TRIAL BALLOON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000300490054-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Sequence Number: 54
• Publication Date: August 25, 1964
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2000/08/26 : Cl
CHARLESTON, S. C.
NEWS ,& COURIER
5.
0! 053
6
731976
Pam Paoa Pago
AUG25IS S;
?o:
Trial Balloon
Release by the Johnson adminis-
tration of a Central Intelligence'
Agency study that"cefl?'for "soffie'
lUnd of negotiated settlement" in
South Viet Nam looks to us like a
trial balloon for appeasement in1
Southeast Asia.
The paper was written 'by a mem-
; ber of the Board of National Esti-
.` :mates - a top echelon group with-
;' in the CIA. Never, to our knowl-'
edge,'has this kind of secret docu-
ment been released to the press.
If this is the kind of thinking that',
fers the excuse' that it was to be prevails in the Johnson administra
published by a Midwest newspaper. I tion, it IS doubtful that the war cans;
We would like to know much more be won. No war is won by defeat
'about the circumstances. All Board; is Nor will the war in South Viet'
of National Estimates papers are Nam be won when the communists
top secret. Anyone who leaks one enjoy a privileged sanctuary in
of these documents is subject ? to ! North Viet Nam. Existence of al
prosecution. The President should privileged sanctuary cost the U.SA
launch an investigation. :the war in Korea.
The content of the paper shows Guerrilla fighting, student riots
"that the unidentified author is' in- and internal subversion are forms
clined to appeasement. He terms of warfare in which communists ex-
the war in South Viet Nam ""more eel. If the United States and its
a political contest than a military free-world allies cannot find a suc
operation," blames reverses on the cessful way to combat these tactics,.!
assassinated President Diem, and they not only' cannot win a war, in
says "there remains serious doubt the Par East, but anywhere else
that victory can be won." including home territory.
CPYRGHT
;Approved Edr`Release 2000/09/26 :4 C'iA-RDP75-0?001R0'(f030d490054-3