PRELIMINARY COMMENTS ON PSB PAPER D-23 OF 19 MAY 1953

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000300010006-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2006
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: May 26, 1953
• Content Type: MEMO

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T. S. 88655
Copy 1
26 May 1953
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1,0MORANDUM FOR: The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Preliminary Comments on PSB paper D-23 of
19 may 1953
1. You have requested my reactions and recommendations concern-
ing the above-mentioned staff study which is scheduled for prelimin-
ary discussion at the PSB meeting of 28 May 1953. (Actually, I am
informed that the present paper is far from ready for submission to
"policy levels," and that it may be up against very substantial ob-
jections from the State Department. I have learned that 1,1r. Bonsal,
who has been chairing the Panel, has expressed so many objections to.t
the paper in its ;present form as to place the entire exercise in
doubt.)
2. The staff study, which is entitled "U. S. Psychological
Strategy with Respect to the Thai Peoples of Southeast Asia," em-
bodies very ambitious and far-reaching proposals. It calls for a
program of concerted and coordinated actions in Southeast Asia in
order to meet and overcome the present adverse trend, with particu-
lar reference to the latest "psycho-political" strategy of the Com-
munists in Southeast Asia. I
NSC review(s) completed.
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B.
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Whereas I am in full agreement with the statement concerning the weak-
ness of the French position in Indo-China, etc., I cannot conceive of
how anything constructive can be erected iTith "U. S. leadership" for
use in Indo-China without a total change of attitude on the part of
the French authorities.
4. Failing French concurrence in the plan or at the very least
s pathetic French acquiescence or connivance
u
I
d
w o
predict that we will inevitably run into all of the o c arges of
"undermining the French position in Indo-China;" "offering provoca-
to and pretexts for Chinese Communist intervention," etc., -- that
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6. I have not been able to ascertain that a sufficient oppor-
tunity has been afforded to the intelligence analyzing and estimat-
ing arms of CIA and State to make their contribution of ideas to this
,paper. This is a disquieting feature of the exercise -- particularly
in view of the fact that the paper purports to set forth and depend
upon an analysis and estimate of the prevailing situation in South-
cast Asia as well as the future probabilities. I have arranged for
a copy of the paper to be provided to DD/I and, as indicated above,
I would judge that there would be sufficient time for DD/I to :make
his contribution to this important study and proposal.
FRANK G. WISN;R
Deputy Director (Plans)
cc: DD/I - Copy #2
c/FE - Copy #3
Attached:
TL' 83615 - Copy 45
"t;. S. Psychological
Strategy with Respect to
the Thai Peoples of South-
east Asia", PSB paper D-23
dated 19 May 1?53.
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