B. OTHER ACTIONS-Continued

Armed Action

Congressional Action

commitment of U.S. ground troops to Laos or Thailand, as an amendment to the defense appropriations bill.

Deployment of troops, Thailand, 1961- In 1969 Congress voted to prohibit a 1970. In 1961 a detachment of 259 Marines was sent to Thailand to set up a helicopter maintenance facility for ferrying supplies to anti-Communist forces in Laos, when the military situation in that country began to deteriorate. In 1962, when anti-Communists fled across the Mekong into Thai territory, and it appeared that Pathet Lao might move into Thailand, U.S. forces numbering 5,000 men were sent into Northeast Thailand to guard against that possibility. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand also sent in small units, in a show of SEATO solidarity. As the threat receded, the U.S. and other troops were gradually withdrawn. The building of U.S. air bases in Thailand began around 1964, and by 1965 U.S. air strikes against the Vietcong and North Vietnam were being flown from Thailand. These air bases in Thailand are still maintained. Intervention in the Dominican Republic, 1965.-On April 24, 1965, a revolt broke out in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. April 28 President Johnson ordered a contingent of several hundred marines to land there, stating that Dominican "military authorities" had requested assistance, as they could no longer guarantee the safety of American citizens living in the Dominican Republic. The President stated that assistance would also be available to protect nationals of other countries as well.

On

The first U.S. contingent numbered only 400 men, but on May 2 the President announced he was sending in 200 more, with an additional 4,500 to follow at the earliest possible moment. Eventually U.S. forces in the Dominican Republic were to number 21,500. Total personnel involved numbered over 30,000.

In announcing the dispatch of additional troops to the Dominican Republic, President Johnson cited increasing Communist control of the revolution, plus increasing needs for food and medical supplies, etc.

Congressional leadership was informed before the move was made into the Dominican Republic. Several resolutions were offered supporting the President's action in the Dominican Republic. The most prominent was H. Res. 560, endorsing the use of force individually or collectively by any country in the Western hemisphere to prevent a Communist takeover. It passed the House by a vote of 312-52.

Many members of Congress felt that the President had overestimated the extent of Communist penetration of the revolutionary movement. Others have charged that the intervention was motivated not so much by a desire to save lives and property as by a desire to prevent a Communist takeover in the country, a desire which, in their view, arose from an inaccurate assessment of the danger of such a takeover. Some argued that the U.S. should have consulted the OAS before it intervened in the Dominican Republic, something which it did not do.

B. OTHER ACTIONS-continued

B. OTHER ACTIONS-Continued
Armed Action

On February 7, 1965, Communist
forces attacked a U.S. ground instal-
lation. Seven U.S. soldiers were killed,
and 109 wounded. President Johnson
met with the National Security
Council and congressional leaders,
following which he announced that
U.S. and South Vietnamese Air
Forces had been directed to launch
retaliatory attacks. These attacks
were to develop into a program of
bombing missions, while at the same
time the U.S. began a buildup of its
ground forces in Vietnam. Except for
occasional pauses, the bombing cam-
paign continued until the partial
halt announced on March 31, 1968,
and the complete halt seven months
later. Ground forces reached a peak
of 535,000 before the program of
gradual withdrawal was begun.
Since the Spring of 1965 the U.S. has
indicated an interest in settling the
war by negotiation. All attempts at
bringing both sides together failed
until President Johnson's speech of
March 31, 1968, announcing the par-
tial bombing halt, and requesting
North Vietnam to begin talks at once,
The only result of these talks to date
has been the total cessation of the
bombing, in return for permitting
the Saigon government to participate
in the talks. As a further concession,
the National Liberation Front (Viet
Cong) was also permitted to partici-
pate.

Congressional Action

and supports the determination of the
President, as Commander in Chief, to
take all necessary measures to repel
any armed attack against the forces
of the United States and to prevent
further aggression. Sec. 2. The United
States regards as vital to its national
interest and to world peace the
maintenance of international peace
and security in Southeast Asia. Con-
sonant with the Constitution of the
United States and the Charter of the
United Nations and in accordance
with its obligations under the South-
east Asia Collective Defense Treaty,
the United States is, therefore, pre-
pared, as the President determines,
to take all necessary steps, including
the use of armed force, to assist any
member or protocol state of the
Southeast Asia Collective Defense
Treaty requesting assistance in de-
fense of its freedom." The resolution
is to expire when the President deter-
mines that the peace and security of
the area are reasonably assured, or
earlier by concurrent resolution of
Congress.

The Tonkin Gulf Resolution (PL 88-
408), passed the Senate by a vote of
88-2 and the House by a vote of 416
to 0. Growing anti-war sentiment in
the Congress was reflected in a num-
ber of resolutions, while members favor-
ing the Executive's Vietnamese policy
introduced resolutions of support.
By the time of this writing the Senate
had repealed the Tonkin Gulf Reso-
lution. Some other measures presently
in effect are as follows:
1. The so-called "national commit-
ments" resolution (Sen. Res. 85,
91st Congress), a resolution expressing
the sense of the Senate that a U.S.
commitment to a foreign power
"necessarily and exclusively results"
from affirmative action taken by
both legislative and executive bran-
ches, through a treaty, convention,
or other legislative instrumentality.

B. OTHER ACTIONS-Continued
Armed Action

Congressional Action

2. Title IV of PL 90-5, a statement of congressional policy expressing its firm intention to provide all necessary support for the armed forces fighting in Vietnam; its support of the efforts by the President and others to prevent expansion of the war, and bring the conflict to an end through a negotiated settlement which will preserve the honor and protect the vital interest of the U.S. and allow the people of South Vietnam to determine their own affairs; and finally, declaring its support for the convening of a new conference to pursue the general principles of the Geneva Accords of 1954 and 1962, and to formulate plans to bring the conflict to an honorable end.

3. House Resolution 61, 91st Congress. Affirms support of the House for the efforts of the President to negotiate a just peace in Vietnam, expresses hope of U.S. people for peace, calls attention to numerous peaceful overtures made by the U.S., requests President to continue to press North Vietnam to abide by the Geneva Convention of 1949 in the treatment of war prisoners, calls for free elections in Vietnam and announces willingness to abide by results of such elections.

Entrance into Cambodia, 1970.-On 4. April 30, 1970, President Nixon announced that U.S. and South Vietnamese troops had crossed the border into Cambodia in order to wipe out Communist sanctuaries there. He said that all American forces would be withdrawn by the end of June.

The Senate passed an amendment to the Foreign Military Sales Bill (H.R. 15628) cutting off all funds for U.S. forces in Cambodia after June 30, 1970, unless Congress authorizes their operations in that country. The amendment also denies U.S. funds for the support of the troops of other countries which might come to the assistance of Cambodia.

5. A number of measures are pending to cut off all funds for military operations in Vietnam by a specified date.

APPENDIX II

INSTANCES OF USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ABROAD, 1798-1970

1798-1800-Undeclared naval war with France. This contest included land actions, such as that in the Dominican Republic, city of Puerto Plata, where marines captured a French privateer under the guns of the forts.

1801-05-Tripoli.-The First Barbary War, including the George Washington and Philadelphia affairs and the Eaton expedition, during which a few marines landed with United States Agent William Eaton to raise a force against Tripoli in an effort to free the crew of the Philadelphia. Tripoli declared war but not the United States.

1806-Mexico (Spanish territory).—Capt. Z. M. Pike, with a platoon of troops, invaded Spanish territory at the headwaters of the Rio Grande deliberately and on orders from Gen. James Wilkinson. He was made prisoner without resistance at a fort he constructed in present day Colorado, taken to Mexico, later released after seizure of his papers. There was a political purpose, still a mystery.

1806-10-Gulf of Mexico.-American gunboats operated from New Orleans against Spanish and French privateers, such as La Fitte, off the Mississippi Delta, chiefly under Capt. John Shaw and Master Commandant David Porter.

1810-West Florida (Spanish territory).—Gov. Claiborne of Louisiana, on orders of the President, occupied with troops territory in dispute east of Mississippi as far as the Pearl River, later the eastern boundary of Louisiana. He was authorized to seize as far east as the Perdido River. No armed clash.

1812-Amelia Island and other parts of east Florida, then under Spain.-Temporary possession was authorized by President Madison and by Congress, to prevent occupation by any other power; but possession was obtained by Gen. George Matthews in so irregular a manner that his measures were disavowed by the President.

1812-15-Great Britain.-War of 1812. Formally declared.

1813-West Florida (Spanish territory).—On authority given by Congress, General Wilkenson seized Mobile Bay in April with 600 soldiers. A small Spanish garrison gave way. Thus we advanced into disputed territory to the Perdido River, as projected in 1810. No fighting.

1813-14-Marquesas Islands.-Built a fort on island of Nukahiva to protect three prize ships which had been captured from the British.

1814-Spanish Florida.—Gen. Andrew Jackson took Pensacola and drove out the British with whom the United States was at war.

1814-25—Caribbean.—Engagements between pirates and American ships or squadrons took place repeatedly especially ashore and offshore about Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, and Yucatan. Three thousand pirate attacks on merchantmen were reported between 1815 and 1823. In 1822 Commodore James Biddle employed a squadron of two frigates, four sloops of war, two brigs, four schooners, and two gunboats in the West Indies.

1815-Algiers.-The Second Barbary War, declared by our enemies but not by the United States. Congress authorized an expedition. A large fleet under Decatur attacked Algiers and obtained indemnities.

1815-Tripoli.-After securing an agreement from Algiers, Decatur demonstrated with his squadron at Tunis and Tripoli, where he secured indemnities for offenses against us during the War of 1812.

1816-Spanish Florida.-United States forces destroyed Nicholls Fort, called also Negro Fort, which harbored raiders into United States territory.

1816-18-Spanish Florida-First Seminole War.-The Seminole Indians, whose area was a resort for escaped slaves and border ruffians, were attacked by troops under Generals Jackson and Gaines and pursued into northern Florida. Spanish posts were attacked and occupied, British citizens executed. There was no declaration or congressional authorization but the Executive was sustained.

1817-Amelia Island (Spanish territory off Florida).—Under orders of President Monroe, United States forces landed and expelled a group of smugglers, adventurers, and freebooters.