0 - The Black Vault

THE BDM CORPORATION
be known as the "domino theory",7/ was developed at the time of the Nationalist
withdrawal from mainland China but before the outbreak of the Korean
War., A position paper developed by the NSC on February 27, 1950, launched
the domino principle when it concluded with the following statement*
It is important to United States security interests
that all practicable measures be taken to prevent
further communist expansion in Southeast Asia. Indochina
is a key area of Southeast Asia and is under
immediate threat. The neighboring countries of Thailand
and Burma could be expected to fall under Communist
domination if Indochina were controlled by a
Communist-dominated government. The balance of Southeast
Asia would then be in grave hazard. 8/
The startling successes of Mao and his communist movement in
China during the late forties brought the US to a new awareness of the
vigor of communism in Asia, and to a sense of urgency over its containment,
US policy instruments developed to meet unequivocal communist challenges in
Europe were applied to the problem of the Far East.
Concurrent with the
development of NATO, a US search began for collective security in Asia;
economic and military assistance programs were inaugurated; and the Truman
Doctrine acquired wholly new dimensions by extensions into regions where
the European empires were being dismantled.,
set forth by President Truman prevailed during that time frame:
The following general policy
H I believe that it must be the policy of the United
States to support free peoples who are res-stiFg
attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside
pressures. I believe we must assist free peoples to
work out their own destinies in their own way.... 9/
Truman was determined to commit US resources to contain
Scommunism.. While he clearly subordinated military aid to economic and
political means, he did assert the US interest to assist in maintaining
security.
We shall not realize our objectives, however, unless we
are willing to help free peoples to maintain their free
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