Southeast Asia Region


31. Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hilsman) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos, General, 5/26/62–5/31/62. Top Secret. Hilsman sent this memorandum to Bundy under cover of an undated memorandum, on which he wrote the following note: “Mac: This says that the U.K. & France would oppose Seato participation in the Thailand Exercise; but might be dragged protesting into an extension of it over the border.” Deputy Director of INR Thomas Hughes sent a copy of this memorandum to Rusk on May 15 explaining that the President had requested it and suggesting that the Secretary might find it of immediate use. (Memorandum from Hughes to Rusk; Department of State, Central Files, 379/4–1562)


32. Memorandum From the Vice President’s Assistant (Burris) to Vice President Johnson

Source: Johnson Library, Vice President’s Security File, Memoranda to Vice President from Burris. Secret.


33. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State (Bowles) to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries Series, Laos Security, 6/10/62–7/31/62. Secret.


34. Letter From Secretary of State Rusk to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790.5/6–1662. Confidential. Drafted on June 15 by Dexter and cleared by Cleveland and Cottrell, in substance by Koren, and in draft by Harriman and U. Alexis Johnson. Executive Secretary Brubeck sent the draft of this letter to Rusk with the explanation that Johnson, who prepared it under Harriman’s direction, “feels we should move promptly to meet the expressed interest of these Agencies in an ‘umbrella’ Task Force for Southeast Asia. The new group would in no way interfere with our present handling of Vietnam and Laos.” Identical letters were sent to McNamara; McCone; Fowler Hamilton, Administrator of AID; and Edward R. Murrow, Director of USIA.


35. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 379/9–2562. Confidential. Drafted by Krause on September 27 and approved by Harriman on October 4.


36. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.92/9–2862. Secret. Drafted by Masters and cleared in the White House on October 15. The meeting lasted until 4:42 p.m. (Kennedy Library, President’s Appointment Book) A short briefing paper for this meeting prepared by Forrestal and emphasizing U.S.-Thai relations is printed as Document 466. The Department of State sent a more extensive briefing paper to the White House. (Memorandum from Brubeck to O’Donnell, September 27; Department of State, Central Files, 379/9–2762)


37. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 379/9–3062. Secret. Repeated to Bangkok, Manila, Karachi, Vientiane, Saigon, and CINCPACPOLAD.


38. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SEATO 8–5. Confidential. Drafted by Salans. The meeting was held at the New Senate Office Building.


39. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Embassies

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 SEATO. Secret. Drafted by Krause and Peters; cleared in draft with Bell and with Hannah, John N. Gatch, Officer in Charge of Pakistan–Afghanistan Affairs, and Rice; and approved by Rusk. Sent to all seven SEATO posts and CINCPAC for POLAD.


40. Circular Airgram From the Department of State to Certain Embassies

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SEATO 3 FR (PA). Secret. Drafted by Peters, cleared by Young, and approved by Hilsman. Sent to the seven SEATO posts and Rangoon, Phnom Penh, Saigon, Kuala Lumpur, Djakarta, Hong Kong, Tokyo, CINCPACPOLAD, New Delhi, and Ankara.