quarters and military installations in a zone. It may be several miles on each side without being able to pinpoint it, largely because of jungle conditions. We are now using bombing rather than napalm to attack these area targets. Sometimes, I am quite sure, we are successful; many times, I am sure, we missed. But it is still worth the effort by rendering life highly uncertain for the VC in these areas. I would use napalm without any hesitation when it would be effective, but we certainly have no idea of burning out jungles indiscriminately. REBUILDING THE CHANCERY The CHAIRMAN. Any other questions? Here is your last chance, he is going back home. By the way, I see you are going to rebuild the Chancery. Why don't you build it out of contingency funds? Why does it have to wait for appropriations? 2 General TAYLOR. That is a question I can't answer. The CHAIRMAN. You asked us for $1 million for a building, but you don't want to ask us for 300,000 men to send over there that may cost $50 billion, how about that? General TAYLOR. When that day comes, Senator, you are going to be consulted, I am perfectly sure. The CHAIRMAN. Are you sure? General TAYLOR. Furthermore, the day isn't here yet for that. Senator HICKENLOOPER. This happened since you left, I understand. But is the building such that it can't be repaired; why do we have to build a new building? General TAYLOR. First, Senator, it is an old building. It is a firetrap. The elevators don't run. The CHAIRMAN. Do we own it? General TAYLOR. We don't own it. We pay an excessive rent. We could have bought the building several times on the rental we pay. It is not secure. We have had a very desirable piece of land for a number of years, just opposite the British Embassy in an area that can be secured. I would say the United States with all it represents in Vietnam is entitled to a fairly good building. The CHAIRMAN. Why don't you build it underground, no place for them to throw their inkwells? General TAYLOR. Then we would be accused of showing a war psychology, I am afraid. The CHAIRMAN. You are making up your mind to be there a long time, and I think you ought to put it underground like Hitler's bunker in Berlin. Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador. I don't envy you your task. General TAYLOR. It is a good job. I recommend it to any of you Senators. 2 On March 30, 1965, the Vietcong bombed the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, killing 17 people, injuring 183, and damaging the building. WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS The CHAIRMAN. I know you have many problems. We are not critical of you, I am sure, even though we are very worried about the implications of some of our involvement out there. General TAYLOR. I appreciate these feelings. Senator HICKENLOOPER. A lot of people tell Senators where to go, but I don't think many of them have gone quite so far as to tell them to go to Saigon. Senator STENNIS. We are glad to have you out there. We are fortunate to have you there. The CHAIRMAN. When are you going back? General TAYLOR. Tomorrow night. The CHAIRMAN. Be careful. It is a very dangerous thing, I am afraid. I have no panacea to offer to you. Senator HICKENLOOPER. Best of luck to you. General TAYLOR. Thank you, gentlemen. [Whereupon, at 12:45 p.m., the committee recessed, subject to call of the Chair.] MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1965 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, Washington, DC. The committee met in executive session at 10:10 a.m., in room S-116, Capital. Present: Chairman Fulbright and Senators Morse, Church, Lausche, Smathers, Clark, Hickenlooper, Aiken, Carlson, and Case. The committee continued its markup of the bill (S. 1367), to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For a record of the proceedings, see the official transcript. [The committee adjourned at 12:30 p.m.] (408) MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1965 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, Washington, DC. The committee met in executive session at 10:20 a.m. in room S-116, Capitol. Present: Chairman Fulbright and Senators Clark, Hickenlooper, Aiken, and Carlson. The committee continued its markup of the bill (S. 1367), to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For a record of the proceedings, see the official transcript. [The committee adjourned at 12:20 p.m.] (409) |