CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR INDO-CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: November 4, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/01 LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9 /
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
MEMORANDUM FOR
November 4, 1970
The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Contingency Planning for Indo-China
1. The President has reviewed the indicators pointing to the likelihood
of intensified North Vietnamese/Viet Cong military activity in Indo-
China during the forthcoming dry season, notably the rise in enemy
infiltration, and has directed that contingency studies be developed
to cover the following points:
-- Areas where major enemy attacks can be anticipated, e. g.
North Laos; MRs 3 and 4 of the Laotian Panhandle; MRs I and
II of South Vietnam; the Phnom Penh, Kampong Thom, Seam
Riep and the Battanbang areas of Cambodia; etc.
-- Estimates of the likely magnitudes of enemy attacks to the
extent available intelligence data permits.
-- The capacity of local forces in threatened areas to deal with
the anticipated enemy attacks.
-- Availability of South Vietnamese) forces to assist in 25X1
Laos and Cambodia.
-~ Availability of U. S. air, ground and naval forces to assist in
the defense.
2. The President also has directed that plans be developed on the basis
of the foregoing studies setting forth options for the coordinated
employment of U.S., South Vietnamese Cambodian and Lao 25X1
forces to meet each contingency. Accompanying political steps
which should be taken to support each option should be included.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/01 : LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9
 . No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/01 : LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9
WW
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE - 7 - 2
3. These studies should be performed by an Ad Hoc Group comprising
representatives of the addressees and.of the NSC staff and chaired
by the representative of the Secretary of Defense.
4. The contingency studies and related plans should be completed and
submitted to the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs for review by the Washington Special Actions Group. The
contingency studies should be submitted not later than November 20,
1970, and the related plans should be submitted not later than
December 1, 1970.
Henry A.'Kissinger
cc: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
TOP SECRET/SENSITNE
_ No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/01 : LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/01 : LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9
? NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
November Z, 1970
Richard T. Kennedy & John Holdridge
SUBJECT: Contingency Planning for Indo-China
You asked for a draft directive for some WSAG contingency studies and
plans in anticipation of intensified NVA/VC action during the forthcoming
dry season. As you know, some of this planning is already underway
with the objective of updating plans which we drew up last year for Laos.
We have prepared a draft which would cause the development of a set
of contingency studies and plans laying out the political-military options
open to us for employment of US, SVN, Cambodian and Lao Forces 25X1
to meet likely contingencies. Note that we have put chairmanship in
Defense on the grounds that these are primarily military contingency
plans -- political scenarios will be designed to support the military plans.
There is considerable threshing around in the bureaucracy at the moment.
This draft should help to focus the effort and get some realistic options
and scenarios which we can then begin to refine (our own people are already
working to this end).
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/01 : LOC-HAK-448-8-7-9