MEMORANDUM OF MEETINGS HELD AT 3:20 AND 4:15 PM, ON MONDAY, MAY 14 1962

Created: 5/14/1962

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

MEMORANDUM OF MEETINGS HELD05 PM, ON MONDAY,

0 Messrs. Rusk, McNamara, McCone, Harriman and Alexis Johnson met to discuss the deployment of troops into Thailand, details of which are described later, and possible actions in Laos to prevent further Communist military action. McNamara stated he was not prepared to discuss this subject with the President as the subject was under intense review by JCS; therefore it was agreed that this subject would not be raised at the NSC meeting.

5 the NSC meeting was convened, attended by the President, Secretary Rusk, Messrs. Harriman, McNamara, McCone, Forrestal, and Bundy, and General Taylor.

The Presidentriefing on military situation in Laos. McCone reviewedn detail, using attached notes except for numberedhich was covered by close following of numberedf the SNIE, and numberedn which the wording of numberedf the SNIE was used.

Rusk then reported that Souvanna Phouma was to leave Paris for Laos on Saturdayhat the meeting of the three Princes was arranged for all practical purposes Souvanna Phouma would first see the King in Vientiane. Ambassador Thompson's message from Moscow and Ambassador Young's two messages from Bangkok were read by the President andbriefly. 4.

McNamara recommended following procodure which was agreed to:

(a) Air Force operational headquarters be located in Thailand and an Air Force fighter squadron at Takhlien. Marine headquarters be established at Udornarine battalion of0 men be located in the vicinity of Ubon. Present

APPROVED FOB RELEASE DATE:7

battle groupen be reinforced by anotal0 men to be located aboutiles west of Korat. Naval Task Force to be deployed to the Gulf of Siam. When deployment is completed, inoours, United States will have five to six thousand men in Thailand, plusAAG, plus the Naval compl cment.

ress announcement. n Leadership meeting5 Tuesday, requestingMcCone and Lemnitzer attend. Presidentcall General Eisenhower prior to the meeting. It wasinform SEATO partners immediately, and Rusk was asked toFrench and British Ambassadors tonight0 o'clock, andtheir participation by the deployment of units to Thailandsupport with tho press.

question of military action in Laos arose. that the subject was under consideration. Rusk stated that

if action occurs he would immediately go before the United Nations and request the strongest possible censure; ln the meantime US military

moves were under study. The President questioned the effect our

moves in Thailand would have on the cease-fire. McCone stated the USIB estimate concluded that in the absence of progress towards the

formingoalition government or evidences of effective military response, we could expect Communist military thrusts in the Nam Tha scale but probably not an all-out military drive until US reactions had

been fully assessed. Note: See numbered.

President ordered informative cables sent to

1

John A. McCone Director

JAM:

Original document.

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