CIA OFFICER DOUBTFUL OF ASIA VICTORY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000300490078-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Sequence Number: 78
• Publication Date: August 23, 1964
• Content Type: NSPR

CPYRGHT
Approved For Release 1200487W,SOWEZDP75
AUG 23 1964
^ r f"+
But His Opinion
Does Not Reflect
Government View
WASHINGTON I9i -A
CIA officer has voiced "seri
ous doubt that victory can
be won" in South Vietnam
and has suggested the event-
ual outcome might be a ne-
gotiated settlement. Admin-
istration sources said Satur-
day this is not the U.S.
government view.
The conclusion that, no
military end to the war
against Red guerrillas is in
sight was expressed bj Wil-
lard Matthias, a member of
the Central Intelligence
Agency's Board of National
Astimates, in a June 8 paper
on "trends in the world si
tuatidn."
Only Personal Views
Administration sources
emphasized, however, that
the Matthias paper reprF-
srnted only the views of the
CIA officer and never
reached the top policy-nick
ing levels of the government..
Matthias wrote' that the.
Communist Viet Cong have.
stepped ui) their offensive
and the counter - guerriil.
effort. "continues to flour-
(10J." under poor prosecutioi
by the Saigon o 'ernment.
('nn'tinucci large-scale U.S
support of the anti-guerrilla
(:rnrpai ii and an end t
"turther political deteriora-
tion within:.South Vietnam'
con ld at least achieve "?
prolonged stalemate," t h
CIA officer said.
CPYRGHT
Neutralization Suggested
Alatthi:as said there also is
chance that future dove-
opments "could lead to some
rind of negotiated settle-,
iient bard upon neutrali-
ation." h'S?rnch President
'harles do, Gaulle has su g-
ested ncn I ralization of the
rca. an idea coolly received
iv the L.S. government.
Admini,taation. sources
iacle the 50-page document.
vailable after Learning it.
could be published in they
'hicago Tribune.
cover sheet to Matthias'
signed by Sherman