Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIV, Laos Crisis

295. Memorandum From the President’s Military Aide (Clifton) to President Kennedy⁰

Washington, February 20, 1962.

Reference the Wall Street Journal story out of Vientiane.

The SNIE 58/1/62, dated January 31, 1962, estimated that there are about 9000 North Vietnamese troops in Laos (6000 combat; 3000 cadre and support).¹ Five thousand was the previous estimate, but a reassessment, plus the suspected introduction of two additional battalions of North Vietnamese, bring us to this new figure of about 9000.

There is no definite identification of a highly sophisticated radar control at Tchepone. We have positively identified some anti-aircraft artillery at this location. In addition, we have identified recently some anti-aircraft artillery at two other locations, and according to the Joint Intelligence, there is a suspicion of radar control at one of these other two sites, but it is unverified.

C.V. Clifton²

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos: General, 2/20/62–2/22/62. Secret.
1. See Document 286. A summary of antigovernment forces in Laos, February 7, no author indicated, stated that there were 19,000 Pathet Lao troops, 5,900 forces under Kong Le, and 3,900 troops under Colonel Kamoune Boupha (aka Kham Ouane). Adding these forces to the 9,000 North Vietnamese troops, advisers, and technicians, the summary concluded that there were 37, 900 antigovernment forces in Laos. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos: General, 2/1/62–2/19/62)
2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.