I ASKED THE BOARD OF NATIONAL ESTIMATES TO KEEP THEIR ESTIMATES AND POSITION PAPERS ON THE VIETNAMESE SITUATION UNDER CONTINUING REVIEW.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01580R001603430012-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 20, 2013
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: March 20, 1965
• Content Type: MEMO

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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/11/20: CIA-RDP80R01580R001603430012-4
L.: r Liab
1965
2,0 MartA
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Secretary of Stat.
asked the Board of National Estimates to
keep their estimates and position papers on the
Vietnamese situation under continuing review.
Attached is a copy of the latest memorandum
from Sherman Kent to me and 1 believe his observa-
tions will be of interest to you. You will note in
numbered paragraph 5. his reference to the joint CIA-
DIA -State Memorandum of 17 March, "Strength of
Viet Cong Military Forces in South Vietnam."
Attachment
[(Signed): JOH,. A. 1:c1C0:1&
JOHN A. McCONE
Attachrnent is Sherman Kent Memo dtd 18 March 1965
Subject: Vietnam Estimates
The Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, D. C.
JAM/rrifb
3 originals types - all same letter to:
Sec State/SecDefense/McGeorge Bundy
aER w/cy attch
1 - DCI White Hs file w/attch ? tin nei
1 - DCI Defense file waitA 11 31' Vn bte
1 - DCI State file w/attch
1.- DCI chrono, no attch.
1 - Sherman Kent - no attch.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/11/20: CIA-RDP80R01580R001603430012-4
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/11/20: aPrRDP80R01580R001603430012-4
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18 March 1965
MENCS FOR THE DIRECTOR
SMMOT: Vietnam Eatimates
asgittry
1. We have kept our meta SNIEs* under continuing
renew and believe that no new evidence or situations have
arisen since our memorandum of 12 Meath Which would warrant
any change in their main judgmentS with reapett to South
Vietnam or to the Communists.'
2. The USSR is patently embarked on a multi-level
political/propaganda campaign which includes a firm pUblic
posture condemning the US, various abbiguous overtures
about negotiations, and a worldwide assortment of ?fortuitous"
or "personal" chats between Soviet diplomats and US opposite
nuMbert, or locals with US contacts, intimating that the US
and the USSR should avoid a head-on conflict in 'Vietnam
Width could only benefit the Chinese.
3. Hanoi, 5g210 espeeially, PelpinKraintain a tougher,
more rigid posture on the tole subject of negotiations: than
Note that insofar as these estimates were on probable
Communist reactions to certain USeourses of action,
we assume no change in these US coursen.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/11/20: CIA-RDP80R01580R001603430012-4
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/11/20 :CIA-r