Office of the Historian

402. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Deputy Secretary of State Ingersoll, Deputy Secretary of Defense Clements, and Director of Central Intelligence Colby, Washington, July 1, 1975.1 2

Washington, July 1, 1975

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

July 1, 1975

MEMORANDUM FOR
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

SUBJECT: U.S. Force Reductions in Thailand

NSDM 286 provided guidance for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Thailand to include end strength objectives for the end of FY 1976 and by December 31, 1976.

Events since the instance of NSDM 286, including expressed desires of the Royal Thai Government for total withdrawal of U.S. military forces and the collapse of South Vietnam, indicate a need for review of the schedule for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Thailand.

It is requested that, in coordination with the Department of State and the Director of Central Intelligence, the Department of Defense forward recommendations on the rate and composition of the U.S. force withdrawals from Thailand. The withdrawal increments should be spaced over the time periods in question. Options should be presented for withdrawal of all U.S. forces by March 31, 1976, as well as for retention of residual assets, which would be subject to negotiation with the Government of Thailand. Residual options should include consideration of such intelligence as well as military assets as are considered desirable, and in such form as to be most negotiable. Each withdrawal increment should balance, to the extent possible, support and combat personnel.

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Force reduction recommendations should be based on the statement of U.S. interests and objectives developed in the response to NSSM 225. Recommendations should be forwarded to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs by July 21, 1975.

[Brent Scowcroft signed for]
Henry A. Kissinger

  1. Source: Library of Congress, James Schlesinger Papers, Box 22. Secret; Nodis. Scowcroft signed the memorandum for Kissinger. In response to this memorandum, the USIB approved a memorandum, July 31, on the “Future of US Military Intelligence Installations and Units in Thailand,” which was prepared under the auspices of the National Intelligence Officer for South and Southeast Asia, and reflected the views of CIA, DIA, INR, and NSA. (Library of Congress, Henry Kissinger Papers, TS 10, 8/75) Scowcroft received this memorandum under a covering memorandum, August 7, from Quinn. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 17, Thailand [12])↩
  2. Kissinger asked DOD, DOS, and CIA to make recommendations on U.S. force reductions in Thailand.↩