370. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Richardson to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, May 10, 1973.1 2
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: Thai SGU Program, FY 1974 (U)
(S) Pursuant to your 3 May 1973 memorandum, subject as above, I have concurred in a [text not declassified] message which directs resumption of Thai SGU recruitment.
(S) Start-up of full recruitment at this time eliminates the possibility of beginning a phase-down/termination program early in FY 1974; and it was on this basis that the legal rationale was developed and our agreements with the Committees were concluded. [text not declassified] recruitment and training necessary to man fully the 30 battalions will be completed by October 1973. I believe the President should be informed that the effect of the resumption of recruitment is to void the pre-funding agreement made by the DOD General Counsel, J. Fred Buzhardt, with the concerned Congressional Committees as described in my 6 April 1973 memorandum.
(S) FY 1974 SGU requirements must now rely upon Congressional approval of the President’s Laos MASF budget request ($107.3 million for Thai SGUs). Unfortunately, bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to return Laos to MAP and the chances for approval of our FY 1974 MASF budget request are poor. I am sure that you will agree that support of the Thai SGU program during FY 1974 under MAP (and the Laotian irregulars, now cosmetically integrated with the FAR) is virtually impossible.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 565, Country Files, Far East, Thailand, Volume 10, 1973–. Secret; Sensitive. In an attached memorandum, May 14, to Kissinger, Schlesinger stated that the 30 battalions must be retained through FY 1974, and provided options for doing so.↩
- Richardson informed Kissinger about difficulties in funding the Thai Special Guerrilla Units.↩