LATEST MESSAGE FROM FRED LADD IN PHNOM PENH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-450-7-9-5
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: December 13, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORAND 01A W ~"`' L/t'~kufN . ~~
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
7/EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
5
ACTION c 3s 13 c
December 13, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR: GENERAL HAIG
JOHN H. HOLDRIDG
SUBJECT: Latest Message from Fred Ladd in Phnom Penh.
At Tab B is a message to you from Fred Ladd dated December 7 reporting
the imminent resignation of Lon Nol (which did not materialize), a CINCPAC
plan to send all MAP shipments to the FANK via Kompong Sorn, and other
observations about the unstable political situation in Cambodia following the
collapse of the Chenla II operation.
This message does not really contribute much to our knowledge of the
political scene--we have been getting full reports from CAS and also from
Embassy cables--but it does inform us that GINCPAC actually is moving;
on his tc Som is the major supply route.
v
We have not been informed officially of this and have resisted diversions
of scarce MAP resources to this project up to now. We would recommend
against getting too deeply into this Kompong situation with Ladd, though,
until we can find out more about what CINCPAC may have in mind; for
example, the use of Kompong Som on a contingency basis for MAP
shipments might have some merit, but we certainly would agree with Ladd
that a plan to set it up as the primary route in the near future would be a
disaster on several counts--route security, cost, GKR resources available
to name a few.
At Tab A is a message from you to Ladd which thanks him for his report
and tells him we will keep a close watch on things from here. We doubt
that a more substantive report is needed at this time.
Recommendation:
That you sign the cable to Ladd at Tab A.
RICHARD T. KENNEDY
NSS Review
Completed.
TIVrLXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
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TO: Amembassy PHNOM PENH
? STS - f'Kt"3 is
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE/EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
VIA CAS CHANNELS
EYES ONLY FOR STATION CHIEF
much appreciated. I gather that the crisis atmosphere was subsided
somewhat since your message of December 7, but we are still watching
2. Your reporting of the complex political situation in Phnom Penh is
from Brig. General Alexander M. Haig.
1. Please pass following message to Political Military Counselor Ladd
the situation with concern. Please let us know if there are any aspects
which you regard as being particularly significant or worth attention
back in Washington. It seems- clear that Lon Nol himself is living in a
dream world and needs continuous firm guidance to move on the hard
issues which must be dealt with if the ball game is not to be lost.
Even with more delegation of authority, that sort of guidance probably
will be essential if we are going to be successful in preventing the NVA
from scoring big during this dry season.
3. The information you provided about the possible use of Kompong Som'
reasons you cite. I appreciate the political and military sensitivities
about diverting scarce resources to this project now for the very
for receiving all of the MAP supplies for Cambodia was the first we
had heard that this plan might be implemented. We are concerned
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
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TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE/EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
that this might cause us, and you may be sure that we will keep a close
eye on further developments.
4. Keep up the good work and warm regards.
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 ?NTRAL !NTELL(Gt-NCE AGEN
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Brigadier General Alen. ,:? p`i
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Deputy Assistant to F
National Security A.ff 4
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They following messages were received fox you this morning
from Mr. Ladd:
"From: Mr. Ladd, Phnom Penh 1631
"To: Brig. Gen. Haig; The White House
"Top Secret Sensitive Exclusively Eyes Only
inn :ge was written earlier today. We just
Chang Meng (Chief of State). Sak Sutsakhan w3_l1 call me as
soon as he Can and wants to see. rn.e. I have reported this to
the Ambassador and am standing by for Sal: Sutsakhan's call.
Will keep you informed.
this rnorning. It is 1000 hours local time now. Sak Sutsakhan's
aide called me twenty minutes ago to say that Sak Sutsakhan
had just left. a meeting with Lon Nol and was enroute to see
received word through political section that Lon Nol will resign
"Top Secret Sensitive Exclusively Eyes Only"
"Top' Secrt
... et 5ezaslt:lve Exclusively Eyes Only
"From: Mr. Ladd, Phnom Penh 1632
"To: Brig. Gen... Haig, The White House
t"1. A couple of matters are becoming somewhat unglued
.concerning this place and you should .lie aware of they .
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"2. During the past three weeks CINCPAG has been putting
the heat on a project to develop the Port of Kornpong Sorn to
receive all repeat all of the MAP supplies for Can-lbodi'a. We,
much earlier, agreed to a test shipment to Kompong Sorn with
possible partial MAP deliveries to that port in mind. A TDY
survey team from GINCPAC was here about six weeks ago and
in mid-November recornnnended 2 April 72 as the target date
for all MAP shipments to be routed to-Kornpong Som. We sent
a message to CINCPAC, Phnom. Penh. 6113, pointing out the
proposed target date was totally unrealistic. Yesterday MFI)TC
received a message from CINCPAC stating JCS has tasked that
Hq 'to develop a time-phased logistical plan to shift the Cambodian
logistical support from the RVN.' That message is cited as JCS
6475/131351 Oct 71 (PASEP) (BOM) and all three other messages
cited are NOTALs. The guidance provides for total GKR respon-
sibility for off-loading, storage and transshipment onward. It
also calls for Ted Mataxis' people to come up with estimates as
to size of an additional MEDTC force to be based in Kompong Som
to include a sepa:.?atc con.-no system for the operation.
"3. I have nothing against contingency plans, but if this
particular one is closely related to any date like 1 April 72 for
implementation then the cart is getting way ahead of the horse.
Also, if any word leaked out that the JCS/ CINCPAG is planning any
sort of permanent support base with additional U. S. military
personnel at Kompong Som, it would be damned embarrassing
for all concerned. Besides, it has taken us a year and a half to
get the FANK reasotiably geared to the present system which they
can barely protect now. TANK simply hasn't the resources or
the professional skill to shift the. total focus of their logistical
supply 'at this time or for the foreseeable future. They can't
afford the redeployment of the forces that would be necessary to
secure the Kompong Som area.. They cannot guarantee the use of
Route 4. How fa.r this has gone or how serious JCS/CINCPAG is
about it, I don't know. I predict, however., that if the entire concept
is not handled very slowly and,with the closest security and control;
the shit will really hit the fan. CIII,4EI)TC is, in the plan, ordered
to coordinate with FANK and a leak will surely col-rie from that
source if not from Washington. Be very careful with this one, it
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could backfire in many ways and I would hate to see another
albatross hung around our collective necks, particularly when
the damn bird couldn't fly even before it was dead.
1"4.. I referred to the second problem in my most recent
message to you. It is the rumblings we are getting of high-level
discontent with FANK's showing, at Chenla 11 and with Lon Vol.'s
personal handling of the operation. In Tam. got hold of the Ambassador
over the weekend and informed him even Sirik Matak was disenchanted
and thinking a change. is necessary. The reverse at Chenla II was
indeed partially a result of Lon Nol's actions, but there were
other factors also like poorly qualified field commanders, many
non-MAP trained and equipped troops were involved, there were
too many dependents present, the FANK logistics- system is rather
primitive at the lower levels, etc.
1"5. The Ambassador sent a message to State yesterday about
his feelings in this matter of internal leadership at the highest
level. A young FSO-4 in the political section, whom I do not con-
sider either completely objective, is doing the leg work as far as
the Ez .s; y is conce ~;cu?;,witli Swank and Enders calling the plays.
Although the rest of us have been ordered to stay out of it and if we
are approached to refer all c,omersto Swank and Enders, I have
no doubt that if a crisis comes, I will hear from. Lon Nol, Sirik
Matak or Sak Sutsahkan. If I am so approached, my intention is
to listen to what they have to say and then (if appropriate) advise
the Ambassador. Unless you direct me to the contrary, I have no
intention of turning them off. I have been and am considered a
personal friend by all three and I think it would be counterproductive
for me to start my If can't talk to you' dialogue with them at this
,stage of the game.
.. . "6. There are n-j.any uniquely oriental, political, personal and
professional factors mixed up in this thing. Some are good, some
are bad, some could be. dangerous. All of the principals involved
and some outsiders have heavy stakes in the outcome. Some of those
involved are Lon Nol, Lon Non, In Tam, Sirik Matak, Son Ngoc Thanh,
Cheng Heng (Chief of State), the Khmer Kroxn, Bonzes, etc.
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7. The Ambassador's guidance to the political section is
to counsel 'unity and settling of differences' within the frame
work of the club. I concur in.this as sound. Right now the worms
in the can Are wiggling more than usual and it's difficult to find
the pattern. I will keep you advised.
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