State-JCS Meetings, lot 61 D 417
No. 429
Memorandum on the Substance of
Discussions at a Department of State-Joint Chiefs of Staff
Meeting1
[Here follows a list of persons (27) present. The list includes the four Joint Chiefs and Deputy Under Secretary Murphy, who headed the Department of State contingent. The meeting began with discussion relating to Southeast Asia, Germany, and the Middle East.]
7. Thailand
Admiral Radford then introduced the subject [of aid] to Thai forces. He and Admiral Carney indicated that the Thais had made a very sketchy presentation of their needs. They apparently had no plan until shortly before their departure from Bangkok. Our MAAG there under General Gillmore has not completed its analysis of this plan. According to Admiral Radford, a large part of their request is for budgetary support. The Thais stated that 25 to 40 percent of their present budget is used for military expenditures and that under their new plan this would be increased to 50 to 75 percent. Admiral Radford said the Joint Chiefs had not committed themselves to anything as yet; any increase in assistance would first have to be in the training field. In view of the lack of money available to Defense as well as the fact that we are not clear about our general intentions in Southeast Asia, the Joint Chiefs feel no long term commitment to the Thais could be made at this time.
Mr. Murphy said he thought at the meeting with the Joint Chiefs which was recently held and which Ambassador Donovan attended,2 the Joint Chiefs had agreed to an increase in the Thai force from 57,000 to 90,000. Admiral Radford replied that this was not the case. Mr. Murphy stated that the Secretary was concerned that the Thais would return dissatisfied and the political impact would be adverse, especially on our plans for a Southeast Asian alliance. [Page 725] Admiral Radford said the biggest thing the Thais had in mind was the FOA program but that he understood they had called off a meeting arranged today with FOA because they were not prepared. Admiral Davis3 said that the Joint Chiefs had not said “no” to the Thais, merely that their plans had to be studied further. Mr. Murphy then said he wanted to be clear about the Joint Chiefs’ position. Was it correct to say the Chiefs do not want to move at the moment until there had been a decision with respect to Southeast Asia generally and because the money was not available. Admiral Radford said the Joint Chiefs felt the first action which should be taken would be a training program for present forces which could be initiated within the next two months. The Joint Chiefs did not agree to an increase in ground forces since present Thai forces are adequate for internal security. General Ridgway expressed his agreement with Admiral Radford on this point. Admiral Radford said that the Thais couldn’t raise a large enough force to have a significant effect if there were external aggression. Admiral Carney said it was their feeling the main danger in Thailand was internal subversion and therefore the internal security problem was most important. Mr. Murphy repeated his remarks about the Secretary’s concern about this problem and his desire to obtain full Thai cooperation with respect to a Southeast Asian treaty. This discussion closed with General Ridgway’s remark that the Joint Chiefs were still studying the matter.
[Here follows discussion concerning United States relations with the Republic of Korea.]