STRENGTH OF CIA STATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-38-3-3-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: August 22, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

NSS review completed.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/03/22: LOC-HAK-38-3-3-3
11,
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
T /SENSITIVE
MEMORANDUM FOR
August 22 1973
Lt. General Vernon A. Walters
Deputy Director
Central Intelligence Agency
SUBJECT: Strength of CIA. Station in South Vietnam
The reduction of CIA personnel in South Vietnam proposed in
your memorandum of July 24, 1973, is approved provided that
this reduction does not reduce the Station's intelligence coverage,
especially of Communist activities in the area.
Initial reductions should, however, be delay-ed, until the end of
calendar 1973, when we should know better whether or not the
Communists are planning major, attacks in the coming dry season.
SE T /SENSITIVE
p
Henry A. Kissinger
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25X1
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MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SECRET /SENSITIVE.
4162X
ACTION
August 16 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER
FROM: WILLIAM L. STEARMANS''
SUBJECT: 25X1 Reduction of CIA Personnel in South Vietnam
General Walters has sent you a memorandum (Tab B) solicitin our
concurrence in reducing CIA personnel in South Vietnam b
by July 1, 1974 and by July 1, 1975.
represent about 25% of current CIA personnel.) Walters notes that this
reduction would not sacrifice the Station's ability to provide adequate
intelligence cover and is based on the assumption that there will be no
sharp rise in military operations nor a nationwide political crisis over
the next two years. Should these assumptions prove invalid, reduction
will be reconsidered. George Carver has assured us that there is presently
a built-in redundancy in Cit.. pc r:-..onncl S 0 Uth Vi..7.tnam, to compensate for
those on leave. The amount of leave taken is expected to decrease now
that families will accompany those assigned to Vietnam. Carver, therefore,
does not believe the reductions (which will include a number of clerical
personnel) will decrease the Station's capabilities.
At Tab A is a memorandum replying to Walters by concurring in this
reduction providing that it does not reduce the Station's intelligence
coverage, especially of Communist activities. It also suggests delaying
the reductions until the end of 1973, since by that time, we should know
better whether or not the Communists are planning major attacks in the
coming dry season.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you sign the memorandum at Tab A.
Approve Disapprove
Mr. Kennedy concurs
SECRET /SENSITIVE XGDS By CIA
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mice rumv
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CAPI-RAL INTELLIGENCE AGENIIIP
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
25X1
24 July 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
?
SUBJECT: Strength of CIA Station in South Vietnam
1. The strength of tile CIA Station in South Vietnam was fixed at
pursuant to your approval of the "Recommendations Regarding the
U.S. Intelligence Posture in a Post-Hostilities South Vietnam"
forwarded to you in a memorandum from Mr. Helms
25X1 dated 10 November 1972, which included a recommendation of this strength
figure. The changed situation in South Vietnam since the signing of the
Ceasefire Agreement has led the Agency to reassess the requirement for
continued maintenance of a Station of this size in the country, particularly
given current budgetary considerations. The conclusion of the reassess-
ment, in which our Chief of tation in Sat on took the leading role, is that
25X1 the Station can be reduced by 1 July 1974 and by an equal 25X1
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or greater number by 1 Ju y , wi on sacrificing the Station's ability
to provide adequate inttlligence coverage of the situation in South Vietnam.
We would therefore propose to implement the conclusions of this reassess-
ment by making these reductions incrementally over the next two years.
This proposal is of course based on the planning assumptions that there
will be no sharp rise in active military operations in South Vietnam over
the next two years nor any major, nationwide political crisis in that
country. If the actual course of events should render either of these plan-
ning assumptions invalid, we would naturally have to reconsider the
strength reductions envisaged in this proposal.
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IND MEINOT;;. INVOLVED SENSITIVE '..)OURCES
ViARNU'V.J.* ? NOIL6t.
SECRET/SENSITIVE
EYES ONLY
CLASSIFIED BY
EXEMPT FIttrA
salmLE ,
? C./ ;
Date Impossible
rP7CLASZIFICATION
CAT401.;00AY:
or inure)
?
to.Determine
(unless itapoct.iiile, iuzert dale or event)
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IP EYES ONLY
2. Inasmuch as the existing strength figure received your approval,
lam soliciting your concurrence in undertaking the strength reductions.
indicated above.
Vernon A. Walters
Lieutenant General, USA
Acting Director
WARNING NOIICE 2
SENSITIVE INIMIGENCt: SOURCES
SECRET/SENSITIVE
MD METHODS INVOLVED
cypg may
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