LETTER TO THE HONORABLE JOHN A. MCCONE FROM G[ ]BALL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R002900240015-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2002
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: June 21, 1962
• Content Type: LETTER

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Approved For Release 2002/09/03: CIA-RDP80B01676R002900240015-1/a_
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON
June 21, 1962
Dear John:
In response to Secretary Rusk's letter of June 16
proposing establishment of a Task Force Southeast Asia,
we have received a number of useful comments from the
interested agencies.
I thought you should know that the action directive
establishing the Task Force incorporates several of these
comments and includes a number of important points beyond
those contained in Secretary Rusk's previous letter.
Task Force Southeast Asia will take direct cognizance
over all of Southeast Asia including the jurisdiction of
the former Viet-Nam Task Force. Because of the importance
of this assignment, Governor Harriman has undertaken to
serve personally as Chairman of Task Force Southeast Asia.
Mr. Cottrell has been appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Far Eastern Affairs and will serve as full-time Deputy
Chairman of the Task Force. The work of the Task Force
will be organized under two working groups: A Thailand-
Cambodia-Laos-Burma working group with Mr. Koren as
Executive Director; and a Viet-Nam working group with
Mr. Ben Wood as Executive Director.
In addition, I have specifically requested that Task
Force Southeast Asia assume responsibility for keeping the
Special Group (CI) informed as to matters which fall within
its particular competence as set forth in NSAM 124.
The Honorable
John A. McCone,
Director,
Central Intelligence Agency.
State Dept. review cc, g l For Release 2002/09/03: CIA-RDP80B01676RO t$ 40015-1
 Approved For Release 2002/09/03 : CIA-RDP880B01676R002900240015-1 '7 'W
CONflDENTIAL
While a number of other useful comments and suggestions
have been made in connection with the project, I believe
that, with the exception of the points covered above, these
matters can most usefully be dealt with by the representatives
of the respective agencies in the Task Force itself.
Governor Harriman now proposes to convene the group at an
early date.
Sincerely,
Approved For Release 2002/09 IA-RDP80B01676R002900240015-1
CONFIDENTIAL