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4 August 1954

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

1. It has been recommended by the Chief MAAG Indochina that the United States assume responsibility for the training of the Vietnamese Army. There are indications that both the Vietnamese and the Cambodian governments may request that the United States assume responsibility for training their forces as part of any U.S. effort to check further expansion of Communist influence in Indochina.

2. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have considered this question and recommend that before the United States assumes responsibility for training the forces of any of the Associated States certain preconditions which are essential to the success of this effort be met. They include the following:


 * . From the military point of view it is absolutely essential that there be a reasonably strong, stable civil government in control. It is hopeless to expect a U.S. military training mission to achieve success unless the nation concerned is able effectively to perform those governmental functions essential to the successful raising and maintenance of armed forces, to include the provision of adequate facilities, drafting and processing of personnel, pay of troops, etc. Unless the foregoing conditions prevail, a U.S. training mission would lack the authority and governmental support essential to the successful accomplishment of its mission.


 * . The government of each of the Associated States concerned should formally request that the United States assume responsibility for training their forces and providing the military equipment, financial assistance, and political advice necessary to insure internal stability.

. Arrangements should be made with the French granting full independence to the Associated States and providing for the phased, orderly withdrawal of French Rh