JCS Records, CCS.092 Asia (6–25–48), sec. 40: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Pacific (Radford) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Fechteler)1
Personal for Fechteler from Radford. The military situation in Indochina is serious.2 The Viet Minh invasion of Laos has forced the French to deploy their available forces in a defensive pattern which lays them open to defeat in detail and one in which they are almost entirely dependent upon air transportation. With the rainy season coming on they must have sufficient air transportation to take advantage of the good weather breaks to bring in sufficient ammunition, food and equipment to suffice until the next break. With what they now have in the way of air transport and available troops the best they can expect is to hold the strong points they have selected. The worst could be a serious military defeat which would result in the complete loss of Laos with a resultant very bad effect in the politico military [Page 516] situation in Indo China as a whole and in Southeast Asia as well. The proximity of Laos to Thailand must also be considered.
By their boldness the Viet Minh are also gambling heavily and counting on French inability to cut their lines of communications which are long and tenuous. With more good troops and aggressive leadership the French might be able to inflict a serious and almost decisive blow against the Viet Minh regular forces which are committed to this offensive in Laos.
General Salan gave me a detailed briefing in Hanoi.3 I felt an attitude of complete frankness which has not always been the case. The French High Command is evidently very much concerned.
The military situation in Indo China as it now exists is so fraught with adverse possibilities as far as we are concerned that I feel we must take immediate action within our capabilities to improve it. I therefore recommend that a minimum of 6 C–119 transport aircraft be delivered by air as soon as possible. General Salan has assured me that if civilian pilots, crews and maintenance personnel could be recruited he can arrange to pay them. These aircraft are important because they can transport tanks, armored cars and heavy construction equipment to isolated points in Laos. Tanks and armored cars will help to make up for the deficiency in troops and might well have a decisive effect.
General Salan badly needs more French troops but I doubt that he will ask for them. Actually if France would or could send out ten thousand African troops they might wind up this war within six months. On a governmental level or through NATO we should urge that this be done.
In my opinion there is not time to lose in helping the French out of their present difficulties. I have criticized their leadership and lack of aggressiveness in the past and am not too happy about it now. At this time however we have no choice if we want to save any part of the heavy investment we have already made.