Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part V. B. 2. b.djvu/257

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

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REASON: This subparagraph as presently written directs the Department of Defense and other agencies to engage in certain formal planning which, in the case of the Department of Defense, would involve the formulation of specific war plans. In addition, formal military planning would have to be initiated with the French, with the British, with the Chinese Nationalist Government, with the Government of Burma, and possibly with other friendly governments, including States Members of the United Nations. The Joint Chiefs of Staff question the feasibility and desirability of such action and, in any event, from the military point of view, they would find it impracticable to formulate war plans for all of the contingencies suggested in the basic paper beyond United States military courses of action and force bases therefor. On the other hand, the Joint Chiefs of Staff support the desirability of undertaking unilaterally appropriate studies of the problem involved.

7. Change subparagraph 6 c (4) to read as follows (changes indicated in the usual manner):

"in the event that information and circumstances point to the conclusion that France is no longer prepared to carry the burden in Indochina, or if France presses for a sharing of the responsibility for Indochina, whether in the UN or directly with the U.S. Government, Oppose a French withdrawal and consult with the French and British concerning further measures to be taken to safeguard the area from communist domination. from Indochina."

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