LAOS OPERATIONS: MEETING WITH SENATOR STENNIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: December 3, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
MEMORANDUM
SECRET

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
URGENT ACTION
December 3, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR: DR. KISSINGER
FROM: 'RICHARD T. KENNEDY/rit
SUBJECT:
3J-36
Laos Operations: Meeting with.
Senator Stennis
You earlier agreed to meet with Senator Stermis to discuss his concerns
over funding of Laos operations. On September 2 Senator Stennis wrote
the President saying that he could not support any further funding with
respect to Laos as part of the CIA budget (Tab B). He urged that other
funding alternatives be considered in the FY 1973 budget. The Senator
also alluded to the "final consideration" that the primary purpose of the
Agency is jeopardized due to its involvement in the Laos operation.
You have seen Director Helms to be sure of his support, but wished to
delay meeting with Senator Stennis. We have held off recommending a
meeting while the Foreign Aid debate was underway. Senator Stennis'
involvement in the debate is now at a comparatively low ebb and his
concerns, particularly as they related to the Defense budget, are now
behind him. The Senate will be adjourning shortly and the budget is
now in process of final preparation. The Laos operations are being put
into the Defense budget.
Accordingly we recommend that
during the week of December 6.
are prepared to transfer funding
budget, and to convey to him the
CIA management of operations.
you plan to meet with Senator Stennis
You will want to inform him that we
of the Laos operation to the Defense
importance of continuing the current
May Contain Congressional
Material
There is an interagency agreement that:
? Defense will take over all funding of CIA paramilitary
operations in Laos beginning with FY 1973.
-- CIA will continue to manage the operations.
Talking points are at Tab A.
John Lehman & John Negroponte concur.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
NSS, OSD Reviews
Completed
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
SECRET
TALKING POINTS
HAK Meeting with Senator Stennis
-- You and the President appreciate his staunch support and value his
advice.
-- We.lave studied his letter of September Z carefully and have
considered all reasonable alternatives.
We have arranged that DOD will take over all funding of paramilitary
operations in Laos beginning with FY 1973.
-- You trust this meets his immediate concern and you seek
his support in getting necessary authorizations and
appropriations for Defense.
-- It will be important in the hearings that CIA be protected.
We have also been carefully considering the other point raised in the
Senator's letter, management of paramilitary operations in Laos.
This presents difficult problems:
At this critical juncture when we are windin down our efforts
in Southeast Asia and withdrawing our men, any major change
in managing Laotian operations would be unavoidably and
undesirably disruptive.
N.)
-- At the time when our troops are coming home and we
are also trying to engineer a major change of policy
toward Peking, our actions are especially subject to
misinterpretation.
-- It has been a long struggle in Laos -- we have helped
the Laotians do enough to make a successful take-over
effort too costly for the North Vietnamese. We do not
want to give up now at the very time when those in
Southeast Asia are assuming a larger share of the
--burden and there is hope that a long-term solution
can emerge.
We have an on-going program with close working
relationships of several years standing. This is an
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
SECRET 2 -
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SECRET
important asset but one which is vulnerable to instant
dissipation if we try to make major changes in the
way we manage the operations.
The operations have been conducted in Laos effectively
with a minimum of direct U.S. involvement. We have
kept U.S. military personnel out.
The Geneva accords limit the kind of help and advice
we can give and the way we provide it. We can't give
assistance directly with a military program. Thg
present arrangement gives us the most flexibility.
If we did move the management from CIA to another agency,
domestic opinion could interpret such a change as merely
regularizing the operation, digging in our heels for a prolonged
fight, and as an attempt to mislead public opinion. A serious
charge of lack of credibility might be made.
Also, the enemy would undoubtedly try to take
advantage -- both militarily and psychologically --
of the unavoidable disruption such a change would
produCe"-;..
Therefore, we believe it is essential to retain the present
management arrangements in order to preserve the
effectiveness of our operations.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6
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The President
The White House
Xashington, D. C.
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commrritc o...ros=o stir/ices
Wt.r.:1-iINGTON. D.C. 20'.; 0
September 2, 1971.
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c..mmtil., logih lasst/ LiMplulisd .J.1.11on 'en 11142 !Miry rife,e.uromonl
Authorialion Hill which Includes a portion of the authorization for
funding United States operations in Laos. 14oreover, as you know, for
a number of years the Central Intelligence Agency also has funded a
portion of U. S. programs-in Laos.
I strongly defended the budget requests,for.Laos for fiscal year
1972 and the full requ6st was approved by the Committee. I have con-1
eluded, however, that for the CIA to continue funding any portion of
.the Laos operation after fiscal year 1972 would be a serious mistake
'and possibly jeopardize the success with which the CIA carries out 14s
other world-wide functions.
The CIA involvement in Laos is now a matter of public knowledge.
Moreover, as you know, the U. S. programs in Laos have become an issue
Iwithin the Senate which will doubtless be raised by floor amendments.
These considerations haVe led to demands that all-the CIA budget be
'revealed and debated. The Laos matter therefore adds to the difficulty
in protecting the CIA budget against demands for greater disclosure.
Thoro is th inc I considoration of iho fact that tho primar/
purpot.43 t,1 Iho Aqtsuf:y It, .1nd rIv?iiiialo .1hd I
.11c;
Laos program servos to jeopardizo this primary function due to the
criticism of its involvement in the Laos operation.
I am writing now to advise you that 1 cannof support any further
funding with respect to Laos as a .part of the CIA budget for fiscal
year 1973. I urge that other.funding Oternatives be considered in
connection with the formation of the frscal year 1973 CIA budget. ?
This letter is written to you directly because of the serious
nature of this matter-end the interagency relationships involved.
ri.46:11 rw.poctfujly yourn,
? r
k ? yi] ,
,
John C. Stennis
.Chairman ...
Senate Armed Services Committee
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/14: LOC-HAK-18-6-27-6