Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION

S UMMARY

The statements enclosed are from the period 1950 - 1952: from the Secretary of State's announcement marking the beginning of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam to the NATO resolution supporting the French fight in Indochina. The justifications advanced for the U.S. commitment in Indochina include the following:

a. The Soviets are engaged in a "monstrous conspiracy to stamp out freedom all over the world," and Soviet imperialism, with Communist China as its instrument, poses a direct threat to the independence of the Associated States of Indochina.

b. The defense of Indochina is an integral part of the worldwide resistance by free nations to communist aggression and subversion.

c. The raw materials and agricultural products of Southeast Asia are "vitally needed" by the free nations of the world.

d. The United States, in the interest of preventing a third world war, has provided aid to the Associated States and France.

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

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y. A. JUSTIFICATION OF THE WAR — PUBLIC STATEMENTS

TRUMAN ADMINISTRATIO N

CONTENTS

Page

1. Secretary of State marks the beginning of U.S. military and economic assistance to the Associated States and France

(8 May 1950) A " 2

2. Truman cites Communist threat in Asia; emphasizes the lessons of history in meeting aggression in its early stages

(11 April 1951) ■ • A " 2

3. President cites Communist imperialism as a threat to vitally needed raw materials and manpower of free Asian nations as requiring U.S. assistance to these countries (2k May 1951) A-3

k. Statement by the Departments of State and Defense resulting from French-U.S. discussions regarding aid to Indochina (23 September 1951) • • A "5

5. Communique acknowledging the primary role of U.S. in Korea and its secondary role of assisting French in Indochina in combatting Communist imperialism (l8 June 1952) A-5

6. Resolution adopted by North Atlantic Council of NATO support for French role in Indochina and its importance to Atlantic Community (17 December 1952) - A-5

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

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v , JUSTIFICATION 0? THE WAR — PUBLIC A. Truman Administration

1.

Secretary of S tate Statement on Extension of Military and Economic Aid, T^T g7l9foTDepartaent of State Bulletin, May 22, 1930, P- 821:

"The United States Government, convinced that neither national independence nor democratic evolution exist in any area dominated by Soviet imperialism, considers the situation to be such as to warrant its accord-in; economic aid and military equipment to the Associated Stages of Indochina and to France in order to assist them in restoring stability and Emitting these states to pursue their peaceful and democrats development.

o Presi dent's Radio Report to the American People on Korea and on U. S.,

2 ' fejg ^jn^thTFar^ntrA^ril 11, 1951, Public Papers of the Pre sidents,

2^223.

"I went to talk to you plainly tonight about what we are doing in Korea and about our policy in the Far East.

"In the simplest terms, what we are doing in Korea is this: We are trying to prevent a third world war.

* * *

"The Communists in the Kremlin are engaged in a monstrous conspiracy to c+a m^ out freedom all over the world. If they were to succeed, the United Sttes would be numbered among their principal victims. It must be clear to everyone that the United States cannot - and will not — sit idly by 11* await foreign conquest. The only question is: What is the best tame to" meet the threat and how is the best way to meet it?

"The best time to meet the threat is in the beginning. It is easier to «* nut a fire in the beginning when it is small than after it has become P inprW blaze. And the best way to meet the threat of aggression is for ?ne SStloving nations to act together. If they don't act together, they are likely to be picked off, one by one.

»Tf thev had followed the right policies in the 1930's - if the free .tries had acted together to crush the aggression of the dictators, and C -7th^ had acted in the beginning when the aggression was small - there probably would have been no World War II.

' -Tf history has taught us anything, it is that aggression anywhere in itirl" is a threat to the peace everywhere in the world. When that thS rSon is sutreorted by the cruel and selfish rulers of a powerful aS ! n who are bent on conquest, it becomes a clear and present danger to th- security- and independence of every free nation.

* # *

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

"I have another secret Intelligence report here. This one tells what another Communist officer in the Far East told his men several months before the invasion of Korea. Here is what he said: *In order to successfully undertake the long-awaited world resolution, we must first unify Asia...Java, Indochina, Malaya. India, Tibet, Thailand, Philippines, and

Japan are our ultimate targets The United Spates is the only obstacle

on"our road for the liberation of all the countries in southeast Asia. In other words, we must unify the people of Asia and crush the United States.'

*

"The dangers are great. Make no mistake about it. Behind the North Koreans and Chinese Communists in the front lines stand additional millions of Chinese soldiers. And behind the Chinese stand the tanks, the planes, ^ the submarines, the soldiers, and the scheming rulers of the Soviet Union.

* * *

3. President Truman's S pecial Message to Congress on Mutual Security Program , May 2U, 1931, Public Paters of the Presidents, p. 309 =

* * *

"In Asia, in a vast area stretching from Afghanistan to Korea, free countries are struggling to meet communist aggression in all its many forms. Some of these countries are battling the communist armies of Soviet satellites; some are engaged in bitter civil strife against communist-led guerrillas; all of them face the immediate danger of communist subversion.

"Soviet intentions with regard to these countries are unmistakably clear. Using the weapons of subversion, false propaganda and civil war, the Kremlin has already reduced China to the status of a satellite. The Soviet rulers have turned their satellite armies loose on the Republic of Korea. Communist rebellion is raging in Indochina. In Burma, the Philippines" and other places, communist-inspired groups are stirring up internal disorder. In all countries, they are trying to exploit deep-seated economic difficulties -- poverty, illiteracy and disease.

"This campaign threatens to absorb the manpower and the vital resources of the East into the Soviet design of world conquest. It threatens to deprive the free nations of some of their most vitally needed raw materials. It threatens to turn more of the peaceful millions of the East into armies to be used as pawns at the disposal of the Kremlin,

"Aside from immediate considerations of security, the continued independence of these nations is vital to the future of the free world. Many ofthese nations are new to self government. They have dedicated them-stives to the ideals of national independence, of human liberty, and social Progress. Their hundreds of millions of citizens are eager for justice and liberty and a stake in the future.

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"These countries damonstrate the power and vitality of the ideals of our ovm American Revolution; they mark the sweeping advance across the world of the concepts of freedom and brotherhood. To lose these countries to the rulers of the Kremlin would be more than a blow to our military security and our economic life. It would be a terrible defeat for the ideals of freedom — with grave spiritual consequences for men everywhere who share our faith in freedom.

"All these considerations make it essential for the United States to help the free countries of Asia in their struggle to make good their independence and bring economic and social progress to their people. Where the governments of these countries are striving to establish free and stable political institutions, to build up their military defenses, and to raise the standard of living above the level of bare subsistence, we can and should give them assistance. We cannot replace their own strong efforts, but we can supplement them.

"This Mutual Security Program is intended to do that. On the military side, it will supply certain of the Asian countries with items of military equipment and the training they need for their defense forces. On the economic side, it will provide a number of the Asian countries with the most urgently needed commodities, machinery, and tools, and with technical advice in such fields as agriculture, industry, health, and governmental administration.

"The assistance I am recommending for Asian countries, 555 million dollars in military aid and 375 million dollars in economic aid, is so planned as to meet the most pressing needs in the various countries, and is intended to provide the crucial margin of resources which will enable them to move forward.

"Military assistance under this program will go to the Chinese armies on Formosa, to help keep that island out of the hands of Communist China. It will go to Indo-China, where over 100,000 French toops are fighting side-by-side with the forces of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia against communist-led forces. It will go to the Philippines and to Thailand, to help build forces strong enough to insure internal security and discourage outside attack. Some of these military assistance funds will also be available for allocation to other countries in the area if a critical need arises.

"The military aid under this program will supplement other military efforts against communism in Asia. The countries we will be aiding, and a number of others, are supporting military forces with their ovm funds. France is supplying the largest part of the military supplies needed in Indo-China, and Britain is supplying her forces which are fighting guerrillas in the Malay States. The substantial military aid we are giving to the forces of the Republic of Korea is Included in the budget'for our military services.

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"The struggle for security and peace in Asia is far more than a military matter. In many of the Asian countries, including all the countries which need military aid, economic assistance is also required.

1^ T he Military Aid Program: Statement by the Departments of State and Defense, September 23, 1951, Department of State Bulletin, October 8, 1951, P. 570:

"The participants were in complete agreement that the successful defense of Indochina is of great importance to the defense of all Southeast Asia....

5. The Defense of Indochina: Communique Regarding Discussions Between Representatives of the United States,""""France, Viet-Nam, and Cambodia, juLe_T8, 1 952, Department of State Bulletin, June 30, 1952, P» 1010:

"The principle which governed this frank and detailed exchange of views and information was the common recognition that the struggle in which the forces of the French Union and the Associated States are engaged against the forces of communist aggression in Indochina is an integral part of the world-wide resistance by the Free Nations to Communist attempts at conquest and subversion...."

* * *

g. S upport by NATO of the French Union Defense Efforts in Indochina:

Resolution Adopted by the North Atlantic Council, December 17, 1952, Department of State Bulletin, Jajiuary 5? 1953? P- *<■:

"The North Atlantic Council

" Recognizes that resistance to direct or indirect aggression in any part of the world is an essential contribution to the common security of the free world;

"HAVING BEEN INFORMED at its meeting in Paris on the l6th December of the latest developments in the military and political situation in Indo-China;

" Expresses its wholehearted admiration for the valiant and long continued struggle by the French forces and the armies of the Associated States against Communist aggression; and

"Ackno wledges that the resistance of the free nations in South East Asia as in Korea is in fullest harmony with the aims'and ideals of the Atlantic Community;

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"And th erefore agrees that the campaign -waged by the French Union forces in Indo-China deserves continuing support from the NATO governments."

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