150. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson1
RE
- Tear Gas in Vietnam
General Westmoreland has requested a reaffirmation of authority to use certain riot control agents in Vietnam, and Secretaries Rusk and McNamara join in recommending that he be given clear authorization to use tear gas (CS and CN), but not the more violent nausea-producing gases (DM and CN-DM), either alone or in combination. As you know, Ambassador Goldberg has had reservations about this recommendation, and in deference to his wishes, the recommendation has been held up until after his initial speech. But now Westmoreland wants to use the tear gas in an operation on Saturday, and we all think it is time to go ahead.
If this recommendation is approved, our plan would be to have no announcement in Washington, but to have Westmoreland make it clear in due course after the Saturday operation that tear gas (and tear gas only) is authorized in cases where it is more humane, and especially with respect to civilians.
There will be some international criticism, but even the New York Times is resoundingly with us on this. I do not worry you with the pros and cons because it seems to me that the common sense of the matter is so clear.
Secretary McNamara’s letter is attached.2 Can we go ahead?3
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. XV. Secret.↩
- Apparent reference to Document 147.↩
- Next to the “Yes” recommendation on this memorandum is a handwritten note that reads: “Returned per our conversation.”↩