Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume I, Vietnam, 1964

5. Letter From the Director of Central Intelligence (McCone) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, January 7, 1964.

Dear Dean: It was apparent when Secretary McNamara and I visited Saigon in December² that information furnished to us from MACV and the Embassy concerning the current Viet Cong activities in a number of provinces and the relative position of the SVN Government vs. the Viet Cong Forces was incorrect, due to the fact that the field officers of the MAAG and USOM had been grossly misinformed by the province and district chiefs. It was reported to us, and I believe correctly, that the province and district chiefs felt obliged to “create statistics” which would meet the approbation of the Central Government.

I believe it is quite probable that the same practice might be repeated by the new province and district chiefs appointed by the MRC. Furthermore, it is obviously quite difficult for the United States civilian and military personnel to overtly audit the reporting in detail by on-site visits to all areas, villages and hamlets.

I therefore propose developing a new covert method of checking on information on the progress of the war and the counterinsurgency efforts. The details of this plan are outlined in the attached memorandum.³

I should like to discuss this plan at today’s meeting.⁴ Obviously its implementation and success is contingent upon the support of both State and Defense, and the issuance of appropriate orders to the Ambassador and MACV. I also believe the plan should be reviewed with higher authority in the interest of securing his endorsement.

Sincerely,

John

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret. A copy was sent to McGeorge Bundy. Rusk’s initials appear on the source text.
2. McCone was in Vietnam, December 18–20, and McNamara December 19–20, 1963. For their reports to the President, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, vol. IV, pp. 721–738.
3. [Footnote (7 lines of text) not declassified]
4. There was an NSC meeting on January 7, 4:10–5 p.m., which McCone and Rusk attended, but Vietnam was not on the agenda. Johnson Library, President’s Daily Diary) The reference is more likely to an Executive branch oversight meeting on covert operations of which no record has been found.