133. Memorandum From President Kennedy to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer)0
Washington,
July 10,
1961.
Many thanks for your message of the 7th of July in regard to the capabilities of the Lao Army.1
- (1)
- I think the officer training is particularly important and I note that the Lao Ministry of Security is opposed “on the basis of the pressure of other commitments. I would think the non-commissioned officers are the key to the resistance there. Can’t we push this harder? Can’t we put pressure on the Ministry of Security? We may not have much time left, but at least if we could get a month of training for the officers it would be most helpful.
- (2)
- I notice that they have requisitioned on an emergency basis for certain critical items. Would you let me know what is happening on those?
- (3)
- I also note that “equipment is in from poor to fair condition.” Is there anything we can do about this?
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security File, Countries Series, Laos: General, 7/61. No classification marking.↩
- Document 132.↩