AGENCY RECORD NUMBER RECORDS SERIES AGENCY FILE NUMBER ORIGINATOR FROM TO TITLE DATE PAGES SUBJECTS DOCUMENT TYPE CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTIONS CURRENT STATUS DATE OF LAST REVIEW OPENING CRITERIA COMMENTS Docld: 32425040 Page 1 Date 07/27/98 p Page : 1 7. Vox ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION JCS 202-10002-10162 NARA RG 218 JCS DOCUMENT INFORMATION JCS C. M. MOUNT, UR. JCS MEMORANDUM FOR THE JCS - SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION REPORT 12/23/63 59 SITUATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT SECRET . 1B, 1¢ . RELEASED WITH DELETIONS 04/08/98 NARA RG 218 JCS. Memo from Mount, Ur. attached Southeast Asia Also attached are 51-63, to JCS re: Situation Report Number 52-63. 50-63 and 49-63.
202 “10082-10162, Declassification Review/Postponement Form Originator: JCS eee Date: Starting AG fec_@ 3 ! Subject: Poupheas A - Lepotts De C0 bo if A Original Level of Classification: Third Agency Equities: : P ~ Remarks: Page # of Postponement Reason for Postponement IAW Section 6 of JFK Act Ine J : (1) (6) je a PZ & Co Ne Prt obfetier To Hecbst teilte pwd peter Pht fo No feerlittjse wf Slee toh The Department of State-has no objection to the 2) WA ye Ve ~ va yor hu Sid release or declassification of this cocument in full under the provisions of the JFK Assassination Records 4) CLA peice? of all A of. Collection Act of 1992 (PL 02-526) Reviewed on 2f Vai . an fo A, ot tf sntiaS NO OBIECTION TO PLEASE PROTECT THE @aae YELLOW SES AFCATION ANIOR HIGHLIGHTED INFORMATION BY AELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT x POSTPONEMENT (1)(B) FOR (a acco weit U8 PEE : NSA AU LY Got $F fore yay ; = : Docld: 32425040 Page 2?
~ aE) . }. 138 SEORET THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE JOINT STAFF Washington 25, D. C. 26 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF Subject: Southeast Asia Situation Report (U) | Attached hereto | is: the Southeast Asia Situation Report Number. 52-63. covering the period from 180800 to 250800 December / 1963. _FOR THE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS: J, ehhh sere C. M. MOUNT, JR. vo Colonel, USA. ced Chief, Pacific Division  Grecetaoes Directorate . GROUP 1 EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING & DECLASSIFICATION He8 aa BR RE Docld: 32425040 — Page 3
Docld: 32425040 Page 4 demonstrates that the US Government will give protection to the "so-called Malaysia" and that the US, with the approval of the Indian Government, is inviting danger to Southeast Asia. (2) On 24 December, a Communist-led youth demonstration was conducted in the square across from the US Embassy to protest the US 7th Fleet extension into the Indian Ocean. | (3) The Indonesian Navy and Air Force may replace their Western trarsnort and ASW aircraft with Soviet equipment." Defense Minister General Nasution reportedly bought six Soviet AN-12/U2b cransports during his recent trip to Moscow. He allegediy also said when he was in Washington that the Navy would replace its ASW-configured Fairey Gannets with Soviet Bloc ASW-aircraft. Indonesia is said to claim that it can get out of the AN-12 contract if allowed to purchase five more Lockheed C-130 s. This suggests that any deal with the Soviets is tentative. The acquisition of AN-12 s and ASW counterparts of Indonesia's 14 Gannets would require additional Soviet technicians to provide local maintenance. (41) The Indonesian Air Force (AURT) visualizes only a limited role in the event of an open conflict with British and Malaysian forces; operations would mainly consist of 4
SECRET air drop of troops, equipment, and supplies. Despite this judgment, the Army has requested that the AURI be prepared to furnish air support to the ground troops in Borneo -- a request which it is reported, has angered the AURI. Lacking. suitable airfields in Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan) from which to mount jet fighter escort missions, the AURI is extremely reluctant to make unescorted TU-16/Badger strikes against Malaysian Borneo targets. Cy Malaysia/New Zealand/Australia. The Malaysian Government asked the New Zealand Government, on 19 December, for aid in training its Army and for assistance in Sarawak and Sabah, to include special service units, AAA units and assist at airfields New Zealand is prepared to allow its transport aircraft now at Singapore, and perhaps others, to be used for ferrying to and ~ within Sarawak and Sabah, to commit a naval frigate and make one battalion available if the situation in Borneo deteriorates. However, . the New Zealand Government, like the Australian, is | reluctant to commit forces directly in defense of Malaysian Borneo, Both believe that such involvement would reduce greatly or destroy their political influence with Indonesia and perhaps - stimulate Djakarta to take even more aggressive action against the territories. Docld: 32425040 Page 5
SECRET da. Cambodia (1) Prince Sihanouk apparently has reached the stage where he is preparing to cut all ties with the West, except France, and to align Cambodia more closely with the Communist Bloc. His recent directives reportedly are spreading con- sternation, even among Cambodia's royal family. On 22 Decem- ber, a wealthy Cambodian, Songsakd Kitchpanich, president of the Banque de Phnom Penh, landed in South Vietnam and asked for political asylum. (2) On 22 December, the Cambodian Government announced the signing of a civil air agreement with North Vietnam. Both countries announced that an airline would link Phnom Penh witn Hanoi. a. Thailand. The Thais have already stated that any US action to agree with the reconvening of the Geneva Conference to discus z Cambodian neutrality would be a critical phase in US/Thai rela-. o tions and cause the Thais to re-evaluate their foreign policy | commitments. e. Republic of Vietnam (RVN) (1) As many as 29,000 Viet Cong (VC) may have entered the Republic of Vietnam from North Vietnam in the last four years according to a CINCPAC recapitulation. From 1960 through 1962 Docld:324275040 Page 6
SECRET® DocId:32425040 Page 7 confirmed Viet Cong infiltrators numbered 10,397. The 1963 figure is low but is expected to catch up with last year's 4,247, as more evidence comes in, CINCPAC estimates that twice as many Viet Cong infiltrate as are eventually confirme: (2) MACV reports no change in VC capabi‘:.sies in the past week. In view of the Viet Cong "National Resistance Day" holiday on 19 December and the annivox:serv of the forma- ‘tion of the National Liberation Front on 20 December, both falling under favorable’ weather conditions for guerrilla activities, an increase in VC action can te expected in the near futu-:. VC propaganda now centers az« id neutralism as the solutiv. “or saving the country. a, Laos | (1) Patheit Lao forces, bolstered by No: . Vietnamese, that recaptured Lak Sao on 16 December, r- +: also re-oecupied Kham Kant, The advance apparently was ree against negligibl. opposition from the Royal Lao (FAR) defenders. (2) On 22 December, Communist artillery shelled the air- field at Muong Kheung for the first time. The airfield was being utilized by FAR forces to airlift the FAR 6th Infantry Battalion to Muong Kheung to replace the 24th Infantry “SECRET 7
4 H i t wf Docld: 32425040 Page 6& SECRER Battalion. The replacement was halted when half completed because of the Communist shell fire. b. Republic of Vietnam (RVN). (1) A comparison of the Viet Cong and RYNAF activities for the period 11-16 December and the pie-icus period of 4-11 December follows: 4-11 Dec 11-18 Dec Change » Viet Cong Incidents ~~ HOR. 402. | ne re Armed Attacxs 59 66 + 7 Casuelties 475 348* ~127 (KIA) (370) (277) (- 93) Defecticons 23 24 + 1 Weapons 1.o2t 138 96 - 4° RVN | Iniviatei acticns ; Bn or larger 51 a) + 7 small Unit: , Contact 135 214 ~ 2 No contact 4 420 HBOS - 15 Total Actions 4,606 4,57 - 29 Casualties 396 306% (KIA) ( 89) ¢ 30) (+ 1). Weapons Lost 115 220 +115 * RVN and VC personnel and weapon losses «7e for the period 10 - 16 December
Docld: 32425040 Page 93 SECRET (2) Viet Cong-initiated incidents for the week of 11-18 December were at the same level as the previous week. How- ever, activity in the important delta area declined. The | II Corps Tactical Zone had a 25 per cc::' >.se in insurgency incidents, with the coastal Binh Dinh Vrovince bearing the ‘brunt of the actions. VC attacks on strategic hamlets in that provinces have increased sharply since the 9th RVN Army Division derLloyed to the delta area last September. The one company-size attack during the week was the first large-scale operation in December, as compared to 17 in November and a 1963 monthly a™:rage of 12. In this assauit of two strategic hamlets in Plrice tthanh Province cn 14 December, the governmer forces sutfered cne killed, 2 wounded, and 13 missing in acti Also lost were 27 weapons and radios. No enemy casualties were reported. There is no indication that the VC stepped ur their efforts in connection with National Resistance Day on 19 December. (3) Military control of two critical provinces has been shifted to strengthen antiguerrilla operations in the deita area as follows: The 7th Division, Tit Corps, took over the Kien Hoa sector from the 9th Division, IV Corps on 16 Decembe At the same time, the VC-infested Long An Province was remove
D vd New SECRET from the 7th Division control and made a Special sector under the Airborne Brigade which reports directly to the im Corps Commander , (4) Three US Army aircraft crashes during the week took the lives of 10 US personnel. In IV CTZ on 12 December, a CH-37 was hit by VC ground fire while evacuating a downed OV-l. Although the Pilot jettisoned the Sling-loaded plane, oo he vould. not control the CH-37 and it Plunged to the ground - burning on impact. In another incident, three us personnel were killed and one is missing and presumed dead as a result of a U-1A crashing into the side of a mountain approximately 200 miles northeast of Saigon, On 14 December, a UH-1B crashed into the Sea about one-half mile off the shore of the Binh Dinh Province. The co-pilot swam to shore but the remaining crew members drowned. Causes of the latter two accidents have not been determined. (5) In order to meet requirements for additional artillery in the delta area, certain 105-mm howitzer batteries have been increased from 4 to 6 tubes each. Forty-two additional 105-mm howitzers were airlifted to South Vietnam by 2° December to meet this requirement. spenititietess Seana Docld: 32425040 Page 10
SECRET dad. Cambodia (1) Prince Sihanouk has asked for the speedy withdrawal of US aid missions but nonetheless he had expected that US aid in the pipeline would arrive end is reported annoyed to ~ learn that it had been diverted. Ail US MAAG personnel and dependents will depart Cambodia not later than 31 December except for a small clean-up detail which will depart by 15 January 1964. (2) The US mapping program in Cambodia has been declared part of the US military and technical aid by a Cambodian official and the official states that the mapping program must be terminated. e. Burma. Tne FY 6/: training of Burmese military personnel has been reduced from 118 to 22. The cancellation of projected training reaches 90 per cent for Army, 93 per cent for Air Force and 44 per cent for the Navy. The explanation of this reduction is given that personnel are required for a planned major offensti against insurgents. f. Pacific Area. On 21 December, a Soviet Intercontinental © Ballistic Missile (probably an SS-7) was fired into the 6,50C nautical mile Pacific impact area. The missile was tracked by Alaskan BMEWS and re-entry was observed by US facilities in the | impact area. —SEGRED 12 Docld: 32425040 Page 12
| SEGRET g. Republic cf China (GRC). Joint GRC-US Amphibious Exercise BIG DIPPER ended with all units satisfied that their training objectives nad been accomplished. All units proved — that they are capable of conducting combined arms. exercises involving air, naval gunfire, artillery, tanks and other ground weapons in a team effort. — Docld: 324275040 Page 13
SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION [ Cfommunist Burma eck iy Thaititand eo ne en ee ee ee 1 REPUBLIC OF VIET—NAM | FRIENDLY | H ARMED FORCES (RVNAF) 215, 789 ff g CIVIL GUARD (CG) 84, 788 fj SELF DEFENSE CORPS (SDC) 103,013 Jj y JUNK FORCE - 0 I 406, 790 | al eee te ee LEGEND Pathet Lao/ No.Vietnamese Areas Viet Cong Concentration QUESTIONABLE CONTROL eo FAR/Kong Le Military Region Boundaries 26 DEC 63 Docld: 32425040 Page 14 - Sovannakhet 2 SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION Pe eee eee eee LAOTIAN FORCE FRIENDLY I}Far, REGULARS AUTO DEFENSE — -- 25,000 KONG LE 7,000 HAMOUANE 1,500" 90, 500, ‘. a Kontu Rep, SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE _ JOINT STAFF Washington 25, D. C, 18 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF Subject: Southeast Asia Situation Report (U) Attached hereto is the Southeast Asia Situation Report Number 51-63 covering the period from 110800 to 180800 December 1963. FOR THE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS: C. M. MOUNT, JR Colonel, USA Chief, Pacific Division Operations Directorate GROUP 1 -EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING & DECLASSIFICATION SECRET. SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED NOT RSLEASASLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS Docld:32425040 Page 15
Sporer DISTRIBUTION CICS Dir, Jel Dir, J-3 Dir, J-4 Dir, J-5 av J-6 SA/MAA SA/P&B SACSA Secy, JSSC DIS Secy, JCS CSA CNO coc CSAF AFCIN AFSMS OSD NIC AFCP DIA WH Sit. Rm M/A to President Dir, CIA S/A Pres., NSAFF The Attorney General Ag. for Int. Dev. US Del., MSC UN Dir, NSA ANMCC State FE Arf. RR&A Q iy t fi ) Docld:32425040 Page 16 + ee) Ja ee be ee OR RE RHA) OWE OAH ER Per OY
SECRET THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE JOINT STAFF Washington 25, D. C. SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION . 18 December 1963 REPORT NUMBER 51-63 es 1. INTELLIGENCE a. Laos: (1) Royal Lao Army (FAR) forces have taken Lak Sao, an. important road junction on Route 8, main Communist supply line to central Laos from North Vietnam..”~ (2) In the north, FAR, Neutralist and Meo leaders have been planning a coordinated effort against Xieng Khouang and Tha Lin Noi. Although this operation was planned for 8 December, there has been nothing to indicate the attack had begun. — | (3) The Pathet Lao have yet to manifest a strong reaction to recent FAR successes. However, they are unlikely to | allow many positions of the caliber of Lak Sao and Xieng Khouang to be lost without reacting. b. Republic of Vietnam (RVN) (1) COMUSMACV has added the 310th Battalion to his Viet Cong (VC) order of battle, with a strength of 380 men thereby raising the number of confirmed VC battalions. in South Vietnam SECRET. 3 DoclId: 32425040 Page 17
MG be to 38. COMUSMACV has also accepted another group of 40 in- filtrators from North Vietnam; this brings the confirmed 1963 infiltration total to 954. This unit was formed last January, worked its way south through Laos, and entered Quang Ngai Province last May. Seven members ater formed part of a 57=mm recoilless rifle platoon to provide fire support for rifle ‘elements of the 310th Battalion. (2). DIA estimates that in spite of an increase in number of RVN offensive operations, the government has been unable to reduce the strength of the VC to any appreciable extent. - Available evidence indicates that while the VC have not made spectacular gains, they have prevented the government from gaining effective control over much of the countryside. It is apparent that the VC are maximizing their present capabilities, aided substantially by resources captured from the government. It is further evident that the VC have sustained, and. in-some instances, improved their combat capabilities despite RVN advantages in firepower, armor, mobility, communication and airborne operations. The VC have demonstrated extensive capability to exploit the provisional government's preoccupa- tion with its political reorganization. (3) The provisional government of the RVN replaced its air force and marine brigade commanders recently in another SECRET 4 DoclId: 32425040 Page 13
2 cena ee narreenenatra SECRER. mee oi move to sack politically unreliable commanders and assign potential troublemakers to desk jobs abroad. Colonel Nguyen Cao Ky is the new commander of the Vietnamese Air Force and succeeds Colonel Do Khac Mai who is the military attache designated to Bonn. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ba Lien, the former chief of staff and deputy commander of the marine brigade, has stepped up to the top job as commander to replace Colonel Le Nguyen Khang. ce. Indonesia: (1) The US Air Attache in Djakarta states that the Indone- sian Air Force neither confirms nor denies the press-reported shootdown of British aircraft over Indonesian territory. UK Government spokesmen have officially denied Indonesian claims of four British aircraft shot down. The Air Attache in Djakarta considers that, had the shootdown occurred, the Indonesians would have publicized it extensively. (2) Indonesia is reportedly planning to step up its efforts against some 2,000=3,000 rebels on Celebes. The 17 infantry battalions and one mountain artillery unit on the island have been reinforced by eight mobile brigade police battalions; security forces there now total about 18,000. Rebel activity in Celebes could interfere somewhat with the campaign against Malaysia by tying down considerable Indonesian strength. 7 | 2 Docld: 32425040 Page 19
SECRET es tenes (3) Pro-Communists are to receive their first ministerial posts in the cabinet as Minister of Justice and Minister of State; the latter is assigned to the cabinet presidium which consists or three Vice Prime Ministers,. This will be a blow to the ant*-Communist army. President Sukarno, however, will continue his longstanding practice of maintaining his dominant position by playing the army and the Communist Party against each other. (1) The British plan to augment their ground forces: in Malaysia by one battalion. (2) London plans to recall a 70-man Special Air Services Squadron from Malaysia in late December and replace it by a similar unit from England. The marine commando battalion now on Sarawak will be relieved by a Gurkha infantry battalion in January; the commandos there now will return to Singapore. The 8th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, will: leave for the Borneo territories within the next few weeks. This unit was activated only last January but is well trained and fully operational. (3) The Australian Government is reluctant to send its forces to Sabah and Sarawak since it believes that the current situation does not warrant such a course of action and that SECRET 6 DocId: 32425040 Page 270
SECRER good relations with the Indonesians are desirable. Relations between Indonesia and Australia seem normal. Australian aircraft regularly overfly Indonesia, and some troops land at Djakarta while en route to the Butterworth base in Malaysia. (4) British officials are deeply concerned over Indonesia's potential to sponsor terrorism in Singapore and. Malaya and the inability of local police to cope with the threat. Singapore _ authorities recently arrested the Malayan leader of a saboteur group which had been trained in the nearby Indonesian Riau Islands. He admitted that he was accompanied by seven others: and revealed the location of a cache of explosives near the residence of the British High Commissioner in Singapore. The bombing of an automobile in Singapore on 9 December was prob- ably a "trial run" by Indonesian-sponsored saboteurs as yet incapable of hitting a military target. e. Cambodia: Prince Sihanouk continues irrationally to isolate Cambodia from its Free World contacts and to move closer toward Communist China. At the same time, however, he is seeking . expanded aid from France and he continues to press for an international conference to "guarantee" Cambodia's neutrality. Both France and Communist China have responded only cautiously to Sihanouk's appeals for aid although Peiping has promised SECRET 7 Docld: 324275040 Page 71
e Oe, rok all necessary help should Cambodia be "attacked." Meanwhile, the Soviet Union has indicated its support of a new conference but the principal Western powers are reluctant to agree hastily. Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam continue adamantly to oppose Sihnnouk's conference. _ Docld:324275040 Page 22
2. OPERATIONS: a. Republic of Vietnam (RVN): ey (1) A comparison of the Viet Cong (VC) and RVNAF activities for the period 4 ~ 11 December 1963 and the previous period of 27 November - 4 December 1963 follows: Viet Cone: Incidents Armed Attacks Casualties: (KIA) Defections Weapons Lost RVN: Initiated Actions: Bn or Larger Small Unit: Contact No Contact Total Actions Casualties: (KIA) Weapons Lost 27 Nov - 4 Deo 518 aon 662 (533) 23 88 63 146 3,850 4,059 598 (135) 374 _& Dee - 11 Dee 403 39 CUD 5R (370) 23 138 51 135 4430 1, 606 396* (89) 115 *RVN and VC personnel and weapons lost are 3 - 9 December 1963. Change -11 +570 +547 -202 (-46) -259 for period (2) In Phuoe Tuy Province on 3-4 December, the VC hamlet, in the face of government airstrikes. SECRET Docld: 3274275040 Page 253 attacked and inflicted 80 per cent damage on a strategic Five hundred
SECRET hamlet residents were reported missing. In Binh Duong Province, the VC entered several hamlets within a three mile radius and kidnapped about 100 young men employed on a nearby rubber plantation. According to COMUSMACV, all but 20 had returned to their hamlets by 10 December. Kidnappings were heavy throughout the country, accounting for more than half the tctal incidents in each corps area. (3) Ve activity, however, continued to decline. There were a total of 403 incidents reported, of which 59 were attacks. All categories. of incidents have returned to nermal pre-coup ievels except terrorism which continues to run at nearly twice the level established during the summer and fall. There were no battalion or company-sized attacks for this period, in fact, none so far this month. (4) RVNAF ground operations employing forces of baettalion-size or larger decreased by 12, from 63 to 51. This is four below the weekly average of 55 operations per week for the preceding 12 weeks. Battalion days of operation increased from 401 to 425, the third consecutive week over 400. | | (5) In summary, the continuing decline in the over-all number of incidents was expected, although the unusually high percentage of terrorism incidents to the total “SECRET 10 DoclId:324275040 Page 24
| | DSaCRETS (68 per cent) was not. The yearly over-all percentage is 51. This is a period of re-supply, training and preparation for a new campaign. A fresh surge of attacks is anticipated by COMUSMACV on or about 19 December to celebrate the founding of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (NLFSVN). VC weapons losses of 138 compared with RVN weapons losses of 115 mark the first time that VC losses have exceeded the RVN since initiation of Phase II of the National Campaign Plan on 1 July of this year. - (6) COMUSMACV reports that, effective on 16 December, Kien Hoa Province was transferred to control of 7th Division, III Corps from 9th Division, IV Corps. Addi- tionally, Long An Province was removed from control of 9th Division and became a special sector reporting directly to the Commander, III Corps Tactical Zone (CTZ). b. Cambodia: (1) As a result of Prince Sihanouk's outburst of 12 December, the Cambodian Government (RKG) has recalled its ambassador to the US. The US, on 13 December, directed its ambassador to Cambodia to return to Washington for consultation. SECREPY 11 DocId: 32425040 Page 25
™~\ (2) The Cambodians terminated negotiations for the liquidation of US aid on 13 December and requested US AID, MAAG and Information Services personnel to depart not later than 15 January 1964 to prevent possible incidents against Americans. The RKG will insure protection of American personnel and facilities only until 15 January. (3) In response to a RKG request, all Cambodian ae military. students attending MAP supported courses in CONUS will be returned to Cambodia immediately. c. Thailand: Following the death of Prime Minister Sarit on 8 December, there has been an apparently orderly takeover of the government by General Thanom Kittikachorn, formerly the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister. Rumors of coups have abated because of the rapid moves by Thanom to consolidate his position. The cabinet anpointed by Thanom is basically the same as Ssrit's; however, major changes have been made in military commanders. Thanom assumed the position sf Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. General Praphat is the new Deputy Supreme Commander and Deputy CINC of the Thai Army. Thanom's chief potential political rival, Generali Chitti Nawisathern, was relegated SECRET | 12 Docld: 324275040 Page 76
nt A a Laat , elenainaloetarias to the powerless position of Assistant Supreme Commander and is slated to be named to a cabinet position. The new govern- ment remains pro-west oriented and friendly to the US. No changes in military policy are expected as a result of the military cormand changes. Detailed revised guidance for scheduling a US Naval Task Force to the Indian Ocean area has not yet been received cee from State/Defense. As scon as received, CINCPAC will be re- os quested to resubmit a ‘snhhedule for the first deployment. It has been indicated unofficially that DEPSTATE guidance will have the initial deployment begin sometime after 1 March and that it will include Naval Task Force support for a Pakistan/US combined exercise to be conducted concurrently with a US/Iranian exercise presently scheduled for the period 5 - 30 April. e. Pacific Area: | . | On 11 December, the Soviets fired an ICBM 6,500 nautical miles to the mid-Pacific impact area. This is the first such firing in the current series which they announced would con- tinue until 25 January 1964. The Limited telemetry detected during the missile's flight suggests that the firing probably was for troop training and limited research and development, rather than for testing a new missile. This was the twentieth ICBM fired to the Pacific area that has been observed. “SECREP 13 Docld: 32425040 Page 27
SECRET f. SHATOs Pote Sarasin resigned as Secretary General of SEATO on 13 December in order to assume new ministerial duties in the Thailand cabinet. For the present, SEATO Deputy Secretary General Worth will assume Pote's SEATO duties. The Thailand Government continues to hold the strong position that the next Secretary General should again be a Thai, and Konthi Suphamongkhon. present Thai SEATO Council representative, has been indicated as Thailand's choice. The US Ambassador to Thailand comments: "Although Konthi may not be ideal for the position, there is "= \'-" no other Thai candidate at hand with appreciably better quali- fications, and Konthi is believed to be much superior to Ambassador Ingles, who was the Philippines contender for the position of Secretary General the last time. g. Operation HIGH TAIL: The movement of 9 US Army Caribou aircraft from the Republic of Vietnam to CONUS is proceeding on schedule. The aircraft departed Moron, Spain, 18 December, for the Azores, with crew rest scheduled for. both the Azores. and Argentia; ETA at McGuire AFB is 21 December. a. Republic of China: OSD (ISA) has approved a plan to pro- vide the GRC with a five year supply of World War II vehicle SECRET? 14 Docld: 324275040 Page 26
: 2 2 SECRET repair parts from the MAP Depot at Tokorozawa. The GRC is the only country in PACOM requiring World War II vehicle parts other than a token amount for Laos. Execution of the plan will reduce the flow of gold to Japan by reducing overhead and maintenance expense at the MAP depot. | b. Republic of Vietnam: The Air Force Logistics Command (APLC) has been authorized to proceed with the Engine Over- haul programs for Vietnam. In addition, AFLC has been authorized to exchange 7 each R-1300-3 engines from available USAF stocks and to exchange 0-4-70-11 and -R-830-90. D service- able engines if these engines are available in stock. Docld: 324275040 Page 29
SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION LAOTIAN FORCES FRIENDLY ‘Pear. REGULARS AUTO DEFENSE KONG LE AMOUANE >a¢iband Pe seee see eee REPUBLIC OF VIET—NAM i I i FRIENDLY 1 ARMED FORCES (RVNAF) 215, 789 ff J CIVIL. GUARD (CG) 84,788 §j J SELF DEFENSE CORPS (SDC) 103, O13 . Se Kont g JUNK FORCE NO : } Sts: epuoli C i 406, 790 § . leiku a es ee ee om os oo oe oll fee emi LEGEND Pathet Lao/ No.Vietnamese Areas Viet Cong Concentration QUESTIONABLE CONTROL Region Bousdaries 18 DEC 63 SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION Docld: 324275040 Page 30
iv “SRL! _ . ores ~ a THE JOINT GHIERS OF STAFF OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE JOINT STAFF Washington 25, D. C.- 11 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF Subject: Southeast Asia Situation Report (U) Attached hereto is the Southeast Asia Situation Report Number 50-63 covering the period from 040800 to 110800 December ww 1963. ‘FOR THE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS: ' BOT +29 eae = C. M, MOUNT, JR. ° coped Colonel, USA : Chief, Pacific Division Operations Directcrate GROUP 1 EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING & DECLASSIFICATION SECRET SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIRED NOT SELEASABLE TO SOREIGN NATIONALS Docld: 324275040 Page 31
ao DISTEIBULICE, Ssecy, JSSC DIS OSD NIC - ACP —- WH Sit. Rm M/A to President Dir, CLA S/fA ¥res., NEAFP Tho Atborneay Ceneral. ig. ror Inc. Dev. US Del., MSc UN Dir, ‘ISA. ANMCOC State FE Af. PREA ways 3 r" as: Dara! ? Se a atenanimnmnanioond Docld: 324275040 Page 32 7. \ te bes et oe Ore eH BIDE HUA OWWE AHHH ENDED a ped bet id pow Pad wd te be
ra > THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE JOINT STAFF. Washington 25, D. C., SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION | 11 December 1963 REPORT NUMBER 50-63 1, INVELLIGENCE a. Republic of Vietnam (RVN): (1) Since the initial intense outburst follcwicg the 1 Nevember coup, over-all Viet Cong (VC) activity hes cont lnued its slow decline. It did, however, remain at @ relatively tigh level during the period 28 Novenber through 5 Decencer when compared to pre-coup activity levels. There were 515 enews; initiated incidents reported, of which only 64 were armed atvacks, the lowest number since rid-October, Ali other categories of VO actions declined excert that propaganda incidents continued at a relatively high rate, ind‘! satlnz perhaps a possible change of VC emphasis on the type of activity to be conducted. The decline of Communist ectivity in recent weeks is reflected principally in the akearo decrease in the number of armed attacks and ects of sabotage. Terror. ism - assassination, kidnappings, andi herassirg fire - although _ deciiuing, remained at a relatively high level. Most of the. Communist activity continues to be centered in the deita region, There was a sharp drop of VC activities in 3d Corps Doclda:32495040 Page 33-
SEC - - ae een ; i j Tactical Zone (CTZ) and a slight decline in 2d CTZ. The lst CTZ remained at the. same level as the previous week. ' (2) Maj. Gen. Tran Van Don, Minister of Defense, saici the recently planned change in corps commanders was not imp2e- mented because the generals did not warit to give the impression | of yielding to pressure from Buddhists and students who want Maj. Gen. Do Cao Tri replaced as Commander of 1st Corps. (3) Elements of the Government 's 7th Division cn 3 D:cember captured a 75=mm recoilless rifle in Dinh Tuong Province, south of Saigon. COMUSMACY J-2 technical intelligence says the weapon is of Chinese Communist origin. The first VC weapon of this type was captured in the same general a=: about a month ago. (4) COMUSMACV's acceptance of the reported infiltration in July or 130 men into the RVN from North Vietnam via Lacs and | Cambodia, brings the 1963 total of confirmed infiltrators to 914, The July entrants were reportedly to form the nucleus of a main force pattalion in Phuoc Tuy Province. COMUSMACV also says that although 984 more reported infiltrators cannot be confirmed in Vietnam, he strongly suspects many of them are there. . (5) At least 400 "corrupt" Vietnamese officers, including many with good combat records, are to be purged from the SECRET... 4 ee -  D, Docld: 324275040 Page 34
on, military rolls. This represents approximately 2.4 per cent ef the total 16,443 officers. Some of the alleged wrong- doings include falsification of official records and embezzle- ment of pay. (6) The Vietnamese Government apparently wants to exploit the experience of the Philippines in its successful fight against the Communist Hukbalahap. Maj. Gens. Duong Van Minh, Chief of State, and Tran Van Don, in talks with Philippine Ambassador Farolan in Saigon on 30 November, discussed sending a high-level Vietnamese delegation to Manila to ask the a Philippines to help out in the Vietnamese eounterinsurgency -° ~~ effort. The two generals hope that a group of Filipino officers experienced in tactics and techniques will be sent to Vietnam. Ambassador Farolan has recommended favorable con-~ sideration to his government. b. Indonesia/Malaysia: (1) An Indonesian TU-16/Badger jet medium bomber circled over Kuching on 6 December and another "buzzed" Tawau on the 7th, according to the US Army Attache in Singapore. These flights are probably for reconnaissance; TU-15s have pre- yiously been noted in this role. Reported crossings of the — Sarawak border by Indonesian helicopters on 8 and 9 December may also have been to reconnoiter troop dispositions of Sarawak security forces. British and Malaysian forces are not known to have reacted to any of the flights. SF 5 A Docld: 324275040 Page 35
roy foe Loa (2) Beitish shroes in Singabore are being augnented by the deployment of one squadron of eight VICTOR jet medium bombers, one of which is photo reconnaissance equipped, from the RAF V-bomber force. The temporary transfer of these bombers, which can carry nuclear bombs or air-to-surface missiles but can also be employed in a conventional role, is oéLlieved to be a contingency measure against a possibie show= down with Indonesia as well as a psychological deterrent. British Canberra bombers already based in this area caamct reach all targets on Java and are limited to low-level. attacks. (3) Some senior staff officers of the British-Far Zast Command are becoming more convinced that a major military action with Indonesia is likely despite Djakarta's apparent intentions to avoid open conflict. Indonesia is continuing to build up its forces on Borneo and its violations of Sarawak's airspace could provoke an incident and British retaliation. The British Far East Air Force's upgrading of strike plzns and targeting materials is emphasizing aircraft and airfields. (4) The Malaysian Government has turned down Fresident Sukarno's proposal for a second UN survey of the Borceo cerri- tories in the belief that it is not a sincere attempt ot re- : conetliation and would not affect Indonesia's cont ronrcetion policy. DoclId: 32425040 Page 36
is) Chines’ Gommuni st Vice Premier Mardnal Ho Lung, as bersonal repbedeltitive of Chief of State Liu Shao-chi, reportedly informed President Sukarno of the Chinese Govern- ment's 100 per cent support of Indonesia's oppesition to Malaysia. He is said to have promised that Peiping weuld provide Indonesia ail moral or material assistance "within its vet power." Ho Lung had several personal contacts with Sukarno while in Djakarta as head of the Chinese delegation to the coon GANEFO games. Such assurances, while providing a psycholog- ‘ical boost to Sukarno, must be viewed in the light of the basic Indonesian anti-Chinese bias aswell as Peiping's ability co provide material assistance. : ce. Laos: (1) Royal Lao Army (FAR) and Neutralist units have taken Sham Keut, a Communist-held position alcng Route 8. tak Sao, adjacent to the junction of Route 8 also held by the Communists, has reportedly also fallen. The Pathet Lao (PL) have thus far evidenced little strong reaction to the friendly thrust. A coordinated FAR, Neutralist, Meo drive in the Xieng Khouang area has been planned but there has been no evidence of its implementation. The PL are unlikely to remain passive Yor too leng in the face of friendly gains, particularly cf the caliber of Xieng Khouang and Lak Sao. Docld: 32425040 Page 37
cari’ sEqREr rey . | = (2) The assassination of Col. Leuang on 5 December has had an impact bh Neuttilists and has given rise to aceusations and increased tdhélon both among Neutralist ranks and between Neutralists and the rightist element. No one group has been linked to the death. lLeuang was widely disliked and dis- trusted because of his involvement with various interests. (3) A Laotian official has reported a Chinese Communist proposal for a commercial air link between Communist China and Laos. The route would be via Nanning, Hanoi, Xieng Khouang, Vientiane and return. The 2 December proposal re- quested a Laotian delegation to Peiping and reportedly pointed out that the air link would "strengthen friendly relations between the two countries.” The Laotian response to the pro- posal is unknown. . d. Thailand: | (1) The succession problem following the death of Field Marshal Sarit on 8 December has thus far been handled very smoothly and Bangkok remains quiet. General Thanom Kitti- kachorn, first Deputy Premier and Defense Minister, has been named Premier and has stated he will name a new Cabinet this week. Major changes are not anticipated and General Praphat and Air Chief Marshal Dawee will very likely retain key posi- tions. Deputy Army Commander Chitti will probably be named Docld: 3274275040 Page 36
Army Commander while Thanom will probably retain the Defense on Ministry himself. There will be no shift in the Government's — strong prosliest orientation. (2) Possible dirfauaty may arise from the fact that Thanom, Praphat and Dawee hold no diredét command. of troops, General Krit Sivard, however, who has frequently been mentioned in coup plots, presently commands the key Bangkok lst Army : Area. Krit, as well as Army Commander Chitti, will have to oe considered carefully in the new governmental organization. — Docld: 324275040 Page 39