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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
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| 56. | Korean President Syngman Rhee proposes sending a ROKA Division to Indochina, but the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the transfer would not be in the best interests of the Free World. JCS Memorandum for Secretary of Defense, 1 March 1954 | 259 |
| 57. | The JCS express concern over developments in the status of the MAAG Chief to Indochina relative to a considerable increase in personnel and scope of training responsibilities. The French feel that "it should be clearly understood that neither O'Daniel nor MAAG was to have any powers, advisory or otherwise" in planning operations or training the national armies. The JCS feels a demotion of O'Daniel in deference to Navarre is detrimental to U. S. prestige. JCS Memorandum for Secretary of Defense, 5 March 1954 | 264 |
| 58. | In the preparation of Defense Department views regarding negotiations on Indochina for the Geneva Conference, the JCS reaffirm there position concerning the strategic importance of Indochina to the security interests of the United States as reflected in NSC 5405. JCS Memorandum for Secretary of Defense 12 March 1954 | 266 |
| 59. | General Erskine submits the President's Special Committee recommendations on the military implications of the U. S. position on Indochina at Geneva. The analysis concludes that "no solution to the Indochina problem short of victory is acceptable." The conclusions expressed are felt to merit consideration by the NSC and the President. Erskine Memorandum for the Special Committee, NSC, 17 March 1954 | 271 |
| 60. | Secretary of Defense, Charles E. Wilson, is fully in accord with the JCS views (Document No. 43) and General Erskine's recommendations (Document No. 44), and recommends to Secretary Dulles that they be carefully considered in preparation for the Geneva Conference. Wilson letter to Dulles, 23 March 1954 | 276 |
| 61. | General Ely feels that any air intervention at Dien Bien Phu would have to come from Chinese territory and would carry grave consequences. "Can direct intervention by U. S. aircraft be envisaged and, if such is the case, how would it take place?" See Annex A of Document 63, page 277. General Ely Memorandum to Admiral Radford, 23 March 1954 | 286 |
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