Office of the Historian

326. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, December 8, 1962—2:02 p.m.

588. Embtel 567.2 In Departmentʼs view political considerations would suggest limiting use napalm to high priority targets which clearly VC installations. Assume this has been past policy and that similar discretion will be employed in future.

Also request Embassy report to Department on pros and cons use napalm in Viet-Nam with particular emphasis on question whether such use will damage GVNʼs eventual ability reestablish its influence in areas subjected to it.

In future, plans for using large amounts napalm in any one operation to be cleared with Department.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/12-562. Secret. Drafted by Wood on December 7, cleared with Cottrell and DOD/ISA, and initialed by Harriman Repeated to CINCPAC for Polad.↩
  2. Telegram 567, December 5, reported that Harkins had obtained JCS authority contingent upon Embassy concurrence, to utilize Farmgate aircraft to deliver napalm in an air operation in Zone D. (Ibid.)↩