Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part V. B. 3. a.djvu/102



Sent to: Amembassy PARIS 5693

Secretary Defense has written Department to following effect:

QTE The present situation in Laos has drained the last bit of reserve out of the French Air Force in Indochina, and the near collapse of the maintenance and pilot capabilities of the French Air Force in Indochina is close at hand.

QTE The Department of Defense has repeatedly advised the French that the current manpower ceiling of ten thousand personnel PAREN including approximately two thousand five hundred guards and ordinary laborers END PAREN was totally inadequate to support the number of aircraft operating in French Indochina, and that more French personnel were needed to effectively employ, efficiently utilize and properly maintain the aircraft on hand. END QUOTE

Secretary's letter concludes with request that Department QTE make appropriate representation to French Government to induce them to provide needed Air Force supply, maintenance and operational personnel. END QUOTE

Further details this whole situation are contained MAAG Saigon telegram 728-A May first passed MAAG Paris and DEPTEL 5647.

Approach Pleven earliest opportunity indicating to him primary importance attached by US GOVT remedying this situation which is understood be under study by French Air Ministry. It would be appropriate recall to Pleven that we have on several occasions and at considerable sacrifice to ourselves made planes available on priority basis for use in Indochina but that our air experts consider problem not primarily need for additional planes particularly Rh