INDOCHINA MILITARY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200280004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 5, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

25X1
Approves
NSC BRIEFING 13 May 1954
INDOCHINA MILITARY
I. Generally accepted fact war Indochina
will be won, lost in Tonkin delta.
A. Militarily, control means hold
on most densely populated
(7,000,000) area.
1. Contains second best
seaport Indochina,
four of six major
airfields.
B. Economically, Viet Minh capture
would give it light industrial
facilities far beyond what it
now has.
1. Also, delta normally
produces about 2,000,000
tons rice annually. This
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C. Psychologically, it traditional
center nationalism in Vietnam
and loss would be heavy blow
anti-Communist morale rest
-Vietnam.
enemy's battle force will reach
Tonkin delta 26 May, ready for
combat.
A. Force would amount to nine
battalions, to be followed
by remainder, 19 more
battalions.
Approved
25X1 III.
25X1
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Apo
according to French figures, over 40
battalions could be concentrated
delta. In addition, there are
reserves of regional forces now north
of delta in training.
25X1
25X1
control delta
airfields key to struggle; if
airfields lost, Hanoi will
become another Dien Bien Phu.
Approved F
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C. Enemy movement from Dien Bien
Phu not yet discerned but air
9- &ALO
observation shows it Itj
its AA emplacements.
V. Viet Minh now has 37mm AA guns pro-
tecting supply route from Caobang
southward to delta, according French.
A. This underlines report last
week that enemy improving
supply network from China
border to delta.
App elA-REW 0R01443R000200280004-7
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VII. In Cambodia, invasion early April by
two regular Viet Minh battalions
upset delicate military balance
(Iwo)
A. Shift'of Cambodian units (meet
Cambodia.
threat northeast) exposed south,
central portions country to
increased enemy harassment.
O'Daniel, after 10-11 May
visit Phnom Penh, commented
on defensive-mindedness of
Cambodians (due French
advice) and failure Cambodians
react to Viet Minh incursion
as invaded nation should.
O'DDaniel believes Cambodians
must form three light divisions
by November, otherwise country
will be under heavy Viet Minh
invasion.
Ap
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VIII. Laniel, apparently reversing past
French strategy, this week told
Dillon in Paris that French might
be forced withdraw completely from
Laos and Cambodia to protect key
areas Vietnam.
A. Such withdrawal from Laos
Si would deliver that country
=r-
zrv3 to the Viet Minh in short
Appr R01443R000200280004-7
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B. Cambodia could be expected
oppose Viet Minh in the
hope of US technical aid.
But any Viet Minh intervention
,in division strength would
bring about quick collapse.
25X1
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-Is