(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01617A006100070023-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 4, 2007
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: January 31, 1951
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP78-01617AO06100070023-8 JAN 1951
12
inn 48133 TO Ni.T
FAR EAST
1. INDOCHINA. De Lattre urgently requests aid--The US
Military Attache in Saigon transmits a request from
General de Lattre, French High Commissioner for Indo-
china that his need for French troops and materiel in
1508
Indochina be brought to the attention of General Eisenhower
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. De Lattre most urgently re-
quests that Eisenhower advise French Premier Pleven to
furnish these troops and materiel because of his conviction
that: (a) the USSR will strike in Western Europe only after
the Asian flank is positively secured, and troops in Indo-
china will "buy time" for the formation of armies in ,
Western Europe; (b) holding Tonkin, the gateway to South-
east Asia, would prevent the Chinese Communist forces
from overrunning the entire continent and advancing the
Soviet opportunity to seize Europe; (c) the troops and
materiel requested represent the capability for successful
tenure against the entire Viet Minh forces, plus four Chinese
Communist armies (the estimated maximum which could be
committed and supplied, considering the present Chinese
commitment in Korea); and (d) the time gained for the forma-
tion of a Vietnamese Army might conceivably permit the
return of metropolitan troops to France in 16 to 18 months.
De Lattre told. the MA that he would personally present the
request to Pleven during February and reiterated emphatically
that he would resign his command if his request is refused.
The MA comments he is convinced the requested
reinforcements are adequate and necessary for the accom-
plishment of de Lattre's mission; he also considers that
since de Lattre's assumption of command in Indochina, the
combat efficiency, general morale, and operational adaptability
DIA review completed.
TV'~A~II~RE T
Document No. V Z, '
Auth: DDA 77,11763
NO CHAnGE in Class. J
D DECLASSIFI7D
Class. C iAJ C D TO. TS S
D^,A M_cnio, 4 Apr 77
Date ? Z; AF lS7s~ By: 25X1
Y.
Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP78-01617AO06100070023-8
 Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A006100070023-8
F'LE T
of the troops have greatly improved. The Attache reports
a discussion with de Lattr?e's planning chief, Colonel Boffre,
concerning the formation of the Vietnamese Army, stating
that this is the first time the concept of -a Vietnamese Army
was so definitely expressed by a responsible official.
EUROPE
2. FINLAND. Possible indicators of Soviet plans to attack--
The Department of the Army has advised the US Military
Attache in Helsinki that the recent Soviet propaganda attack
as well as Soviet military interest in the Scan
on Finland
,
dinavian area, warrants giving special attention to all informa-
tion indicating any possibility of a Soviet attack on Finland.
In this connection, the Department lists as recent indications,
the rumors both of Soviet interest in Finnish mobilization
plans and of their desire for radar installations in Finland,
Soviet purchase of maps of Scandinavian waters and Finland,
East German reconnaissance of Scandinavian ports, the
November sabotage incident in Norway, and the identification
of Marshal Meretskov, the wartime Soviet commander of the
northern front, as commander of the White Sea military district.
T F ET
Approved For Release 2007/09/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A006100070023-8