Dec. 1, 1964 - President Johnson discussed today proposals for expanding the war in Vietnam and then directed Ambassador Maxwell Taylor to “consult urgently” with the Government of South Vietnam on measures to improve the anti‐Communist struggle within that nation.
Priority was given to the question of strengthening the Government of Premier Tran Van Huong or making it more acceptable to the many dissident factions in Saigon.
In a 2½-hour meeting with the President, Taylor discussed the question of American air strikes on Communist supply routes and depots in Laos and in North Vietnam. But it was indicated that Johnson took no immediate decision on this point.
It was understood Johnson felt that steps toward a more stable civilian government in Saigon should be explored before committing the United States to a wider war.
At the same time, a White House statement issued after the conference in which Taylor reported to the President said they had “reviewed the accumulating evidence of continuing and increased North Vietnamese support” for the Vietcong guerrillas in South Vietnam.
The statement said that Taylor had “reported that the political situation in Saigon was still difficult but that the new Government under Prime Minister Huong was making a determined effort to strengthen national unity.”
Qualified sources reported that Taylor’s assessment of the political and military situation in Vietnam was one of marked pessimism.
Newsmen entered the Cabinet room after the meeting. President Johnson was apparently considering allowing a news conference with Taylor but Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who was sitting at the President’s left, was overheard to say softly: “It would be impossible for Max to talk to these people without leaving the impression the situation is going to hell.”
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