RECRUITMENT OF KHMER KROM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: October 1, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
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MEMORANDUM
. SECRET /EXDI
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
NSS, DOS
Reviews
Completed.
ACTION
October 1, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: SECRETARY KISSINGER
MORI C05125675
FROM: Pgsl-9 WILLIAM L. STEARMAN
SUBJECT: Recruitment of Khmer Krom
Embassy. Phnom Penh has sent two messages (Tab B) urging USG support
of FANK recruitment of Khmer Krom in South Vietnam. State requests
clearance of a response at Tab A which rejects the Embassy's proposal.
We agree with State's position.
Our Embassy believes that Khmer Krom recruitment is required by the
urgency of getting FANK's general reserve up to full combat Strength
before the dry season. The Embassy's proposal calls for a letter. to be
sent by Premier Lon Nol to President Thieu outlining the following plan:
A small Khmer Krom team from Cambodia would, with ARVN assistance,
recruit 1, 000 Khmer Krom in the Delta; the recruits would then be airlifted
to a 4 week training course in Ream, Cambodia after which they would be
integrated into the FANK's Second and Seventh Divisions. According to
the Embassy, Lon Nol has already approved the provisions of the plan
outlined above.
However, the Embassy points out it is unlikely that a GKR request to the
GVN would be successful without explicit USG support. State's response
notes that President Thieu has previously reacted unfavorably to similar
proposals. State and Ambassador Martin therefore feel it would best
serve U. S. interests if we do not press Thieu at this time and they argue
that we should rather save our influence for possible future use in obtaining
vital GVN cooperation on Cambodia. The Department's response also
cites as other factors weighing against the proposal the facts that the new
Khmer Krom would largely be raw recruits, that successes in Khmer Krom
recruitment could weaken the urgency and resolve the GKR to draft Khmer
and that the Khmer manpower pool appears large enough to fill the dry
SECRET /EXDIS
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
APPRO VE,_t DISAPPROVE
proposal at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you approve the draft Department of State reply. at Tab A.
agree with State's view that there should not be a:
sleason requirements for 30, 000 replacements. The GK.R .has finally ,
decided to lower the draft age, to 18. (Martin also feels that Khmer Krom
recruitment could cause South Vietnam problems in Congress.)
In. view. of the known attitude of President Thieu and the obvious need for
.the Khmer to concentrate their primary effort on. recruiting at home, we
USG initiative on this
SECRET /SENSITI.
SECRET /SENSITIVE
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
TRANSMITTED gY:
(Date & Time Stamp)
RECEIVED BY :
(Date & Time Stamp)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Operations Center WHITE Ht .:.~ -
LTX MESSAGE RECEIPT
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/28: LOC-HAK-40-2-6 -8
FORM DS 322{OCFOa lp i ..
SECRET
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EA/LC:LMRIVES:DTM
9/25/73 EXT 23132
P - AMBASSADOR PORTER
EA/VN:GMARTIN