U.S. .toilueace will be
redact& Ambassador litelting and the Embassy believe that the program
will teeth= (as it already has ha groat pert without U.S. control) subotigh
it is true that the MS. Whistles .may be titareewhat reduced, The &coat-ay
of Dame accepted the Ambanatutotott judgment and commanted that In no
=wry in the *aid do Amato= tonual the diebusement of tattigeneutt
funds. .Atntaseada .Witing commented that political Inaltuttorte us
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dovoloPileil to s erte etiontet eleettintais NalOnal 6,-CtanniC Comm%
Foreign investmest law, ere.) oatt that Digo Dish Mu has dearly become
a more powerful political flora in the cowry. Amboosether Minns said
be continues to press the Goverment to brim soo-Communist volition
prism= to rapid trial and incomes reparesontstine is the cabinet hy the
uneettles groups.
A briefing on seefoggreonetnic .pretee$0 ewe by Mr. Ste*.
Director of USAID, Salgto. fie moused the toodlest *orb of the Rani
�-,Antdre Divielon bt prelbecial level activities,. primarily in support of the
efts** hamlet :progrms. Mr. Urea pointed sot the critical -problems
'which will arias in the future as a result of the projected lbw billion piastre
atteetal deficit (6% ot GM, which can only podoce: inflation. On the other
heed, direct U.S. suppixtt of the -pisetare wunkt be .probibitively orporenve,
would also have AU islWalitteilary tiffeeto stoce there are not enough commodities
or prod:scam with* the country to- absorb ittio,4putatiiyut plattres� end
would he rejected by the Ui. Congress. The only solution thus would ha
to cut -boat the .arered forces In PT 1666 in order to rtnthice Owdefitch.
Another way to avoid -ottch sdef&oft would be GTh reletteXtee to atiPPeri
countotiostuleacy projects to the *wee we believe so:essary .to make the
program a success in the tociroecenorate Mid, -There was SOW! debate
between Ambassador Nutting tad Mr. *tar. Aototatit Aftlialstrator of
MD for FE, over whether an emergency hood int& be made avail** to
the .Umbeersy to Provide direct piastre support, in cane inflation threatened.
Mr. janow reiterated the obetocies to such ott operation; Axaboommitor
ttleabg pointed sat that the Wig is vending* it rote *deb Use reduced
its dollar reserve far below the level the 11.S. bad accepted as apprePrthte
in the Staley-Ono Report in mid 1961. The Secretary of rettailit requested
the Alubsseeder to advise WrOonstoge if the OVN. altotd4 he& to Pet back
Ito eouoteriztotrgetacy expenditure*.
4. With reaps= to forces, MACY presented projections which
essentially left raptor forces at the current levels for Me yeare., reduced
oomeuttat paramintary forces in PT I-966 sad eliminated traugular forces
at the end ,of the insurgency. The Secretary isketiturted that the toil force
level contemplated was tor too high for a country of 13 tuttlion to reatotain
over an extended period and erephasized the necessity to hrbajg down the
forces in order to avoid a coottating economic drain such as lE!ratit has
required of the U.S. lie Mined as a goal that the MA, 0room be reduced
from its current projected 158 mates (which MACY nays only eatisites
current eapoolitures and to which it has added a ropiest for $0 kodd minion
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tor 'Investmezt and tom improvement) to approximately SO *OW=
for PT dS en the essamptios that the itesurpney is brought under control.
The Seeretsry also empbssined throughout the notatiog the desirebility of
removing U.S. personnel from combat positions a. g., helicopter
air strike pilots, etc., mining Vietnamese to replace them sod if
uocaseary leaving the otetproont is Vietnamese hands. Ho basted that
this matter be studied for huptementatiort as sees as feasible without
hurtles the emisterinsurgesoy effort. ba elle discussion the illgthedil of
control of air attacks and sir strikes were reviewed is detail and tt was
decided that these strike* should continue with the controls 4310,4134 In
force. The Secretary insisted else that a plan be produomi to =dice
U.S. forces by IWO this coining Decorator.
3. The problem of relations between the GVN mid the U.S. press
were reviewed. This continuing problem will be worked on- in the field
and in Washiegtes, primarily by tritoil to aiito thtt U.S. Prom bettsr
OCC044 to the news stories is the *tea.
6. In a restricted session opentioes I A** Vietnam were
discattsed. This baps with a briefing by. CRWPAC officer 40 OMAN
33062 for the overt ersploymest_of U.S. tones against Wrdi Vietnam.
In this plan an ortessive target review has been conducted *ad plats have
been worked out by PACPLT, PAW sad 'MAC. During this &sonatas
reform= was mak to a list of about six targets that the Secntakry of
bad appeready relayed to the President. These hail been pot tow
getter by JCS and were primarily concerned with air strikes for possible
applicationis C4124007154 with the recent dtfiladties in Lass.
7, The CPAC officer then gave 4 briefing on the Dopartment of
Army study of possible operations in North Vietnam, inspired by
General Wheeler's report. The CINCIIAG officer potato:4 eta that the
operational concept required coven tether than even operations. CINCPAC
=sweats were than the *wantons were opproshretely the name t we
being conducted by clA. if* ids* pointed out that the plea
the zee of combat air and that ositfi miser targets were esateinpiated,
so that there was some question whether the plan wield ofrotItivolY *tor
the DAV. In stuontory he urged that CIA he given a chalice to apply its
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Flail Old its now assets hetet limiting dm t3, $. military in the covert
baniness General 'Wheeler met 014;04146nt tte, this prosoaration of the
Oepartment of Amy study. Ns somtaftted that It was necessary to We
the *true& offintaive esaiset lio Chi Mbilt rather than meats on the
defensive. He stated he hod talked to Mr. McCene and Coven= ilerrinwas
and betli agreed with the objective and with the iluirability of eternising
the problem to determine the feasiblitty of * .pregmn.b this exemination
he stated It had been iisurminesi that an overt waggon 'would eat be feasible.
tio CIA resouces
reduced their potential. lie thee believed it essentlect _tary
operations under the guise_ noThtuattiotec dettpied_sot to Istrite
but ter platc_ejk_yettearti_gpo�iiiplan coatatepstatad that CM
upend its '3 wallstetal operation*" but that MACtraged ouzIzo
ASSISS In this evtproarattiIn the asme way it carrently tellinet
OVN wets went Ts South Vietnam/ Ile, also commented that a joint
Uncoamtional 'Shuteye Ins ora weuld be l'etahltatiad to 409:1410110
maim*/ and CIALeporations. lie stoned that the mow aro wordy $ study
and preaenteaftil to the *acid Grow end freakiest .14:dotedy naturally
depended upea Calt/Atra comae:Hs and viftwitft Mallessesitur
beibleved be 40111d get 'President Diesics awe� tel. The -Secretary commented
that 010 Jel but tot yet accepted the study and that it should be staffed
tartmei JCS tor lather review and consideration. .A4mire1 Veit thee en*
pressed his disagreement .w.lth General Viedeler'a position nod agate
emphasized that taA has the capability* that ,MACit Shesid not be engaged
411 *overt operations in North Vietnam and that CIA ahead be allowed le
testiest in ha present activity.
a. Mr. Richardeon then presented a review et the Salem ,Station
program.
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1 M. Colby ladle Mai tboi matter
would be further onnsidered tViashingtoll *Ad OM We woad keeP
solvistd of toty needs. Comment:,
it to bettered that we 3o,r4 voted any further Department etDefense
assistance than that presentiy scheduled end that the limits ea our capabilities
In 1963 ere primarily Vietnamese rather dust Amoricao. l'hte men WM
be reviewed, however* sad a memersedure pre* red stustesristles the
situation for the Eirmer psethly to use in oustects with the Secretary of
Defense
/84 4. Co2by
E. a...A.,tonCe*T
chief, pa. i gest zw rtfors�
cot DDel
Distribution:
Original and 1 - Addressee
1 - DDCI
2 - DDP
� 1 - ADDP
1 - CFE
1 -
1 FE/VNC
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