138. Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country Series, Vol. VIII. Top Secret.

139. Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country Series, Vol. XIII. Secret. Also published in Declassified Documents, 1979, 107B.

140. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Flash; Nodis. Drafted by Sullivan, cleared by McGeorge Bundy, and approved by Rusk. This cable was apparently discussed at the luncheon meeting at the White House on May 5. A draft with revisions by Bundy and comments by Forrestal is in the Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country File, Vol. V111, Memos. At 7:28 p.m. on May 5, McGeorge Bundy called Rusk and made the following suggestions:

“B. said the end of the first paragraph of this draft cable to Lodge he thought ran the risk of emphasizing to Lodge that Yes indeed we want to go in the North. Both agreed to soften the line a bit and take out the last sentence of the first pare. B. and Sec. discussed further changes and Sec. told B. that his brother and Sullivan were with him and would get it out.” (Department of State, Rusk Papers: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations)

The last sentence of paragraph 1 in the draft referred to above reads: “Is he [Khanh] attempting to have us commit the US to support action against North Viet Nam before he will move upon a mobilization program?”

141. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Flash; Nodis.

142. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Felt) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Taylor)

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Specat; Exclusive. Repeated to CINCPACFLT, CINCUSARPAC, and PACAF. The source text is a copy the JCS sent for information to the Department of State Specat-Exclusive for Rusk.

143. Message From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Lodge) to the President

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Exdis. Transmitted as telegram 2144 from Saigon, which is the source text. Passed to the White House on receipt in the Department of State. Also published in Declassified Documents, 1984, 002655.

144. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Vietnam (Lodge)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Intelligence File, Vietnam, Rusk/Lodge/William Bundy Correspondence. Confidential. At 6:35 p.m. on May 7, Rusk called McGeorge Bundy about this letter. The transcript of the telephone conversation reads in part: “Sec said he had signed letter to Lodge today re no questions his being top but he should deal with Harkins personally and not expect him to report to DCM; McNamara agrees but has problems about saying that in a directive.” (Department of State, Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations)

On May 11, McGeorge Bundy wrote William Bundy the following memorandum: “I quite agree that the whole business between Lodge and Harkins is childish, and I have given the President only the most general account of it telling him that we think it best for him not to be involved, and that Lodge himself has addressed his communication to the Secretary and not to the President.” (Ibid., Bundy Files, Ambassador’s Private Correspondence)

145. Talking Paper Prepared for the Secretary of Defense (McNamara) by the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for Vietnam (Sullivan)

Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country File, Vol. VIII. Top Secret; Nodis. There is no indication on the source text that Sullivan was the drafter, but there is on an earlier draft. (Ibid.)