Office of the Historian

411. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger, Deputy Secretary of State Ingersoll, and Director of Central Intelligence Colby, Washington, October 24, 1975.1 2

Washington, October 24, 1975

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

October 24, 1975

MEMORANDUM FOR

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

SUBJECT: U.S. Force Reductions in Thailand

The President has decided that we should attempt to retain the following intelligence activities in Thailand after March 1976: [text not declassified] Chiang Mai Seismic Station; U-2R operations; and P-3 Air Surveillance Patrols. The President also wishes to retain an aircraft operational capability at Utapao and to gain permission for the re-entry of U.S. aircraft. This residual presence should be the minimum necessary to accomplish the mission, but should not exceed 3000 personnel spaces.

The President also wishes to attempt to retain the Ko Kha Spacetrack facility, but does not consider it an essential item in the negotiating package. Thai intelligence agencies have maintained close liaison with the 500th MI and the 7602AI Groups. If the retention of either one would, in the judgment of the U.S. Mission in Bangkok, [text not declassified] then one of the other should continue at a minimum staffing level. Otherwise, both Groups should phase out by March 1976.

The State Department is directed to prepare, in conjunction with the Defense Department and CIA, a negotiating instruction for our Embassy in Bangkok to use in approaching the Thai Government on this subject. These instructions should be completed by October 30, 1975.

[Brent Scowcroft signed for] Henry A. Kissinger

cc: The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Director, Office of Management and Budget

  1. Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–36, NSSMs, NSSM 225 (2), Review of U.S. Policy toward Thailand (2). Top Secret; Sensitive. The Chairman of the JCS and the Director of OMB also received copies. Scowcroft signed the memorandum for Kissinger.↩
  2. Kissinger outlined the U.S. position for negotiations on U.S. force reductions in Thailand.↩