Office of the Historian

313. Letter From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Johnson) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gilpatric)1

Washington, November 9, 1962.

Dear Ros: I have seen a copy of the proposed memorandum from Secretary McNamara to the President which recommends that henceforth defoliation operations in Viet-Nam be conducted under the supervision of the Ambassador and General Harkins.2 I am agreeable to your indicating Department of State concurrence to the memorandum.

However, I suggest that we ask for regular reporting from Saigon on the effectiveness of the operation as weighed against the harm being done to United States interests by Communist propaganda on the subject.

If the President approves the memorandum, I suggest Saigon be informed by a joint State-Defense message.

Sincerely,

Alex
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Vietnam 1962, 370.64. Secret.↩
  2. The proposed memorandum has not been found; for text as sent to the President on November 16, see Document 317.↩