This page needs to be proofread.
Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
TOP SECRET
- c. From the military viewpoint, insofar as relief of Dien Bien Phu is concerned, the project is of little value.
- d. Psychological aspects might well be satisfied by confining projects to the field at Seno only.
- e. Maintaining Seno field operational would require a continuing supply effort of considerable proportions.
- f. Local defense of field and any ground line of communications would have t o be increased to counter Viet Minh guerrilla operations which would increase with the added importance of the airfield.
4. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider[1] that:
- a. From a military viewpoint, the proposal of the French, except for supply of naval aircraft, should be rejected.
- b. If, for other than military reasons, the proposal is approved, the U.S . commitment should be limited to rehabilitation and extension of the Seno airfield.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
forARTHUR RADFORD,
Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- ↑ The Chief of Staff, U.S. Army invites attention to his additional view's expressed at the 6 April 1954 meeting of the Armed Forces Policy Council and submitted through the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense for his information by a covering memorandum, dated 22 April 1954, subject: "Indochina."
394
TOP SECRET