Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part V. B. 3. a.djvu/147

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

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30. French and Associated States forces are capable of expanding guerrilla forces immediately, as defenders of their home areas, by increasing the arming of tribal groups now used as guerrillas, Trained cadres are in being in these areas and the tribal people will fight the Viet Minh. Effective harrassment of Viet Minh communications lines from the Chinese border and flanking the Delta perimeter will require stronger and better trained guerrilla units than new exist, with political convictions to at least match those of the Viet Minh so that these units can recruit local partisans in their area of operations. Concrete suggestions for mounting guerrilla operations prior to 15 September, particularly harassing the Viet Minh communication line flanking the northern Delta perimeter, were made to General Navarre and General Cogny who expressed favorable reaction.

31. Guerrilla training facilities were inspected and talks were held with commanders to encourage expansion of training and aggressive action. Present training facilities for guerrilla training will be expanded (see Annex "M" on Guerrilla Warfare).

32. Utilization of Air Potential: The air mission in Indochina is executed almost in its entirety by the French. The Vietnamese contribute a token participation by liaison-observer type aircraft, flown by Vietnamese pilots under French operational control.

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