University of Virginia Library

Response To Proposal

In response to General
Maxwell Taylor's proposal to
send 8,000 troops to Vietnam
in 1961 to boost morale,
provide support for the South
Vietnamese army and secure
American prestige in the U.N.,
Mr. Rusk reasoned that the
U.S. could still pull out at that
early stage. However, with the
initiation of Mr. Taylor's
proposals, Washington would
be forced to support its
commitments, carrying the
guerrilla struggle into a full scale
war.