SIR ROBERT THOMPSON'S REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-22-2-4-0
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 5, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 30, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/05/14: LOC-HAK-22-2-4-0
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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. K I GER
FROM: JOHN EHOLDRIDGt=5~)'
Sir Robert Thompson's Report
SUBJECT:
to thesident
State, DOD and CIA have all informally inquired whether or not it would be
possible to receive a copy of Sir Robert Thompson's most recent report to
the President.
At the Indochina Ad Hoc meeting John Negroponte has acknowledged the
existence of such a report, and has also characterized it as containing
essentially the same points that Thompson made during his individual calls
on the departments concerned. He also agreed, however, to relay their
request for access to Sir Robert's report.
Thompson's report is, in fact, very much along the lines of what he told the
people at DOD, State and CIA. when he saw them. There are a few points of
controversy which he raised with them orally and which we may prefer
them not to have in writing -- for example, he denigrates the role of ROK
forces in Vietnam in quite strong terms. Thompson's position in fact is
that the ROK's have become an impediment to pacification because of the
restricted access of RF to the Korean TAOR. (Comment: This judgment may
be questionable, particularly if the Communists do launch a major offensive,
and an added consideration is that Thompson may have been unduly influenced
by John Paul Vann who feels very strongly against the ROK presence.)
There are also political aspects of Thompson's report that could be considered
sensitive and explosive if leaked -- such as his contention that the reelection
of President Thieu and President Nixon are key to the whole Vietnam situation.
The risk of leaks and the prospect of the agencies exploiting the few negative,
as opposed to the many positive, aspects of Sir Robert's report lead us to
conclude that it may be preferable not to release it to them. There is also
the matter of precedent, and, even though this report might be a marginal case,
there may be others we would strongly prefer not to circulate outside the White
House.
=--. No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/05/14 : LOC-HAK-22-2-4-0
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/05/14: LOC-HAK-22-2-4-0
. w w
Recommendation
That you disapprove the release of Sir Robert's report to the
President to State, DOD and CIA.
Do not release
Okay to release
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/05/14: LOC-HAK-22-2-4-0