339. Memorandum From President Nixon to the Chairman of the Washington Special Actions Group (Kissinger)1
SUBJECT
- U.S. Operations in Cambodia
Upon the successful conclusion of U.S. ground operations in Cambodia, I want to re-emphasize to you and, through you, to the Washington Special Actions Group and the Departments concerned, that I place great emphasis on the need to redouble our efforts to provide appropriate military equipment and supplies to the Government of Cambodia.
I continue to believe that it is in our best interest to prevent Cambodia from falling under Communist control and I expect the Washington Special Actions Group to concentrate its efforts toward that end.
Termination of U.S. ground operations in Cambodia also underlines the desirability of maintaining maximum pressure on the enemy in Cambodia through U.S. and allied air efforts. For this reason, I want to reaffirm until further notice, all authorities heretofore promulgated for the conduct of U.S. air operations over Cambodia.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 510, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. VIII, 20 June 1970–20 July 1970. Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. On July 9 Kissinger, who had drafted this memorandum on July 4 at Nixon’s request, sent it to Rogers, Laird, Moorer, Helms, Johnson, and Packard. (Ibid.)↩