751G.5 MAP/10–151
The Secretary of Defense (Lovett) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: The problem of increased deliveries of MDA matériel to Indo-China discussed in Mr. Merchant’s letter of 20 September 1951 is being resolved within the Department of Defense. As a result of meetings with General de Lattre and members of his staff, agreement has been reached on certain substitutions and adjustments in the Indo-China program. It now appears that all the critical Army items on General de Lattre’s list will have been shipped by 31 December 1951 except for the radios, and one quarter of these will have been shipped. The Navy will deliver 30 LCM’s, 36 LCVP’s, 26 Coast Guard patrol craft and 1 LST prior to 31 December 1951, and expects that delivery of 12 JRF aircraft can be accelerated so that delivery will be made by the same date. The Air Force is taking all practicable measures to accelerate the delivery of the transport aircraft and B26’s which General de Lattre requested.
[Page 526]Mr. Merchant’s letter refers to spot checks of MDAP reports which seem to indicate that other recipients have been receiving substantial shipments of items urgently required by Indo-China. The figures cited are the result of one or more of the following:
- a.
- Deliveries of items on which supply action had started prior to the raising of the Indo-Chinese priority in December 1950.
- b.
- Token shipments of relatively small quantities made in order to initiate deliveries promptly after signing of bilateral agreements, and to maintain at least a minimum flow of matériel to all recipients.
- c.
- Training equipment to all recipients.
- d.
- Deliveries to NATO nations of approximately 8000 vehicles which were excess to EUCOM requirements before the outbreak of the war in Korea. These vehicles were reconditioned in Europe.
- e.
- Sales to Canada for use by Canadian Forces in Korea.
In order that you may have later information than that contained in Mr. Merchant’s letter, I am enclosing a summary of major items programmed and delivered to port as of 31 August 1951.1
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
- Enclosure not printed.↩