Office of the Historian

364. Memorandum From Richard T. Kennedy of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 7, 1973.1 2

Washington, March 7, 1973

MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
URGENT ACTION

March 7, 1973

MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KISSINGER
FROM: RICHARD T. KENNEDY
SUBJECT: Additional MAP for Thailand

Since returning from the trip I have been pursuing the problem of how to increase our MAP for Thailand.

There is simply no way in which we could get any additional funds unless we took them from Turkey, Korea or Cambodia. None of these options would be desirable — in each case the funds have been cut to the bare minimum and we are already having problems with Korea and Turkey. We are now forced to live with the CRA levels through June 30 as Congress will not take up a FY 1973 bill.

Accordingly I have sought other means to solve the problem. I have AID’s agreement to provide $5 million in Development Loan funds which can be provided in a way that will accomplish the same purpose as PL-480, thus enabling the Thai to further support their counterinsurgency and military effort. In addition, I ascertained that there are a number of C-123 aircraft from Vietnam now at Clark AFB. The Thai included C-123’s in the list of items they desired which they presented to the Vice President. They wanted eight initially with more in later years.

  • — Eight C-123’s could be made available with a little pressure from Defense on the Air Force. They would be declared excess and thus require little or no additional funding.
  • — I spoke to Mr. Clements about this after ascertaining that in fact the aircraft could be made available. He called you (Tab A) and is awaiting your return call.

I wanted to be sure that these aircraft could be freed up prior to going to Unger to get his reaction. (A draft message for that purpose is at Tab B.)

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Today we received another cable from Unger which again emphasized a strong reaction on the part of the Thai to the cutback in MAP which was required by the CRA this year. Unger is convinced that we must do something. (Tab C.)

The package of $5 million Development Loan and 8 C-123’s seems the best possible in the circumstances. I recommend therefore that you call Clements and tell him that we really would like to move on this. You want his assurance that the aircraft can be made available if Unger is satisfied that they will do the job.

[HK initialed] APPROVE (HAK called Clements)
Other

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 565, Country Files, Far East, Thailand, Volume 10, 1973–. Secret. Sent for urgent action. Kissinger initialed the “approve” option, and a notation from Scowcroft indicates that Kissinger followed up by calling Clements. A notation on the first page indicates that Tab B, attached, the proposed telegram to Unger, was given to the situation room for dispatch on March 9. Tab A, a telephone conversation between Kissinger and Clements from March 5, is attached but not published. Tab C, telegram 3675 from Bangkok, March 7, is attached but not published. On March 16, Kissinger asked Richardson to make twelve 105 mm howitzers available for Thailand in addition to the eight C–123 aircraft. (Memorandum from Kissinger to Secretary of Defense; ibid.)↩
  2. Kennedy recommended that Kissinger tell Clements to prepare additional military assistance for Thailand.↩