163. Memorandum From the Naval Aide to the Presidentʼs Military Representative (Bagley) to the Presidentʼs Military Representative (Taylor)1
Washington, April 18,
1962.
SUBJECT
- Viet-Nam Task Force Meeting 18 April 1962
Items of interest of Task Force meeting today were:
- a.
- State is in receipt of a telegram from Saigon (we do not yet have) requesting authority to allow Viet-Nam to use US chemicals to spray Viet Cong crops.2 Saigon suggests the US join with the Vietnamese in identifying targets and recommends that the Ambassador be given authority to approve such Vietnamese operations on a case by case basis. This telegram formalizes the oral request made by Ambassador Nolting in Honolulu 22 March, which has not been acted on by State. In Cottrellʼs absence, Mr. Wood gave the usual State discourse on the adverse effects of using defoliants regardless of selective targetting.
- b.
- Mr. Wood suggested to AID that action should be taken to obtain foreign doctors for use in Viet-Nam without waiting further for answers to outstanding telegrams on this subject which have been sent to Saigon. Wood mentioned the Presidential interest in creating an atmosphere of international support for the SVN Government. There were some differences of opinion on whether this should be acted on immediately or whether Saigon should be pushed for an answer. The issue was left dangling.
- c.
- There was a very interesting and concise briefing by an AID Communications Specialist, Dr. Winfield, who had just resumed from a short survey trip to South Viet-Nam. He indicated progress was being made in the installation of community listening equipment in the villages; the recently commenced rural newspaper was off to an excellent start; and bids had been received from US and Japanese sources for transistor radio receivers for distribution throughout South Viet-Nam. The tentative decision on the receivers is to use US sources entirely, some of which will be delivered as assembled sets while others will be shipped in units for assembly in Saigon. The estimate is 4 to 6 months before the first of these receivers is ready for distribution by sale or, as an alternative, by buying through the US economic assistance program and distributing without cost to the populace. In the meantime, Dr. Winfield felt the normal sales of transistor receivers in Saigon was resulting in some of the distribution that we desired.
- d.
- He also reported on the status of transmitters which the US is installing in South Viet-Nam. The 5 main transmitters should be on the air by June (2 or 3 of these are operating now). Tests indicate coverage of all South Viet-Nam except an area in the Kontum-Pleiku Plateau; possible installation of a 1 KW transmitter at Pleiku to cover this section is under study. A directional antenna for the HVE transmitter is being installed and, when operational, will permit radio coverage of all of North Viet-Nam, except the northern and western border areas.
Dr. Winfield emphasized that we are rapidly approaching the point when South Viet-Nam will have a very modem and extensive system to promulgate information throughout the country. The content of such information, as now produced by South Viet-Nam, is ineffective. There is an urgent need that US advice and experience in this field be utilized by the GVN. So far all such approaches have been unsuccessful. Dr. Winfield recommends a firm approach at a high level.
W.H.B.3
- Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, T-132-69. Secret.↩
- Document 160.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears these typed initials.↩