751G.5 MAP/7–350
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President
Memorandum for the President
Subject: Request for the Allocation to the Department of Defense for the Purpose of Providing Military Assistance to Indo-China of an Additional $16,000,000 from the Funds Provided by Section 303 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 19491
The Departments of State and Defense have agreed upon a program of military assistance to the forces of France and the Associated States in Indochina in the estimated amount of $31,000,000 which it is proposed should be financed out of funds made available for fiscal year 1950 by Section 303 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949. The outline of this program, which is now being refined as to detail, is set forth in the last paragraph of this memorandum. Of the $31,000,000 required, $15,000,000 has (already been allocated by you in two installments—the first, in the amount of $10,000,000, on May 1, 1950,2 and the second, in the sum of $5,000,000, on June 27, 1950.3 The allocation of the remaining $16,000,000 at this time is urgently needed to permit immediate supply action on the balance of the program, and will, I believe, enable us promptly to implement your directive of June 27, 1950 to accelerate the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and the Associated States in Indochina. This program of military aid will continue to be administered, if you approve, in accordance with Executive Order No. 10099, under which other Mutual Defense Assistance programs are conducted.
In your letter dated May 1, 1950, in which you approved in principle initial programs of military assistance to Indochina and Thailand, you requested that you be informed in detail about the scope, magnitude and timing of proposed assistance programs to Indochina and Thailand. The interested agencies have been diligently studying the problem of effectively applying all the means available to this Government to advance our political, military and economic objectives in the critically and strategically important countries in the general area of China. In view of your directive of June 27, 1950, and the new developments in the Far East, our tentative conclusions on these [Page 836] points are being re-examined as a matter of urgency and I will advise you further as soon as this re-examination is completed.
Briefly, the principal components of the fiscal year 1950 program for Indochina are the following: Army—equipment for 12 Indo-Chinese infantry battalions (less equipment to be furnished by the French); engineer equipment consisting of tractors, trailers and crane shovels, and sheds for bases; and anti-aircraft guns for two battalions with ammunition and spare parts. Navy—landing craft and river craft with armament, ammunition and spares; fighter aircraft (40 FSF’s with ammunition and spares); two patrol craft; sand marine engines. Air Force—ammunition and spare parts for aircraft already in use; transport aircraft (8 C–47’s); and specialized maintenance equipment. Certain training ancillary to the provision of this equipment is also to be provided.