Office of the Historian

163. Telegram From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Felt)1

Washington, October 13, 1961.

SSO JCS 1596-61. 1. At a White House meeting today2 to discuss directive to be issued to General Taylor,3 President expressed concern over build-up of stories to effect U.S. is contemplating sending combat forces to Vietnam. He feels that too much emphasis is being put on this aspect and could well result in a tremendous letdown in Vietnamese morale if they expected such action and we decided otherwise. Accordingly, emphasis publicly is being put on fact Taylor will review entire situation particularly to determine if increase[s] in our current efforts are called for. However, you should know (and this is to be held most closely) General Taylor will also [Page 363] give most discreet consideration to introduction of U.S. Forces if he deems such action absolutely essential.

2. Sec Def and I requested, and obtained, mention of fact that Taylor will review entire situation, to include political and economic as well as military aspects.

3. For your information, correspondents (including Alsop) are not part of or in any way related to Taylor mission. They are merely being given a ride to Saigon as a courtesy.

  1. Source: National Defense University, Lemnitzer Papers, 1961 Eyes Only Messages. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Repeated for information to McGarr.↩
  2. Presumably a reference to the National Security Council meeting which took place from 10:30 to 11:40 a.m. (Kennedy Library, JFK Log Book) No other record of the discussion at this meeting has been found.↩
  3. The President’s instruction to Taylor is printed in Taylor, Swords and Plowshares, pp. 225-226.↩