Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part IV. C. 1.djvu/19

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

 

TOP SECRET – Sensitive

 

DATE	EVENT OR DOCUMENT	DESCRIPTION
17 Mar 1964	NSAM 288	The President accepts McNamara's full report and has it adopted as NSAM 288 to guide national policy. The importance of South Vietnam to US policy and security is underlined and the extent of the US commitment to it increased. While significant increases in actual US participation in the war are rejected as not warranted for the moment, the JCS are authorized to begin planning studies for striking at the sources of insurgency in the DRV.
1 Apr 1964	Embassy Saigon Msg 1880	Lodge reports per State request that Khanh's proposed mobilization measures call for both civilian and military build-ups.
4 Apr 1964	Khanh Announces Mobilization	Khanh announces that all able-bodied males aged 20 to 45 will be subject to national public service, either military or civilian.
	W. P, Bundy Letter to Lodge	In a letter to Lodge, Bundy asks him to comment on a scenario for mobilizing domestic US political support for action against the DRV.
15 Apr 1964	Lodge reports on Mobilization	Lodge reports that Khanh's 4 April announcement was only the precursor of the legal decrees the essence of which he described.
15–20 Apr 1964	General Wheeler, CofS/USA, Visits Vietnam	The Army Chief of Staff, General Earl Wheeler visits Vietnam to make a survey and represent the SecDef during the visit of Secretary Rusk. On 16 April, he meets with Khanh who first mentions his view that the war will eventually have to be taken to the North.
17–20 Apr 1964	Rusk Visits Saigon	Secretary Rusk and party visit Saigon. On 18 April, Rusk sees Khanh who again mentions the eventual necessity of carrying the fight to the North. Rusk replies that such a significant escalation of the war would require much