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

FOR AMBASSADOR NOLTING

LIMIT DISTRIBUTION

You are instructed to seek an immediate appointment with President Diem and inform him that President Kennedy, after conferring with General Taylor and carefully considering his report, has decided that the Government of the United States is prepared to join the Government of Viet-Nam in a sharply increased joint effort to avoid a further deterioration in the situation in South Viet-Nam and eventually to contain and eliminate the threat to its independence.

The joint effort we have in mind would require certain undertakings by both governments, as outlined below:

1. On its part, the U.S. would immediately take the following actions in support of the GVN:

a. Provide increased air lift to the GVN forces, including helicopters, light aviation, and transport aircraft, manned to the extent necessary by United States uniformed personnel and other United States operational control.

b. Provide such additional equipment and United States uniformed personnel Rh