0 - The Black Vault

THE BDM CORPORATION
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a. US Objectives (See Figure 2-1)
Late in 1949 ana early 1950, the National Security Council
(NSC) developed objectives for US foreign policy with respect to Asia (NSC
48/2) and Indochina (NSC-64) which served as the basis for US policy for
that area u.ntil 1952. Those objectives were keyed to blocking communist
expansion and internal subversion in Asia by:
Establishing collective security arrangements between and/or with
MAian natiions; or
• Collaborating with major European allies and commonwealth countries;
or, that failing,
0 Establishing bilateral cooperation between separate Asian
nations.
Following a NSC review of the communist threat in Soutneast
Asia in 152, President Truman approved a new statement of objectives dnd
policy:
To prevent the countries of Southeast Asia from passing
into the communist orbit, and to assist them to develop
the will and ability to resist communism from within
and without and to contribute to the strengthening of
the free world.4/
President Eisenhower took office in the context of negotiations
for a settlement in Korea and the possible defeat of France in Indo-
!• ichina, As the French position in Vietnam deteriorated under constant
pressure from the Viet Minh, and as indications that France might accept a
political settlement adverse to US interests grew, the NSC reconsidered
basic US objectives with respect to Southeast Asia. On January 16, 1954,
President Eisenhower approved a NSC proposal committing the US to make
every effirt to influence France against settling for anything inconsistent
with the basic American objectives below:
4I
To prevent the countries of Southeast Asia from passing
into the communist orbit; to persuade them that their
best interests lie in greater cooperation and stronger
affiliations with the rest of the free world; and to
assist them to develop tow-'d stable, free governments
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