SENATOR CASE PROBES FUNDING OF THAI TROOPS IN LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000300090038-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2001
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: June 4, 1971
• Content Type: OPEN

June 4, 1971 Approved FcleUy~s(1~1 9tEPWP7,~WR000300090038-9
S,8247
higher orbits, all facility costs, and adequate [From the Washington Post, May 21, 1971] designed to provide military s ,pport and
fleets of shuttles and tugs to handle the fu- CASE SAYS UNrrED STATES SECRETLY PAYS assistance to the Government O Cambodia
ture anticipated traffic of more than 700 COSTS OF THAI TRoops IN LAOS or Laos."
flights in 13 years. (By Murrey Marder) Among other aims, this rc vision was
"Cost-effectiveness of the shuttle does not specifically designed to preys t the intro-
depend on its being associated with a space The United States is secretly paying duction of American-financec 'hai troops
station program. Reductions in launch and "through CIA" for the costs of "four to six into Laos or Cambodia.
payload costs with use of the shuttle, and thousand Thai troops in Laos" without any But as part of the compron s leading to
iiran+. m,f1,'n by 0nnn - ca> nii+rrr,a n -
for return to earth and, reuse are expected
to attract a large number of users from the
national and international governments,
commercial and scientific groups. Missions
would include deployment of unmanned
satellites, repair as well as retrieval of satel-
lites and space rescue and long duration
orbital science and application missions.
"Results of the Mathematica studies show
that launch cost savings are significant using
the shuttle instead of expendable launch
vehicles-from about $1,000 to about $100
per pound per payload-and that savings of
nearly 50 percent in payload costs are pos-
sible because of reusable and less complex
designs of payloads carried by the shuttle as
compared with payloads on expendable
launch vehicles.
"Results of the study show that in a pro-
gram of 500 flights over a 13-year period a
return on investment of 10 percent would be
achieved. If space activity reached a total of
700 flights over the same period the return
on investments would be close to 15 percent.
"Since the date of the Rand report quoted
by Sen. Mondale, the Air Force has continued
to support the NASA shuttle program. In a
statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on
Aeronautical and Space Sciences on March
30, 1971, Robert C. Seamans, Jr. Secretary of
the Air Force said:
"'A reusable space transportation system
with proper capabilities and operational
flexibility can pffer an opportunity to pro-
vide an economical way to transport pay-
loads into and out of space ... Development
of space shuttle which employs fully reusa-
ble stages rather than expandable ones ap-
pears to be the surest way to achieve a size-
able cost reduction ... the national invest-
ment could be amortized in about a decade
after the system becomes operational .. .
[.le Air Force supports the proposed
NASi FY' 1972 space shuttle effort.'"
ENATOR CASE PROBES FUNDING
- OF THAI TROOPS IN LAOS
Mr. JAVITS. Mr. President, Members
of the Senate, and indeed our whole Na-
tion, are deeply concerned over the ex-
tent of the U.S. involvement in war in
Indochina. New facts keep coming to
light, on situations which could further
involve the United States though we feel
we are pursuing a national policy of dis-
engagement from the Indochina war.
My colleague, the senior Senator from
New Jersey (Mr. CASE) has taken the in-
itiative in probing a question of consider-
able concern-financing by the United
States of Thai troops fighting in Laos.
Senator CASE'S initiative-reflecting his
very alert and informed attention to this
matter-has been the subject of a num-
Case (R-N.J.) said yesterday. Fulbright "antimercenary'~y yLl
a .endment
Case called on the administration for "the clause was included specify a that the
specific terms of the agreement," which he amendment would not "props t support of
said he first read about in the press last actions required to insure the si 'e and orderly
month. "Congress has never directly voted a. withdrawal or disengagemen if United
penny to pay Thai troops Laos," said Case, States forces from Southeast A. a r to aid in
and both Congress and the public have "a the release of Americans held : risoners of
right to know" what is happening. war."
Thailand has denied having any troops in The State Department refus I to confirm
Laos; its officials have said only that there or deny the figure of 4,800. B !ts spokes-
may be Thai "volunteers" or "ethnic Thais" man, Robert J. McCloskey, sai he depart-
serving in Laos. U.S. officials have been pub- ment had informed Senator .. u bright, an
holy silent on the subject. except to refer Arkansas Democrat, and Sena: r Clifford P.
back to the elliptical Thai statements. Case of New Jersey, a Republic. ,t member of
Case finally got a reply yesterday to a letter the committee, that America a ort of
he sent on April 23 to the State Department- Thai troops in Laos did not viol tc the "anti-
but he said the reply was marked secret.
The substance of the reply to Case, accord-
ing to State Department spokesman Charles There have been recurring re o:?ts of Thai
W. Bray, was that "nothing is being done that battalions fighting the Commo f: s in Laos,
is not within present legislative authority." particularly in the north in s poort of an
Bray said the subject had been discussed in irregular army of mountain i 'esmen fi-
nanced by the Central Intellige Agency.
dons closed Commsessionitteewith the Senate Casase is s a member, aiemRbbeerr, , However, Mr. Fulbright offe nr the first
Committee, which Case estimate of the s ze of the
and State could discuss the matter further That contingent: He made his st ce ment after
only in the same manner. the Foreign Relations Sube, n nittee on
satisfied Case said last night that "I still not Foreign Commitments, header I y Senator
before the .he th'. We ing g started. should have rather been
than having Stuart Symington, Democrat i Missouri,
before had received a secret briefing fr ?n two com-
fit dribble out afterwards in a way in which- mittee staff members, James C. Lowenstein
we can do little more than wring our hands." and Richard M. Moose, who rece tiv returned
The senator said that as he recalls, the
subject of Thai units in Laos was only from a 10-day inspection trip I i cos.
"touched on" by Central Intelligence Agency The State Department sent 1? Ctrs yester-
director Richard Helms, in a closed meeting, day to Senators Case and Ft bight that
After reading press accounts last month clearly indicated that the Thai aticipation
in the war in Laos was being `i ported fi-
about a new U.S.-Thai agreement "for a nancially by the Central Intellic :roe Agency.
sharp increase in That troops to be used in
Laos," said Case, he made his own inquiries. LETTERS CLASSIFIED SE' -,F
"I was able to ascertain." said Case, "on The letters, responding to que ti ins by the
an absolutely not for quotation basis, from Senators about reports of Tb > troops in
government sources that there are four to six Laos, were classified secret, a] -i the State
thousand Thai troops in Laos and the U.S. Department and the Senators h refore re-
government, through CIA, is paying for fused to make the texts public
them." But department officials said is ,t the let-
Case said that "If an action by our country ters had declared that the cost o, support-
cannot stand up to public exposure, then ing the That troops did not con vithin the
our leaders should seriously reconsider that State Department's jurisdiction tlus clearly
action." pointing to the C.I.A. as the as o -y provid-
His letter to Secretary of State William P. ing financial support.
Rogers asked if financial support for Thai The letters, department offici. -s said, con-
troops in Laos violated a congressional ban tended that financial support fo 7 hai troops
on payment of mercenaries in Laos except to in Laos did not violate the "an mercenary"
aid American troop withdrawals or aid in amendment.
release of U.S. prisoners; the terms of the The executive branch coup rgue-al-
Thai agreement, and whether the United though the State Department d i lot in the
States agreed to provide support "in event letters-that the use of Thai tra p., in north-
the Thai troops in Laos encounter difficul- ern Laos were related to the w tl drawal of
ties." American troops from South N tenam and
thus permissible under the Fulb it amend-
[From the New York 'Dimes, May 22, 19711 meet.
-"'Nu what handicapped in advancing , ch an ar-
LAOS-FULBRIGHT SAYS FINANCING OF 4,800 gument because of a statemer nade last
VIOLATES THE LAW month by William H. Suilivan. D'puty As-
(By John W. Finney) sistant Secretary of State for Ea Asian and
WASHINGTON.-Senator J. W. Fulbright said Pacific Affairs, before the Ser -t. Refugee
today that 4,800 Thai troops, financed by the Subcommittee headed by Sen: c Edward
ber of recent articles in the press. I be- port of the Royal Laotian Government.
lieve that it would be useful to have a Mr. Fulbright, Chairman of the Senate
selection of the those articles, laying out 'k'oreign Relations Committee, suggested that
the story for all to read, printed in the such support by Thai troops in Laos was "in-
RECORD. Accordingly, I ask unanimous consistent with the spirit" of the "anti-
consent that eight press articles on the mercenary" amendment that had been in-
issue be printed in the RECORD, at his ated in the Defense appropriations bill
at his suggestion.
There being no objection, the articles The amendment. provided that none of the
were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, defense funds could be used "to support Viet-
as follows: namese or other free-world forces in actions
M. Kennedy, Democrat of Mass, -1 isetts.
In his prepared testimony, :r Sullivan
said that the "other war" in m i tern Laos
"has nothing to do with miiltsi gperations
in South Vietnam or Cambodia
Alternatively, the Administr ti,,n could
argue that the "antimercenary" a endment
applied only to Defense Depart e it appro-
priations and not to funds pro c :d to the
C.I.A.
In protesting yesterday on the -b Nate floor
against the financing of Thai tr 'otps in Laos
without the knowledge or appr' of Con-
Approved For Release 2002/01/10 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000300090038-9
 S 8248
Approved For Release
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD 3BgF91t00300090038-9June .", 1971
gross, Mr. Case observed that "the money
comes out of that vast treasure chest, which
Congress has appropriated but never con-
trolled, for discretionary military and Intel-
ligence purposes."
'i'he agreement to provide financial sup-
port to the Thai troops apparently predates
enactment of the Fulbright amendment last
December.
According to reports from Vientiane, the
Laotian administrative capital, the Thai bat-
talions were first introduced about a year
ego when the C.I.A.-supported army of moun-
tain tribesmen, commanded by Maj. Gen.
`Tang Pao, was under severe pressure from
the Communist forces.
From the Christian Science Monitor, June
1, 1971]
JINNI TED STATES ROLE IN LAOS STIRS RUMBLINGS
IN CONGRESS
i By George W. Ashworth)
WASHINGTON.-American activities in
,nos-and the administrations extreme re-
luctance to talk about them-threaten now
co increase the President's difficulties on
i;apitol Hill and with the public.
Littl is known outside administration
:ircles of the precise extent of American
involvement in Laos. This administration-
like the Democratic administration before
t-simply does not want to discuss the sub-
cct at all. Senators have run into difficulty
landing out even in private just what is go-
ug on.
That fact is much more worrisome to the
regular critics of the President's policies in
Indo-China, such as Sen. J. W. Fulbright
(D) of Arkansas, chairman of the Senate
,Foreign Relations Committee, that it is to
nhose more favorably inclined to the Presi-
tent's war policies.
But Laos provides a source of contention,
tact the administration now is urged by crit-
ics to level with Capitol Hill and with the
put blic.
This newspaper reported a month ago that
the administration has worked out an agree-
ment with the Government of Thailand for
sharply increased use of Thai forces in Laos
in support of the neutralist government.
It was reported that, as a consequence, the
use of Thai forces hadsharply risen in Laos
over some monthsfrom well under 1,000 to
s figure believed in excess of 4,000. And,
from all indications, the Thai Government
was willing to provide far more if the Amer-
ican administration would provide funds.
The story prompted Sen. Clifford P. Case
(Ri of New Jersey to fire off a letter to Sec-
retary of State William P. Rogers asking
comment on the accuracy of the reports, and,
assuming correctness, answers on five points:
Does the administration consider the fl-
rtan.cial support of Thai troops In Laos to
be in accord with the Cooper-Church provi-
r;ions in the 1970 Defense Appropriations Act
that bans the payment of mercenaries ex-
cept to protect a safe and orderly American
withdrawal or disengagement from Southeast
Asia or to aid in the release of United States
prisoners?
In the agreement with Thailand to be
presented as a treaty to the Senate?
What are the agreement's specifics, includ-
ing cost and duration?
')'Till supplemental appropriations be asked,
or is reprograming envisioned?
rigs the U.S. Government given the Thais
assurance of support in the event Thai troops
encounter difficulties?
BRIEF RESPONSE
According to sources, the administration's
written response was far from elaborate.
c5urther elabbration is being sought. After
;:;mparing the State Department report with
information given by two Foreign Relations
Committee aides just back from Laos, Sena-
tor Case described the administration reply
as "incomplete and In certain respect, in-
accurate."
Marshall Green, Assistant Secretary of
State for Far Eastern and Pacific Affairs, is
expected in the near future to be available to
'brief the committee in secret session on the
Laos operations.
'fhe Thai troops are not the only issue re-
lated to Laos that has drawn senatorial in-
terest. So far, the costs of various activities
in Laos are sketchy at best. The only gen-
erally available figure is $50 million or so
per year for activities of the Agency for In-
ternational Development (AID).
MILITARY AID DISCLOSED
T,tal military assistance funded by the
services in Laos in fiscal 1970 was disc: