SUMMARY OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMENTS REGARDING SOUTHEAST ASIA - 23 JUNE 1964

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00446R000300120012-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 12
• Content Type: SUMMARY

11, Ivy
Approved For Release 2003/149 A FPPOP0 ~Y00300120012-3
Summary of Congressional Comment Regarding
Southeast Asia - 23 June 1964
Senator Wayne Morse continued his campaign against the
Administration's policy in Viet Nam. He said that after listening
to a briefing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by the
Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was
". . . convinced that the greatest threat to the peace of the world is
the United States" adding that if the United States continued to follow
the course implied by that briefing, we would be "... headed straight
for a major war in Asia...." When word of the resignation of
Ambassador Lodge and the appointment of General Taylor was
announced, Senator Morse again took the floor to describe General
Taylor's appointment as "...a calamitous mistake on the part of
the President of the United States." He said he would vote against
the nomination when it came to the Foreign Relations Committee and
to the floor of the Senate.
A speech by Senator Church marking the 20th anniversary of
the founding of the United Nations touched off exchanges by other
senators on the Viet Nam situation. Senator Church stressed the
importance of the United Nations in international crises. Senator
Fulbright said he doubted the practical application of Senator Church's
view to the Southeast Asia situation at this time. He supported our
present policy and the President's appointment of General Taylor as
Ambassador. Senator Morse complimented Senator Church on his
views on the United Nations but said he was sorry Senator Church
marred his speech in his colloquy with Senator Fulbright. Senator
Morse, therefore, disagreed with both Senator Church and Senator
Fulbright on Viet Nam. Senator Humphrey complimented Senator
Church on his United Nations speech and added that he, too, was
pleased with the President's appointment of General Taylor. In
response to critics of the appointment of military men to an ambassa-
dorial position, Senator Humphrey cited the outstanding contribution in
civilian positions made by Generals George Marshall, Bedell Smith and
Omar Bradley. Senator Morse, getting the last word, stated that
General Taylor was not even in the "class" of General Marshall or
General Bradley. He described General Taylor as "one of the
architects" of "McNamara' s war in South Viet Nam. "
I1a S T T E
Approved For Release 2_Q2:,CIAPAi10446R000300120012-3