BAY OF BENGAL AND TONKIN GULF

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-01601R000300100027-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 9, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 13, 2000
Sequence Number: 
27
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 10, 1972
Content Type: 
NSPR
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-01601R000300100027-2.pdf118.84 KB
Body: 
WASHINGTON POST Approved For Release 20 0Q/d8)b497blA-RDP80-01601 STATINTL The Washington Merry?Go-Round rh n If uay of Ben6ul and Tonkin GU By Jack Anderson The secret White House Papers reveal some ominous similarities between the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Tonkin. The Gulf of Tonkin incident on Aug. 4,.1964, led to our deep involvement In the Viet- nam war. The American pub- lic was told that North Viet- namese torpedo boats had staged an unprovoked attack upon a U.S. destroyer, al- though later evidence cated that the attack was ac- word that both the Soviet and Indian military attaches had asked Col. Melvin Hoist, the American attache, what he knew. about Chinese troop movements and U.S. fleet movements. "U.S.S.R. Attache Loginov;' said the secret dispatch, "called upon PRC military at- tache Chao Kuang Chih in Katmandu advising Chao that PRC should not get too serious about intervention, because U.S.S.R. would react, had the Soviets "would open a dL- versionary action" against the Chinese and "will not allow the Seventh Fleet to inter- vene." Here are the highlights of this ominous Soviet pledge, which the CIA claimed to have picked up from a "relia- ble source." "Pegov stated that Pakistan is trying to, draw both the tates and China into United State's' the present conflict. The So- viet Union, however, does not many missiles, etc." I believe that either country Hoist concluded, the dis- will intervene. patch added, that "both the i "According to Pegov, the U.S.S.R. and India Embassies, movement of the U.S. Seventh have a growing concern that Fleet is an effort by the Unit- The risk of a similar naval I'ig"`s PRC might intervene." to bully India, to As the American warships ed States incident in the Bay of Bengal moved through the strait ands Simultaneously, the Central! discourage it from striking caused grave apprehensions Headed into the Bay of Bengal,) Intelligence Agency rushed against West Pakistan, and at inside the State Departmentleven more ominous reports out a top secret report that the same time to boost the ' as a U.S. task force steamed the height of the Indian-Paki- stani fighting. On Dec. 7, a top secret warn- ing was flashed to Washington that "three Soviet naval ships, it seagoing minesweeper and a tanker have begun to move message reported tersely. "Ac- northeastward Into the Bay of cording to a reliable clandes- Bengal.. The units entered the I tine source, (Pakistan's) Presi- Indian Ocean from the Ma dent Yahya Khan claimed ... laeca Strait on 3 December and today that the Chinese Ambas- ' were located approximately b00 nautical miles east of Cey- lon on 7 December." Urgent huddles in the White House led to a decision on Dec. 10 to assemble-in Ma- lacca Strait a U.S. task force, ;spearheaded by the aircraft carrier Enterprise, the Navy's most powerful ship. The pri- mary purpose was to make a "show of force" and to divert Indian planes and ships from Pakistan. As the task force moved into position, Admiral John McCain, our Pacific com? mander, inquired on Dec. 11 about "the feasibility of ... aerial surveillance of Soviet .task group located approxi- mately 180 NM (nautical miles) southwest of Ceylon." Air Surveillance Authorization was flashed back the same day "in the event Task Force 74 is directed to transmit the Strait of Malac- ca. At that time, appropriate reached Washington from the) he Chinese have been pass-;morale of the Pakistani forces. Defense Intelligence Agency. I ing weather data for locations! Pegov noted that a Soviet "Recent indicators have in Tibet and along the Sine In?ifleet is now in the Indian been received which suggest I than border since 8 December. I Ocean and that the Soviet the PRC (Peoples Republic of The continued passing of iUnion will not allow the Sev- planning ac-weather data for these loca-tenth Fleet to intervene. e a) may b Chin uld decide to ed unusual "' id h h er o ina s If C the Indo-Paki-I Lions is cons regarding tions Stan conflict," a top secret and may indicate some form intervene in Ladakh, said 11 : U ' would on t sador in Islamabad had as- sured him that within 72 hours the Chinese Army will move towards the border. "President Yahya's claim cannot be confirmed. How- ever, recent Peking, propa- ganda statements have be- come more critical of India's involvement in East Pakistan." From Katmandu in the Himalayas, meanwhile, came nt of alert posture. Pegov, the Sovie open a diversionary action in Soviet great inkiang. Pegov also com- And from New Delhi, the ented that after Dacca is lib- CIA reported: "According to crated and the Bangladesh reliable clandestine source, government Is installed, both Prime Minister Gandhi told a',the United States and China leader of her Congress Party will he unable to act and will that she had some indications i change their current attitude that the Chinese intend to in- tervene along India's northern border . Mrs. Gandhi said that the Chinese action might toward the crisis." This is how the big powers danced precariously on the edge of the brink just before be in the Ladakh area." I Christmas as people sang Russia's Ambassador to ' about peace on earth and India Nikolai M. Pegov, how-good will toward men. ever, promised on Dec. 13 that ( Bell-McClure Syndicate Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01601 R000300100027-2