95. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Response to Presidential Messages on Vietnam
In accordance with your instructions, messages were delivered Monday to approximately 29 countries which are contributing assistance in Vietnam.2 France was omitted for political reasons and Laos, [Page 270] Ecuador, and Guatemala for political reasons or because their contributions have in fact been insignificant.
To date, we have received reports from 23 Embassies, which have presented the Presidential message on Vietnam to the heads of government or highest government official of the host country. These reports show sympathy of our principles of action—resistance to aggression while working for peace—but yield little tangible evidence of prospects of substantially increased assistance.
Some countries—notably Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the Philippines—express a willingness to consider an additional effort urgently, but our Ambassador in Ottawa cautions against over optimism while our Ambassador in Manila advises against encouraging the Philippines to diffuse its effort.
In several cases no comment was offered by the foreign government at the time of receipt of the message but comment may be forthcoming later. Thus, Ayub3 has promised a reply in two days.
There was general appreciation of advance notification of our plans.
Details of replies received to date are given in the attached memorandum.4
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC History, Deployment of Major U.S. Forces to Vietnam, July 1965. Secret.↩
- Circular telegrams 127 and 128, July 25, conveyed instructions to deliver on Monday, July 26, a personal letter from President Johnson to the head of government outlining the necessity to increase the number of U.S. troops involved in South Vietnam, and asking for support and increased assistance in the struggle in Vietnam. The telegrams were sent to Brussels, Ottawa, Copenhagen, Bonn, Tehran, Dublin, Rome, The Hague, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Bern, London, Ankara, Canberra, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Wellington, Manila, Bangkok, Athens, and Karachi. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S)↩
- President Ayub Khan of Pakistan.↩
- Attached but not printed.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩