Office of the Historian

180. Memorandum for the Record1

Washington, May 3, 1962.

SUBJECT

  • Minutes of Meeting of Special Group (CI), 3 May 1962

PRESENT

  • General Taylor, The Attorney General, Mr. Gilpatric, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McCone, General Krulak vice General Lemnitzer, Mr. Coffin vice Mr. Hamilton
  • General Decker was present for the meeting.
  • Ambassador Bernbaum was present for discussion relative to Ecuador.
  • Mr. Cottrell was present for Item 1.
  • Mr. Carroll was present for Item 4.
[Page 373]

1. South Viet-Nam Status Report

Mr. Cottrell stated that he has returned from his recent trip to South Viet-Nam with three general impressions:

A.
In the strategic hamlet concept, together with a quick military reaction, we have found the right formula.
B.
More confusion exists in the inter-relationship between U.S. advisers and Viet-Nam opposite numbers in military units than he had previously thought. This applies to the reporting of aircraft, as well as the linking of communications.
C.
The fiscal problem has again become serious. The South Viet-Nam budget exceeds the countryʼs income plus U.S. aid.

Mr. Cottrell summed up the situation by stating that in his opinion we have reached bottom in South Viet-Nam, and that he is not sure whether we have made the upturn yet. Evidence as to an upturn will include such things as the number of Viet Cong attacks, the number of Viet Cong personnel killed, and the South Viet-Nam military reaction time.

General Taylor expressed the Groupʼs interest in receiving the views of the Secretary of Defense following his return from South Viet-Nam. General Decker will disseminate to the Group a report prepared by General Rosson following the latterʼs recent trip to South Viet-Nam.2

[Here follow sections on subjects unrelated to Vietnam.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Special Group Counterinsurgency Files: Lot 68 D 451, 1/1/62-7/31/62. Secret. Drafted by Davis. Attached to the source text were an agenda for the meeting of May 10, a memorandum on counterinsurgency terminology, and a transmittal memorandum from S/S.↩
  2. Not further identified.↩