MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SPECIAL GROUP (CI)2:00 P.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1963

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R001900150004-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 12, 1963
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For-Release 2003/10/07 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R001900150004-4
SECRET
December 12, 1963
1 RMDuM FOR THE RECORD
S E o Minutes off the Meeting of the Special Group (CI)
2000
Pm Thuraday Db 12
naaaecemer, 1963
MS M Governor Harriman
Murrtotl Mv Q? 1b D Yom, McConeo Mr. Forrestal,, Mr. Wilson vice Mr,,
NSC REVIEW
.CCOMPLETED,
:6126/2003
5 0 o art vice Mr. Gilpatrica Mr. Poets vice Mr. Bella
General Krulak vice General Taylor, Mra Nolan vice the Attorney
General
MYro. Hannah and Mr. Mendenhall were present for Items 2 and 3,
Mr. Margolies was present for Item No, 4.
Mro Cottrell and Mr,, Maechling were present for the meeting,
1, Intel1i~ence Suargy
Mr. McCone reviewed for the Group the major points contained in the Intel-
'ligence memoranda distributed for this item
H
,
e mentioned thtti
a reacon can be
expected to the increased pressure bein
e
d
g
xerte
by thetiCi
an=ommunst forces
on the Pathet Lao in Northern and Central Laos, Although Castro support for
2 X1 - leftist elements in Peru has not incrna the situation has the potential of
becoming serious
25X1
'
25X1
.
25XNSC-
loo McCone reviewed the latest de
l
ve
opments in Boliihg
van were US hostaes'are still being bald and the situation i
s extremely seri M C
ous.roottrell
.'added that a recent message from the Country Tenn indicates that negotiations
for release of the hostages hinges on the key issue of how to resolve the pro-
blam o# exchanging or releasing the r- m
i
mun
st mine lead hld i
ersen La Papa.
moo. McConea in discussing the re
port on
Republica stated that the Government is h
i
e
a
hnn
av
ng
trouble
ntlii
eurazng~all ofthe guerrilla bands but has contained them for the time being. The insurgent
'movement has so far failed to
i i g
ain
f
g
s
icant local support and hopes for out-
side assistance from Cuba, a-
o
Mr. Cottrell stated that he a
d
gree
with this rd
eport an added that once
thE.paesent Government is recognized by the U.S., assistance should be given to
the=Dominican Government to assist in its anti-guerrilla campaign, Howeverra'we
P u d move slowly in the resumption of ec
onomic and militid
ary a programs,.
'2o Southeast Asia Status Re ort
Mr, Mendenhall stated that
h
t
e war is goi bdl
ngay and pointed
qut specific reasons why there has been lack of progress in the Delta area, He
added, however,, that a numhdnr .,?
vur3 ace now being considered to
.~rrrev~erse this trend.
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S E C R E T
It has been difficult to get Strategic Hamlet moving again because of the?.-
lack , of central direction and the remestab lis1 ent of administrative controls..
Mr. Mendenhall believes that it will take some time for the new Government , to
Improve this conditions
M_ Meron,e commented that a recent report has been brought to his attention
Tam asked if- all the.resnonsible agencies agreed with this appraisal. There
was.general agreement that the situation in this province is serious ana tnat_
prompt action is needed.
Con s ?ted that the responsibility of the Group to follow up reports
M
0
e
VU V4CU-L4O6WO
last few months, the Group had received advanced warning by various individuals
arently
d but a
d
pp
e
as becoming over exten
that the hamlet program in the Delta w
no, action was taken to look into this situation.
The chairman suggested that following Secretary McNamarae s trip ? to Viet-am,
the role of the Group. to follow up on the execution of programs.ror vnet=Nam.
should be reviewed and clarified.
Hannah reported that, in general, all programs related-t6
Thaalsnd n Mr
s
internal security are progressing satisfactorily and it is planned to follow up
oblems will undoubtedly
P
n
i
r
o
,
on those programs that require special attent
arise as a,result of Sarit?s death. Although Thanom has been named Prime
Minister, it is. believed that there will be considerable maneuvering for power
.by various rivals and cliques. However, at this time the political situation
looks favorable.
The Country Team has been asked to report by the end of the month on pro-
gress that has been made to get the Thai Government to prepare tnebs own
version of the Internal Security Plan.
The Group requested that Defense submit a full report as soon as possible
on what additional steps will be taken to correct the deficiencies In the
'.locomotives sent to Thailand.
3,. Remarks by Mr. Forrestal
Viet-Nam > Mr. Forrestal stated that he agreed that the situation in the
Delta was serious and that one of the reasons that this has not been uncovered
before is that previous reports on progress at the province level had been too
optiimistic.
He observed that there is inertia within the new Government; although they
recognized that they have problems, little has been done to resolve them, or'
to take positive action. He recommended that the US Government get across CO
the key generals that they should stop political quarreling and concentrate
on the war effort in threatened provinces. We should assist the current
Government in the preparation of a new hamlet program in order to gdg this
program moving as soon as possible. If we concentrate on the czar, and not
.divert our attention to marginal problems, the chances of success will be
Approved For Release 200361%10Z :~CLA?RDP80B01676R001900150004-4 Im.
 3n
401140e10- tAat th,!a Amn.esty. ogi
agar oz."114 accolexc ted program,
on, o t Agee validity.of,_ reports; on progress,-in.? tne:.xsrovinc'ec
a t the ov#aa a leve1,?,one epsresenting the military an he
- > .
o i is ciuit tia their chief eokfrce ':6f in or ationo
.
Cambodia a Mr. For zesty . eitated that he had a strong fppl rocs th-, Q4&*,
..ir
ao ng test e_ left. Sihrtcaouk . is highly irrational and has
w, v - ov mboc.k-aip c: wi 61 uucasxou co cerminate us presence and we .should be
S. aware
Ca
ea i i h
or; : 'o s a r recd meniie that: evacuation pl tn, for Tyr ' erao~t .~1 f
L o. Mr..Forreetel stated that he detected a sense of frustratj'o