Indochina Refugees - Orphan Airlift

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Date April 14 TO: DICK CHENEY FROM: DR. THEODORE C. MARRS For your signature For your coordination For your information FORD i LIBRARY GERALD Per our conversation X Other: dt is my understanding this came from a state Disails Coomination showp note: Parkers paper which we your of Press say Emary "Co, twoy DEPARTMENT OF STATE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON THE ADMIN STRATOR APR 3 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR HONORABLE THEODORE C. MARRS Special Assistant to the President for Human Resources The White House SUBJECT: A.I.D. Efforts to Airlift Vietnamese Orphans to the United States I announced yesterday (April Date A.I.D. is working with the Republic of Vietnam to expedite transportation to the United States for about 2,000 Vietnamese orphans now in Saigon. I have directed that funds from a $2 million children's assistance allocation be used to airlift them in suitable and safe aircraft as soon as possible, and that the USAID Mission in Saigon move immediately to cut through any red tape or bureaucratic obstacles. These orphans are now in the custody of licensed adoption agencies operating in Vietnam. They were already in the process of adoption by American families living in various parts of the United States. Those few who do not have families arranged will be placed with families now on waiting lists of the agencies. We do not now need foster care homes or additional spon- soring families. Adoption agencies involved which have U.S. offices will be contacting the prospective parents. Inquiries from families in the U.S. who are in the process of adopting Vietnamese children should be made to the appropriate adoption agencies. (A list is attached). GERALD FORD (IBRES) - 2 - A.I.D. has been working with the Government of Vietnam and U.S. voluntary agencies in Vietnam for two weeks to expedite the transportation and placement of these orphans in U.S. homes, because of the overloading of voluntary agency facilities in Saigon caused by the refugee situation. We presently are lining up one or two C-5A planes and equipping them to ensure safe transportation and care en route. We are also lining up alternative available planes. The flights will begin within the next 36 to 48 nours and possibly sooner. We are arranging to have the children met at Travis Air Force Base and/or other locations on the west coast and to be cared for upon arrival. World Airways brought 57 orphans into Oakland last night at 11:30 p.m. This was an unauthorized flight because the South Vietnam Government, the FAA, and the U.S. Mission in Saigon considered the rice cargo plane to be unsafe and unsuitable for a long flight of infants across the Pacific. We would welcome World Airways participation as long as its flights are safe and appropriate arrangements for medical care made. Dar Daniel Parker Administrator Attachment: List of Adoption Agencies & FORD GERALD The following agencies with branches Twing in Vietnam are active in intercountry adoption work. All are either licensed or in the pro- cess of being licensed by the Ministry of Social Welfare of the Republic of Vietnam to handle such adoptions. Prospective adoptive parents should contact one of the following agencies: Holt Children's Service P.O. Box 2420 1195 City View Street Eugene, Oregon 97402 Telephone: (503) 687-2202 TAISSA (Traveler's Aid--International Social Services of America) 345 East 46th Street, Room 715 New York, New York 10017 Telephone: (212) 687-2747 Friends For All Children 445 South 68th Street Boulder, Colorado 80303 Telephone: (303) 494-7305 United States Catholic Conference 201 Park Avenue, South New York, New York 10003 Telephone: (212) 475-5400 Friends of Children of Vietnam 600 Gilpin Denver, Colorado 80211 Telephone: (303) 321-8251 or 8262 & FORD Pearl S. Buck Foundation 2019 DeLancey Place GERALD Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 Telephone: (215) 732-1030 World Vision Relief Organization 919 West Huntington Drive Monrovia, California 91016' Telephone: (213) 357-1111 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 12, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR TED MARRS FROM: DICK CHENEY P Ted, I need to know how the decision came about to use C5A's for the evacuation from Saigon. Both the original decision and the follow up decision to continue using the C5A's after the first crash. FORD & LIBRARY GERALD DEPARTMENT OF STATE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON THE ADMINISTRATOR APR 3 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR HONORABLE THEODORE C. MARRS Special Assistant to the President FORD & LIBRARY 078839 for Human Resources The White House SUBJECT: A.I.D. Efforts to Airlift Vietnamese Orphans to the United States commed yesterday (Ap A.I.D. is working with the Republic of Vietnam to expedite transportation to the United States for about 2,000 Vietnamese orphans now in Saigon. I have directed that funds from a $2 million children's assistance allocation be used to airlift them in suitable and safe aircraft as soon as possible, and that the USAID Mission in Saigon move immediately to cut through any red tape or bureaucratic obstacles. These orphans are now in the custody of licensed adoption agencies operating in Vietnam. They were already in the process of adoption by American families living in various parts of the United States. Those few who do not have families arranged will be placed with families now on waiting lists of the agencies. We do not now need foster care homes or additional spon- soring families. Adoption agencies involved which have U.S. offices will be contacting the prospective parents. Inquiries from families in the U.S. who are in the process of adopting Vietnamese children should be made to the appropriate adoption agencies. (A list is attached). - 2 - A.I.D. has been working with the Government of Vietnam and U.S. voluntary agencies in Vietnam for two weeks to expedite the transportation and placement of these orphans in U.S. homes, because of the overloading of voluntary agency facilities in Saigon caused by the refugee situation. We presently are lining up one or two C-5A planes and equipping them to ensure safe transportation and care en route. We are also lining up alternative available planes. The flights will begin within the next 36 to 48 hours and possibly sooner. We are arranging to have the children met at Travis Air Force Base and/or other locations on the west coast and to be cared for upon arrival. World Airways brought 57 orphans into Oakland last night at 11:30 p.m. This was an unauthorized flight because the South Vietnam Government, the FAA, and the U.S. Mission in Saigon considered the rice cargo plane to be unsafe and unsuitable for a long flight of infants across the Pacific. We would welcome World Airways participation as long as its flights are safe and appropriate arrangements for medical care made. Dan GERALD FORD CIGRARY Daniel Parker Administrator Attachment: List of Adoption Agencies Jack PRESIDENT Reiter GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WORLD AIRWAYS, INC. TELEPHONE (202)298-7107 888-17 STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 or STATE Department of State UNITED STATES or TELEGRAM LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 0447 PAGE 01 SAIGON 03633 2717422 D/SU '6 ACTION EA-10 pike INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 PM-03 NSC-65 SP-02 SS-15 SSO-00 NSCE-00 10-19 EB-07 INR-07 1060 W 009160 R 2713907 MAR 75 FM AMEMBASSY SAIGUN & FORD TU SECSTATE WASHDC 4229 GERALD LIBRARY LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SAIGON 3633 F.O. 11652: N/A TAGS: EAIR, BIRA (DALY, EDWARD), VS, CB, LA SUBJECT: VISIT TO INDOCHINA 1. PLEASE FORWARD THE FOLLONING MESSAGE FROM MR. EDWARD J. DALY, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF WORLD AIRWAYS INC., TO PRESIDENT FORD AND SECRETARY KISSINGER AND PLEASE DELIVER A COPY TO COLONEL JACK REITER, VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OF WORLD AIRWAYS. 7. QTE: IN THE PAST SIX DAYS I HAVE PERSONALLY MET WITH CHARGE! LEHMANN AND AMBASSADOR UEAN AND THE TOP US MILITARY AND USAID OFFICIALS IN BOTH SAIGON AND PHNOM PENH. IN THIS MESSAGE I WANT TO INFURM YOU OF THE SITUATION HERE AS I EVALUATE IT IN CONNECTION WITH THE RICE AIRLIFTS TO PHNOM PENH AND THE REFUGEE AIRLIFT FROM DANANG, THE STEPS I HAVE TAKEN TO MEET THESE NEEDS AND THE FURTHER ACTIONS WHICH I DEEM TO BE CRITICALLY ESSENTIAL. 3. FIRST, WITH REFERENCE TO THE PHNOM PENH NEEDS, THE SUPPLY OF RICE IS DOWN TO A TEN DAY LEVEL AND THE DAILY RICE AIRLIFT NOW MOVING INTO PHNOM PENH IS ABOUT 500 TONS COMPARED TO THE DAILY CONSUMPTION RATE OF 700. THUS, UNLESS THE AIRLIFT IS INCREASED IMMEDIATELY, PHNOM PtNn WILL BE ON ITS KNEES. THE SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION IS ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER. WITH THE KHMER ROUGE REPUTATION FUR TAKING NO PRISONERS, 1:1 HUMAN SLAUGHTER OF MASSIVE PROPORTION IS IMMINENT, UNLESS THE RICE AIRLIFT IS EXPANDED. TOWARD THIS END, WORLD HAS MADE ARRANGEMENTS AT GREAT COST TO RETAIN INDEFINITELY ON THE RICE AIRLIFT THE TWO LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LI Department of State of STATES AMERICA UNITED TELEGRAM LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 SAIGON 03633 271742Z STRETCHED DC-84IRCRAFT THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMING ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE RICE AIRLIF SINCE IT BEGAN IN FEBRUARY. WE HAVE HAD TO LAYa OFF COMMERICAL CHARTER COMMITMENTS 10 OTHER CARRIERS AT is HEAVY PRICE PENALTY AND AT THE EXTREME DISPLEASURE OF VALUED CLIENT. HOWEVER, AFTER PERSONALLY SEEING THE SITUATION AS IT EXISTS HERE, ANYONE WITH COMPASSION FOR HUMAN SUFFERING COULD NOT 00 OTHERWISE, A. EVEN WITH RETENTION OF OUR DC-8'S IN THE RICE AIRLIFT, THERE IS , SERIOUS SHORTFALL. WE STAND READY TO PLACE OUR 747 CARGO AIRCRAFT IN THIS PROGRAM BEGINNING APRIL 8 FOR A SEVEN DAY PERIOD, MUVING 1,009, 000 POUNDS, OR 500 TONS, EACH DAY. UNTIL NOW, THE MILITARY AIRLIFT COMMAND HAS FAILEO TO ACCEPT OUR OFFER OF THE 747 FOR THIS LIFT, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL MOVE 125 TONS PER TRIP, COMPARED TO 45 TONS FOR THE nC-8, AND AT A COST PER TON OF ONE-THIRD LESS THAN THE DC.S, THE APPARENT REASONS FOR THIS POSITION HAS BEEN h RELUCTANCE TO BEAR THE EXPOSURE TO LOSS UF A $35 MILLION DOLLAR 747 COMPARED TO A $14 MILLION DOLLAR DC.R. HOWEVER, THE 747 EXPOSURE OF $35 MILLION ON THE GROUND FOR An MINUTES AT PHNOM PENH IS APPROPRIATELY COMPARED TO THE EXPOSURE OF THREE $14 MILLION DC-8'S EACH HAVING GROUND TIME OF 20 MINUTES, OR A TOTAL OF 69 MINUTES. THUS, FOR THE SAME RICE TONNAGE, THE $35 MILLION 747 EXPOSURE UF 40MINUTES COMPARES TO THE $42 MILLION DC-8 EXPOSURE OVER 69 MINUTES. 5. CONCERNING THE REFUGEE AIRLIFT, WORLD PLACED ONE 727 INTO SERVICE MOVING REFUGEES FROM DANANG TO SAIGON BEGINNING MARCH 24, AND TAROUGH TODAY, MARCH 27, WE WILL HAVE OPERATED 14 FLIGHTS OUT OF DANANG, CARRYING IN EXCESS OF 2000 REFUGEES. TOMORROW, WE ARE RECALLING FROM LEASE FROM 4 JAPAN DUMESTIC AIRLINE A SECOND 727 WHICH WILL DOUBLE OUR CAPABILITY BEGINNING SATURDAY MORNING. AT YAKOTA AIR FORCE BASE, WORLD HAS TWO 727 AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN INTER*BASE SERVICES FOR THE MILITARY AIRLIFT COMMAND, EACH AIRCRAFT BEING UTILIZED AT ARGUT EIGHT HOURS PER DAY. WE PLAN TO MOVE ONE OF THESE TWO AIRCRAFT INTO THE REFUGEE AIRLIFT FROM DANANG BEGINNING SATURDAY LIMITED OFFICIAL USE OF STATE ORLINA Department of State OF TELEGRAM STATES of LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 SAIGON 03633 271742Z MORNING; THE ONE REMAINING AIRCRAFT AT YAKOTA HAS THE CAPABILITY OF OPERATION 12 HOURS PER DAY AND THE OTHER A HOURS OF UTILIZATION CAN BE TEMPORARILY HANDLED BY MAC AIRCRAFT BASED IN JAPAN AND KOREA, ALTHOUGH MAC HAS YET TU AGREE TO THIS PLANNED ACTION. 6, THE URGENCY OF IMMEDIATE EXPANSION OF THE DANANG REFUGEE AIRLIFT RELATES AGAIN TO THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF CIVILIAN AND MILITARY OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE BY THE VIET CONG AND NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCES. SHOULD FOR ANY REASON OUR 747 NOT BE EMPLOYED IN THE RICE AIRLIFT DURING ITS AVAILABILITY WE ARE PREPARED TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR THE REFUGEE AIRLIFT OUT Or DANANG TO PHAN RANG, CAM RANH BAY OR SAIGON, ALL AIRPORTS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE 747. 7. MY STRONG AND SYMPATHETIC CONCERN IN THE PHNOM PENH AND DANANG CRISES IS THE RESULT OF MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS HERE AND MY DISCUSSION WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED US GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. I AM THEREFORE MAKING THIS APPEAL TO YOU TO TAKE THE POSITIVE STEPS NEEDED TO AVERT THEPROBLEMS THAT WILL OTHERWISE RESULT. I AM WITHHOLDING MY VIEWS ON THE ABOVE FROM THE NEWS MEDIA TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE UNTIL I HAVE YOUR ADVICE AS TO THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN WITH REGARD TO THE ABOVE. THUS, 1 WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS MESSAGE. RESPECTFULLY YOURS, EUWARD J. DALY, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN WF THE BOARD WORLD AIRWAYS INC. UNQTE LEHMANN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON FORD & GERALD LIBRARY April 3, 1975 Telephone call from Mr. James Green, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, April 3, 1975: 53 orphans (20 infants), with 6 Vietnamese attendants and 16 U. S. citizen attendants, and a crew of 14 - a total of 89 Peoples arrived at 11:03 p.m. The people were paroled to Friends of Children of Vietnam and burned Roused or the Presidio. The DC-8 took off without authority - - no airport lights - no seats - they lay on the floor on blankets. INS has We have agreed to take two thousand - - perhaps a few more - of those already being processed for adoption. And there are tens of thousands of others and there should be somebody at the White House level who should decide what we are going to do about this. Dr. Marrs and Mr. Green then discussed a meeting with representatives of State, HEW, Justice, and the Task Force. V.N. S. Velma H. Shelton THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Ted- FYI Juch APR 14 1975 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 12, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: JOHN O. MARSH THRU: MAX L. FRIEDERSDORF FROM: VERN LOEN VL m.G. SUBJECT: M.C. Tim Lee Carter, R-Ky. Mr. Carter, himself a physician, was disturbed by the attached article regarding medical problems associated with the Vietnam orphan airlift. He said he could organize on short notice a group of university faculty pediatricians to assist in seeing that these children get proper treatment. This would be a volunteer effort. Told him I would pass along his offer. CC: Les Janka FORD & LIBRARY GERALD James Cavanaugh Bob Wolthuis LIBRAR FORD GERALD Saturday, April 12, 1975 THE WASHINGTON POST R2 Doctors Warn Babylift Poses Danger of 'Medical Disaster' By Robert Joffee brought through the Bay board the flight and at vari- arrheal stool everywhere down in a warehouse like fa Bay Area hospitals are al- The doctors said they are Stalcup said ambulances Special to The Washington Post Area. Nearly 300 more or ous steps along the way so and the stench was over- cility at the Presidio. ready strained under the concerned that the White were not equipped. with SAN FRANCISCO, April 11 phans were airlifted out of that those most in need of whelming. Supplies of for- Dr. Oscherwitz said that load of 143 Vietnamese chil- House and State Depart- The doctors in charge of Saigon today emergency treatment can mula and intravenous solu- splints, intravenous fluids, 'the "larger the group of dren who have suddenly ment may not yet be fully Dr. Mark Oscherwitz, gen- get it early. tion had run out, and babies children you put together, been placed in their avail- aware of the impact that a and drugs needed by small rocessing South Vietnam eral director of the medical The doctors also said the with stretched skin and the greater the danger infec- able pediatric beds, yet some sudden influx of sick child- children. And hospitals set se children who have been processing center at the number of children aboard sunken eyes -looked up at tion will spread." He noted children who are well have ren can have on a commu- up to deal with a large num- irlifted here say that if Army's Presidio base, and each flight should be drasti- you helplessly-they were that several hundred adult not been moved out because nity ber of adult cases have undreds more children are Dr. Alex Stalcup, chief pedi- cally reduced-perhaps to as dehydrated and many were volunteers already have con of "incompetence and disor- Despite a well-organized made no such plans for rought to this country, rad- atrician at the center, said few as 20 or 30-to prevent near death." He said subse- tracted a mild form of diar volunteer response to the children. ganization among the agen- cal changes must be made in an interview that it is a the spread of infection quent flights have been rhea from the children cies in charge of them," medical needs of arriving "One problem," he said, avert "a medical dis- "miracle" that the children among themselves and to "only a little better." The doctors said children Stalcup said. children, they said, the med- "is that there is not yet a ster." survived in view of the dan- adult staff. Facilities for medical should be moved much Contrary to public state- ical community here was in single, effective organiza- More than 1,000 of the 1,- gers of spreading infection. Stalcup said, "On the processing on arrival also more rapidly to hospital ments by the agencies, he many ways ill equipped to tion coordinating the activi- 00 orphans and other chil- They recommend that a flight boarded by President should be decentralized, the beds when they need them said, "adoptive parents have handle what has amounted ties of the numerous agen- ren. recently flown to the medical screening process Ford last Saturday; there doctors said. As many as 200 and to homes when they not yet been assigned to to a large-scale pediatric cies and personnel involved United States have been be set up before. children were 302 kids. There was di- children have been bedded are well. many of these kids." emergency. in this operation." 16 April 1975 Point Paper for the Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense SUBJECT: Orphan Evacuation Program - Vietnam/Cambodia MAIN THRUST OF POINT PAPER - Provides an update on the orphan evacuation program. DISCUSSION - On 3 Apr 75, DOD developed procedures for orphan evacuation. State/AID wholeheartedly concurred. --- All orphans, upon verification by US Embassy in Vietnam and Cambodia, would be airlifted on first available military or commercial contract aircraft to Clark AB. -- At Clark AB medical evaluation would be made to determine if orphans should be hospitalized, proceed on normal airlift, or be medically evacuated. -- Flights then proceed to San Francisco or Los Angeles with Seattle as backup where military and volunteer agency personnel would further process them. - From 3 through 15 April a total of 1703 orphans (52 Cambodians) have been flown out of Vietnam/Cambodia. Military Airlift Command (MAC) transported 883 through Clark AFB, Philippines, of which 43 are currently enroute. Non-DOD carriers, chartered by private arrangements, transported the balance of 820 orphans. -- 914 orphans have been moved to San Francisco. -- 330 orphans have been moved to Los Angeles. -- 409 orphans have been moved to Seattle. GERALD FORD -- 201 orphans have been moved to Fort Benning, Ga. (These figures do not total 1703 due to double handling, i.e., L.A. and Benning) - Number and location of orphans currently being processed: -- Clark AB, Philippines - 5 hospitalized. Hickam AB, Hawaii - 5 hospitalized. San Francisco - 65 Los Angeles - 87 Seattle - 18 Fort Benning - 170 (14 hospitalized) -- Enroute - 43 from Clark AB to Los Alamedas Air Station, Ca. - Deaths: -- 5 April crash of C-5 - 190 (figure not final) -- One died enroute to Clark AB - cause of death, extreme dehydration. (Infant) -- One died at Clark AB Hospital - cause of death, sepsis (absorption of pathogenic microorganisms into blood stream). (Infant) -- One died enroute to Los Angeles - cause of death, pneumonia, dehydration and prematurity. Reported 24 days old. -- Prognosis - No more deaths expected. - Future orphan airlift requirements: -- Known - zero - original "Reported 2000" all processed --- Possible - 80 (Vietnam) Rumors of 500 to 5000 more. Tracking this. - Problems: -- Despite the official State/AID/DOD system, certain individuals have operated as free agents making arrangments for contract flights and direct liaison with the orphanages. --- This has caused considerable confusion and resulted in less than desirable service for the orphans. -- News reporters covering commercial arrivals at San Francisco and Seattle (outside the State/AID/DOD system) cited health problems with orphans on these flights. - Current funding status (funded by State/AID) : -- Airlift $1,156,772 -- Medical 166,938 --- Support 71,916 -- Total obligated as of 15 Apr - $1,395,626 BERALD R. FORD LIBRARY Prepared by: MGEN M.F. Casey, USAF DOD Orphan Lift Coordinator OX 74121 2 DEPARTMENT OF STATE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523 May 6, 1975 Dr. Theodore Marrs Special Assistant to the President White House Washington, D.C. Dear Dr. Marrs: Following our telephone conversations of April 28 and April 30, I contacted Colonel Kane, of Presidio, who gave me the enclosed copy of Dr. Stalcup's paper. Colonel Kane felt that it should not be transmitted through military channels. Dr. Stalcup did not visit Presidio while I was there. We communicated by telephone. There was no mention of his paper or his discussion with you. Instead he expressed a desire to get his organization "Orphan's Airlift" involved in the refugee camps throughout the United States. This was discussed with Mr. Edward Marks, in Washington, who is AID's refugee coordinator on the Task Force. Mr. Marks advised me to provide Dr. Stalcup with the name and phone number of Mr. William Wild at Camp Pendleton. This was done and Dr. Stalcup expressed his appreciation. I visited Fort Lewis, Washington and Camp Pendleton, California where complete background information on Dr. Stalcup's offer was provided to the officers in charge. They expressed apprecia- tion in our interest. A copy of this letter and the attached paper is being forwarded to the Administrator's staff. It has been a pleasure to render assistance and I shall remain available for future duties. Sincerely yours, Isaiah A. Jackson, Jr., M.D. BENALD FORD Chief, Public Health Division Office of Technical Development Bureau for East Asia Enclosure: a/s PRIORITY: HAND CARY directly to Dr. Marrs immediately upon receipt. Confirm delivery. TO: The White House, Washington, D.C. ATTN: Dr. Marrs, Special Assistant to the President. FORD & GERALD LIBRARY In regard to the matter of the Vietnamese Orphans. 1. Problems in transshipment a. Medical - Public health measures at the various facilites can not completely adequate to restrict the spread of infectious disease between the children and between the children and the staff. Consequently, for each day remaining at the facilites, an additional 10% become ill enough to require hospitilation (1200 infants processed through San Francisco, 170 hospitalized over one month). Therefore, there is great urgency in arranging immediate transshipment out of the various facilities in small groups to other sites. Large groups merely replicate the problems in other sites. Los Angeles has had bad press and mèdical problems worse than we have experienced, and doesn't want any more planes di- verted to them. (Unconfirmed) b. Adoption Agencies - - The principal bottle neck in output from the facilities has been the adoption agencies. They have critically limited resources of trained adoption processors, are in dire financial statis, and have serious problems with infighting, bizarre personalities and poor chain of command. Because their staffs are limited, when their children are diverted to more than one site, they cannot cope with having to divide their staff. - 2 - C. European transshipment - Approximately 2/3 (two-thirds) of the Friends for All Children sponsored orphans have been pre-adopted in Europe. The following countries are involved: France England Germany Canada Switzerland Denmark (Montagnards) Italy Sweden Finland Belgium The following problems have arisen: 1. Denmark: The Danish government had acceptance agreements with the Children Protection and Security International, a vocational school for the Montagnards tribesmen orphans originally in DaNang, recently moved to Saigon. One of the school directors, a Mr. Henning Becker, is emotionally unsta' le with a drinking problem. He became drunk on the World Airways flight carrying the orphans to Oakland, and got into a fight with Mr. Ed Daly, President of World Airways. Mr. Daly badly shattered several bones in his hand in that fight. Mr. Becker was deplaned at Guam and attempted to rejoin the group at Honolulu, but I refused him access and sent him to Denmark where he has regained control of the organization. The group is penniless - Mr. Daly was quite ill in Honolulu, and through a courtesy arrangement with Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, I was permitted to render him essential medical services, as he would have no one else. I am friendly with the Daly family, but none of us in Orphan's Airlift works for him. In fact, his pokery of freelance wholesale airlifting has created inassine problems for us. $ - 3 - When we found that the arrivals were unexpected Montagnards, we called the Danish Consul, Mr. Leighmyer, and asked what plans had been made for transshipment. He had no knowledge of the Montagnards. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from Mr. Fred Petersen, Sec- retary-General, Office O Foreign Affairs, Denmark. He stated that the Danish Government had decided to refuse access, and requested that the children be sent to Bangkok (at someone else's expense). I stated that, as a Pediatrician, this would be an unacceptable plan, and that we couldn't afford it anyway. After a rather harsh discussion, the Danish Government reversed its decision and agreed to accept the children. After a rather nasty fight over payment of the air fare, the children are on their way to Denmark. 2. France: The French Government in the form of their local consulate was contacted about the 120 children destined for France. The The children for France are pre-adopted and the families already identify with a particular child. FFAC, the sponsoring agency, has decided to add a $750. agency fee, payable by the families, before they will release them to France. The families are out- raged and have conveyed their alarm to the French government. There is the additional unsolved problem of paying for transship- ment to France. We can, through Orphan Airlift airline contacts, fly any child free to any place within the U.S., only. FFAC is past bankruptsy, unless AID agrees to pay for the Pan Am flight which brought 300 children in a couple of weeks ago. That decision must be favorable or the FFAC will insist on the $750. agency fee. - 4 3. The other European countries have not yet been contacted about their children. I feel that this should be done through high- level diplomatic channels, instead of me calling up the various governments and begging them to expedite transshipment. Recommendations: a.) HEW has formed an intra-agency tack force in Mr. Weinberger's office to assist in post-placement problems, e.g. medical, adoption, mental health, and re-placement costs. This task force should be funded with the ability to disburse funds via contract directly to the 7 voluntary agencies involved. This would take the pressure off of the boluntary agencies, and enable them to be more efficient in all areas from transship- ment to post-placement problems. We are presenting this request to Senators Jackson, Mansfield, Cranston, and Tunney. Needed, $2 million. b.) The private sector should be explored for the possibility of raising funds for the direct support of the adoption agencies. This should be done through the auspices of a prestigious government-assembled panel. 2. Relationships with Government Agencies. a. Orphan's Airlift, through me and several other people, have several contacts in the Congress and HEW. We have been mod- erately effective in obtaining their assistance on various matters. b. U.S. AID has sufferred weak relationships with us from the beginning. One individual called us a "bootleg" operation, - 5 - and he stated that he feels no obligation to cooperate with Orphan's Airlift per se, although many of their representatives have done so admirably. My staff, including the Red Cross, the military, the medical community, and the press. We don't want to work for AID, but in fact, we are legally given custody of each child and do care for him while housed by us at the Presidio. Can't we get a smooth working relationship with U.S.-AID, despite our association with some unsavory people (to the Government)? Basically, we want clarification of our official relationship with AID. 3. Diversion of Aircraft. a. Both Los Angeles and San Francisco are saturated, and although both could cope with the remaining 391 orphans in Manila, it would be a strain. This is doubly. true if we cannot be assured of rapid transshipment to Europe, and secondary sites in the U.S. b. It would be unwise to divert aircraft to other cities that are unprepared. Additionally, hospital and medical back up must be sufficient in the community, as military capability is, frankly, limited. Although the Presidio deserves every commendation for its incredible effort, they will freely admit the military's limitations. c. HEW, office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, contracted with me to prepare a thorough briefing document on how to care for large numbers of orphans. That contract is complete, and the planning manual is ready. d. There are several civilian and military pediatricians, plus - 6 - numerous American Red Cross and military personnel who are now thoroughly expert in the care of these orphans. They could be mobilized as a consultant team. This service was given to Los Angeles, and produced a favorable outcome. e. Their expertise could be useful in caring for other refugees. We are a large goup of associated military, civilian, government, Red Cross, and medical people. We are together to care for the orphans, and we have been successful. We are a family; we are caring for the children. Signed: Jas S. Alex Stalcup M.D. Chief, Pediatric Emergency Services Orphan's Airlift The Presidio, San Francisco Additional copies of this identical Telex go to: Isaiah Jackson M.D, Telex U.S. State Department, Indochina Relief Center. PRIORTY - HAND CARRY directly to Dr. Jackson immediately upon receipt. Confirm delivery. David Ford, U.S. Department of H.E.W., H.E.W. North, Washington D.C. PRIORTY * HAND CARRY directly to Mr. Ford immediately upon receipt. Confirm delivery. SAS/dw JMS THE FAMILY Before April 1, 1975 the members of the Family more to 8 large degree strangers to one another. Then, slowly through the processes of love, giving, want, confusion, chaos, dependence, desire, action, failure, growth, success, and on occassional back rub, emerged the Family. From Webster comes a definition of FAMILY as, OF a group of things having a common source or similar features, is and another, 17 all those descended from a common ancestor; tribe, clan, OZ race. " And our Family is both, We were born together, The Family was created for the Children. It was created with the Children. It lives and grows AS do the Children. The emotional structure is support, Supporting with the intention of mutual love and with the purpose being the growth of the Children. Each member was born with the ability to give and yot for so many of the years of each life that ability has been covered and denied, And yet it took nö effort to give that nhility the space in which to grow. With space, came the flourishing reality called Giving. The members of the Family will never be the same, And that's terriffic! Every barrier was met, was accepted as being so and dis- appeared, Nothing is impossible, the purpose is clear and it is the intention of the Family to pursue that purpose and reach it. Telephones, busses, Laps, papers, yelling, crying, laughing, coffee, salami sandwhiches, SPOVO badges, get a new SPOVQ badge, get another; new SPOVO badge, diapers, diarrhea, airplanes; mater tresses, bottom wipes, nose wipes, copy machines, M.P.'s, captains, colonels, beards, veterens, volunteers, registrars, Red Cross, Lytren, formula, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medicines, wrist bands, walkie talkies, agencies, airlines, CHP, caravans, bossed, employees, clothes, rice, soy sauce, presidents, senators, chair- men of the board, reporters, TV, newspapers, parents, cynice, Lovers, faith, love and giving, The Children. Who are all these people and what are all these things? They are THE FAMILY, May 6, 1975 Colonel R. Kane Commander, The Presidio San Francisco, California Dear Colonel Kane: The situation appears to be coming to a graceful finale, though we still have a lot of children at the Presidio. Before too much time has passed I want to express my gratitude to you personally and to your excellent staff for the countless tasks, large and small, that you have done. So many times my left - biased mind was boggled by the sight of a military manresting quietly with a toddler sleeping peacefully on each arm; by troops of army wives who stayed up around the clock to feed, clothe and nurture the children. Professionally, your staff met every need, solved problems handily, invented new rules when there were no rule books to guide us, and always represented themselves as kind and decent people. Certainly a lion's share of the praise for a job well done must go to you and to your men. This has been, for many of us, a time to learn, a time to re-examine long held beliefs, and most importantly, to grow. This is an important time for me, and I suspect for you. Now is the time that we must commit our- selves to building a world in which all children can grow to maturity from the strength of a family, an education, and opportunity for health care. With you and your men Colonel, I am given hope that the children have a chance. Sincerely, S. Alex Stalcup, M.D. Chief Resident, Moffitt Hospital Chief, Pediatric Emergency Services Orphan's Airlift The Presidio, San Francisco FORD LIBRARY GERALD . SAS:bro cc: Dr. T. Marrs Special Assistant to the President the White House re-telegram 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washingtion, D.C. DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94143 SAN MAY- FRANCISCO 1'75 U.S.POSTAGE ≡ 10 CALIF. PR METER 642938 , Dr. T. Marrs Special Assistant to the President the White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. Yale University New Haven, Connecticut 06520 DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY 2 Hillhouse Avenue May 13, 1975 05-2 President Gerald Ford The White House Washington, D.C. FORD & GERALD LIBRARY Dear Mr. President, I was very concerned about our nation's recent airlift of Vietnamese children. In the enclosed paper I have examined this effort and the issues it raised. In the paper I also present a skeletal outline of a plan (a) to aid the Vietnamese children brought here and (b) to assist the children and their families who have remained in Vietnam. Since this plan remains in an early stage of development, I would be most grateful if you would send me your reactions and/or criticisms of this paper. Sincerely, Elwad Edward Professor of Psychology Head, Psychology Section, Child Study Center EZ/bb encl. P.S. I thought that you might like a copy of the enclosed paper as you are mentioned in it. May 23, 1975 Refugee File Dear Dr. Zigler: I appreciate seeing your plan concerning the recent evacuation of children from Southeast Asia. Thank you for your courtesy in sending me a copy. I am re- ferring it to the office of Dr. Theodore Marrs who has responsibility in the White House for the coordination of refu- give matters. Sincerely, Donald Rumsfeld Assistant to the President FORD & LIBRARY GERALD Dr. Edward Zigler Department of Psychology Yale University 2 Fillhouse Avenue New Haven, Connecticut 06520 DR:MD:rs Dr. Marrs YaldUniversity New Haven, Connecticut 06520 DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY 2 Willhouse Avenue May 13, 1975 Donald Rumsfeld c/o The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Pumsfeld: Perhaps you remember our meeting in Washington when you were at OEO and I was the first director of the Office of Child Development. I was very concerned about our nation's recent Operation Babylift. What is needed is a comprehensive plan for delivering humanitarian aid to the Vietnam ese people. I present the skeletal outline of such a plan in the enclosed paper. Perhaps I can solicit your help in actualizing the plan I have outlined. I would hate to think that all that I have been doing is building castles in the air. I would be most interested in your reaction to the effort proposed in my paper. I am taking the liberty of enclosing my vita so that you might get some sense of my competence to deal with the issuesraised in my paper. Sincerely, Edward Zigler Professor of Psychology Head, Psychology Section Child Study Center EZ/cs encl.: 2 3 FORD LIBRARY 5 6 R. Sion 1 2 GERALD Weshington $ W HD 003 WAC005(0221)(2-000632A127)PD 05/07/75 0204 4 5 TLX PM&S SFO 1975 MAY 7 AM 6 12 6 ZCZC I PD SAN FRANCISCO CA 7 8 PMS TO THE WHITE HOUSE 9 ATTENTION DR. MARRS, SPECIAL ASSISTANT 10 11 TO THE PRESIDENT 12 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE 13 14 WASHINGTON, D. C. 20500 15 16 17 18 PRIORITY: HAND CARRY DIRECTLY TO DR. MARRS IMMEDIATELY 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. S. S.A. 20 UPON RECEIPT. CONFIRM DELIVERY TO WILLIAM CHRISTY, 21 TELEX NO. 34743. 22 23 24 25 26 THIS WILL CONFIRM OUR TELEPHONE CONVERSATION IN REGARD 2 3 4 in & TO MY PARTICIPATION IN AND THOUGHTS ON THE CARE OF THE 7 5 VIETNAMESE ORPHANS. y 10 11 1. PROBLEMS IN TRANSSHIPMENT 12 13 14 A. MEDICAL - IT IS MY VIEW THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH 15 MEASURES AT THE VARIOUS FACILITIES CANNOT BE MADE COMPLETELY 16 17 ADEQUATE TO RESTRICT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE 18 BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND THE STAFF. 19 CONSEQUENTLY, FOR EACH DAY REMAINING AT THE FACILITIES, AN FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. S. 20 21 ADDITIONAL 10 PER CENT BECOME ILL ENOUGH TO REQUIRE 22 23 HOSPITALIZATION (1200 INFANTS PROCESSED THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO, 24 170 HOSPITALIZED OVER ONE MONTH). THEREFORE, THERE IS GREAT 25 26 URGENCY IN ARRANGING IMMEDIATE TRANSSHIPMENT OUT OF THE 2 a 4 un VARIOUS FACILITIES IN SMALL GROUPS TO OTHER SITES. LARGE 7 GROUPS MERELY REPLICATE THE PROBLEMS IN OTHER SITES, LOS 9 ANGELES HAS HAD BAD PRESS AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS WORSE THAN WE TO 11 HAVE EXPERIENCED, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT IT DOESN'T VANT ANY 12 MORE PLANES DIVERTED TO THEM. (UNCONFIRMED) 13 14 15 B. ADOPTION AGENCIES - THE PRINCIPAL BOTTLENECK IN 16 17 OUTPUT FROM THE FACILITIES HAS BEEN THE ADOPTION AGENCIES. 18 THEY HAVE CRITICALLY LIMITED RESOURCES OF TRAINED ADOPTION 19 PROCESSORS, ARE IN DIRE FINANCIAL STATES, AND HAVE SERIOUS FORM 0805 PRIN ED PRIN ED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY U. S. 20 21 ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THEIR STAFFS ARE LIMITED, 22 23 WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE DIVERTED TO MORE THAN ONE SITE, 24 THEY HAVE SEVERE DIFFICULTY COPING WITH HAVING TO DIVIDE 25 26 THEIR STAFF. = a 4 5 é 7 8 C. EUROPEAN TRANSSHIPMENT - APPROXIMATELY 2/3 (TWO- 9 THIRDS) OF THE FRIENDS FOR ALL CHILDREN SPONSORED ORPHANS TO 11 HAVE BEEN PRE-ADOPTED IN EUROPE. THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES 12. ARE INVOLVED: FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, SWEDEN, 13 H FINLAND, BELGIUM, ENGLAND, CANADA DENMARK (MONTAGNARDS). 15 THE FOLLOWINGG PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN: 16 17 18 1. DENMARK:...THE DA ISH GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTANCE 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. S. U.S.A. 20 AGREEMENTS WITH THE CHILDREN PROTECTION AND SECURITY 21 INTERNATIONAL, A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR THE MONTAGNARDS 22 23 TRIBESMEN ORPHANS ORIGINALLY IN DA NANG, RECENTLY MOVED 24 TO SAIGON. ONE OF THE SCHOOL DIRECTORS IS A MR. HENNING 25 26 BECKER. WHEN THE MONTAGNARD CHILDREN ARRIVED, I CALLED 2 3 4 5 2 THE DANISH CONSUL, MR. LEIGHNYER, AND ASKED WHAT PLANS HAD BEEN MADE FOR TRANSSHIPMENT. NE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MONTAGNARDS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM 10 11 MR. FRED PETERSEN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, OFFICE OF FOREIGN 12 AFFAIRS, DENMARK. HE STATED THAT THE DANISH GOVERNMENT HAD 14 DECIDED TO REFUSE ACCESS, AND REQUESTED THAT THE CHILDREN 15 BE SENT TO BANKOK CAT SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPENSE). I STATED 16 17 THAT, AS A PEDIATRICIAN, THIS WOULD BE AN UNACCEPTABLE 18 PLAN. AFTER A RATHER HARSH DISCUSSION, THE DANISH 19 GOVERNMENT REVERSED ITS DECISION AND AGREED TO ACCEPT FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U S. 20 21 THE CHILDREN. AFTER A RATHER NASTY FIGHT OVER PAYMENT OF 22 23 THE AIR FARE, THE CHILDREN ARE ON THEIR WAY TO DENMARK. 24 25 16 2. FRANCE: THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT IN THE FORM OF 1 2 3 4 & THEIR LOCAL CONSULATE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE 120 CHILDREN 7 B DESTINED FOR FRANCE. THE CHILDREN FOR FRANCE ARE PRE- y ADOPTED AND THE FAMILIES ALREADY IDENTIFY WITH A PARTICULAR 10 11 CHILD. FFAC, THE SPONSORING AGENCY, HAS DECIDED TO ADD 12 A $750 AGENCY FEE, PAYABLE BY THE FAMILIES, BEFORE THEY 13 14 WILL RELEASE THEN TO FRANCE. THE FAMILIES ARE OUTRAGED 15 AND HAVE CONVEYED THEIR ALARM TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. 16 17 THERE IS THE ADDITIONAL UNSOLVED PROBLEM OF PAYING FOR TO TRANSSHIPMENT TO FRANCE. UNLES AID AGREES TO PAY FOR THE 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY U. A. U.S.A. 20 PAN AM FLIGHT WHICH BROUGHT 300 FFAC CHILDREN IN A COUPLE 21 OF WEEKS AGO, I UNDERSTAND FFAC WILL INSIST ON THE $750 22 23 AGENCY FEE. 24 25 25 3. THE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE NOT YET BEEN 2 3 4 5 & CONTACTED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE 7 8 DONE THROUGH NIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, INSTEAD OF ME 9 CALLING UP THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS AND BEGGING THEN TO E 10 IS EXPEDITE TRANSSHIPMENT. 12 13 14 15 MY RECOMMENDATIONS: 15 17 18 A) HEW HAS FORMED AN INTRA-AGENCY TASK FORCE IN 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. S:A. 20 MR. WEINBERGER'S OFFICE TO ASSIST IN POST-PLACEMENT PROBLEMS, 21 E.G., MEDICAL, ADOPTION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND REPLACEMENT 22 23 COSTS. THIS TASK FORCE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISBURSE 24 FUNDS VIA CONTRACT DIRECTLY TO THE 7 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES 25 26 INVOLVED. THIS WOULD TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF THE VOLUNTARY 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6 AGENCIES, AND ENABLE THEN TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN ALL AREAS 7 8 FROM TRANSSHIPMENT TO POST-PLACEMENT PROBLEMS. 9 10 11 B) THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE EXPLORED FOR THE 12 POSSIBILITY OF RAISING FUNDS FOR THE DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE 13 14 ADOPTION AGENCIES. THIS SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH THE 15 AUSPICES OF A PRESTIGIOUS GOVERNMENT-ASSEMBLED PANEL. 16 17 18 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY U. 5. A. U.S.A. 20 2. DIVERSION OF AIRCRAFT. 21 22 23 A. BOTH LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO ARE SATSATURATED AND 24 ALTHOUGH BOTH COULD COPE WITH THE REMAINING 391 ORPHANS 25 26 IN MANILA, IT WOULD BE A STRAIN. THIS IS DOUBLY TRUE IF 2 3 4 5 6 RAPID TRANSSHIPMENT TO EUROPE, AND SECONDARY SITES IN THE 7 6 U. S. CANNOT BE ASSURED. 9 10 11 B. IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO DIVERT AIRCRAFT TO OTHER CITIES 12 THAT ARE UNPREPARED. ADDITIONALLY, HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL BACK 13 14 UP MUST BE SUFFICIENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AS MILITARY 15 CAPABILITY IS, FRANKLY, LINITED. ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDIO 16 17 DESERVES EVERY COMMENDATION FOR ITS INCREDIBLE EFFORT, THEY 10 WILL FREELY ADMIT THE MILITARY'S LIMITATIONS. 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U S. A. S.A. 20 21 22 23 3. ACCUMULATED EXPERTISE. 24 25 26 A. THERE ARE SEVERAL CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PEDIATRICIANS, 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 PLUS NUMEROUS AMERICAN RED CROSS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO 7 B ARE NOW THOROUGHLY EXPERT IN THE CARE OF THESE ORPHANS. 9 THEY COULD BE MOBILIZED AS A CONSULTANT TEAM. THIS SERVICE TO 11 WAS GIVEN TO LOS ANGELES, AND PRODUCED A FAVORABLE OUTCOME. 12 A MANUAL FOR THIS PURPOSE IS IN PREPARATION. THEIR EXPERTISE 13 14 COULD BE USEFUL IN CARING FOR OTHER REFUGEES. 15 16 17 18 SIGNED: S. ALEX STALCUP, M. D. 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U, S. A S.A 20 21 NNNN 22 23 24 25 26 2 3 4 5 6 House 1 2 Washington 3 W HD 003 WAC 005 (0221) (2-000632A127)P 05/07/75 0204 4 5 TLX PM&S SFO 1975 MAY 7 AM 6 12 6 ZCZC 1 PD SAN FRANCISCO CA 7 B PMS TO THE WHITE HOUSE 9 ATTENTION DR. MARRS, SPECIAL ASSISTANT 10 11 TO THE PRESIDENT 12 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE 13 14 WASHINGTON, D. C. 20500 15 16 17 18 PRIORITY: HAND CARRY DIRECTLY TO DR. MARRS IMMEDIATELY 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY My S.A 20 UPON RECEIPT. CONFIRM DELIVERY TO WILLIAM CHRISTY, 21 TELEX NO. 34743. 22 23 24 25 26 THIS WILL CONFIRM OUR TELEPHONE CONVERSATION IN REGARD 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 TO MY PARTICIPATION IN AND THOUGHTS ON THE CARE OF THE 7 a VIETNAMESE ORPHANS. 9 10 11 1. PROBLEMS IN TRANSSHIPMENT 12 13 14 A. MEDICAL - - IT IS MY VIEW THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH 15 MEASURES AT THE VARIOUS FACILITIES CANNOT BE MADE COMPLETELY 16 17 ADEQUATE TO RESTRICT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE 18 BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND THE STAFF. 19 20 CONSEQUENTLY, FOR EACH DAY REMAINING AT THE FACILITIES, AN FORM 0805 PRINTED PT THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, 21 ADDITIONAL 10 PER CENT BECOME ILL ENOUGH TO REQUIRE 22 23 HOSPITALIZATION (1200 INFANTS PROCESSED THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO, 24 170 HOSPITALIZED OVER ONE MONTH). THEREFORE, THERE IS GREAT 25 26 URGENCY IN ARRANGING IMMEDIATE TRANSSHIPMENT OUT OF THE 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6 VARIOUS FACILITIES IN SMALL GROUPS TO OTHER SITES. LARGE 7 8 GROUPS MERELY REPLICATE THE PROBLEMS IN OTHER SITES. LOS 9 ANGELES HAS HAD BAD PRESS AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS WORSE THAN WE 10 11 HAVE EXPERIENCED, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT IT DOESN'T WANT ANY 12 MORE PLANES DIVERTED TO THEM. (UNCONFIRMED) 13 14 15 B. ADOPTION AGENCIES - THE PRINCIPAL BOTTLENECK IN 16 17 OUTPUT FROM THE FACILITIES HAS BEEN THE ADOPTION AGENCIES. 18 THEY HAVE CRITICALLY LIMITED RESOURCES OF TRAINED ADOPTION 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY A USA 20 PROCESSORS, ARE IN DIRE FINANCIAL STATES, AND HAVE SERIOUS 21 ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THEIR STAFFS ARE LIMITED, 22 23 WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE DIVERTED TO MORE THAN ONE SITE, 24 THEY HAVE SEVERE DIFFICULTY COPING WITH HAVING TO DIVIDE 25 25 THEIR STAFF. 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 é 7 a C. EUROPEAN TRANSSHIPMENT - APPROXIMATELY 2/3 (TWO- 9 THIRDS) OF THE FRIENDS FOR ALL CHILDREN SPONSORED ORPHANS 10 11 HAVE BEEN PRE-ADOPTED IN EUROPE. THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES 12 ARE INVOLVED: FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, SWEDEN, 13 14 FINLAND, BELGIUM, ENGLAND, CANADA DENMARK (MONTAGNARDS). 15 THE FOLLOWINGG PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN: 16 17 18 1. DENMARK;...THE DA ISH GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTANCE 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY, U. U.S.A 20 AGREEMENTS WITH THE CHILDREN PROTECTION AND SECURITY 21 INTERNATIONAL, A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR THE MONTAGNARDS 22 23 TRIBESMEN ORPHANS ORIGINALLY IN DA NANG, RECENTLY MOVED 24 TO SAIGON. ONE OF THE SCHOOL DIRECTORS IS A MR. HENNING 25 26 BECKER. WHEN THE MONTAGNARD CHILDREN ARRIVED, I CALLED 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6 THE DANISH CONSUL, MR. LEIGHMYER, AND ASKED WHAT PLANS 7 of HAD BEEN MADE FOR TRANSSHIPMENT. HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE 9 MONTAGNARDS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM 10 11 MR. FRED PETERSEN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, OFFICE OF FOREIGN 12 AFFAIRS, DENMARK. HE STATED THAT THE DANISH GOVERNMENT HAD 13 14 DECIDED TO REFUSE ACCESS, AND REQUESTED THAT THE CHILDREN 15 BE SENT TO BANKOK (AT SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPENSE). I STATED 16 17 THAT, AS A PEDIATRICIAN, THIS WOULD BE AN UNACCEPTABLE 18 PLAN. AFTER A RATHER HARSH DISCUSSION, THE DANISH 19 20 GOVERNMENT REVERSED ITS DECISION AND AGREED TO ACCEPT FORM 0008 PRINTED 0.1 THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY II, 21 THE CHILDREN. AFTER A RATHER NASTY FIGHT OVER PAYMENT OF 22 23 THE AIR FARE, THE CHILDREN ARE ON THEIR WAY TO DENMARK. 24 25 % 2. FRANCE: THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT IN THE FORM OF 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 THEIR LOCAL CONSULATE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE 120 CHILDREN 7 8 DESTINED FOR FRANCE. THE CHILDREN FOR FRANCE ARE PRE- 9 ADOPTED AND THE FAMILIES ALREADY IDENTIFY WITH A PARTICULAR 10 11 CHILD. FFAC, THE SPONSORING AGENCY, HAS DECIDED TO ADD 12 A $750 AGENCY FEE, PAYABLE BY THE FAMILIES, BEFORE THEY 13 14 WILL RELEASE THEM TO FRANCE. THE FAMILIES ARE OUTRAGED 15 AND HAVE CONVEYED THEIR ALARM TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. 16 17 THERE IS THE ADDITIONAL UNSOLVED PROBLEM OF PAYING FOR 18 TRANSSHIPMENT TO FRANCE. UNLES AID AGREES TO PAY FOR THE 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY U.S.A 20 PAN AM FLIGHT WHICH BROUGHT 300 FFAC CHILDREN IN A COUPLE 21 OF WEEKS AGO, I UNDERSTAND FFAC WILL INSIST ON THE $750 22 23 AGENCY FEE. 24 25 26 3. THE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE NOT YET BEEN 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 CONTACTED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE 7 8 DONE THROUGH HIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, INSTEAD OF ME 9 CALLING UP THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS AND BEGGING THEM TO E 10 11 EXPEDITE TRANSSHIPMENT. 12 13 14 15 MY RECOMMENDATIONS: 16 17 18 A) HEW HAS FORMED AN INTRA-AGENCY TASK FORCE IN 19 20 MR. WEINBERGER'S OFFICE TO ASSIST IN POST-PLACEMENT PROBLEMS, FORM 0805 PRINTED IT THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY 21 E.G., MEDICAL, ADOPTION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND REPLACEMENT 22 23 COSTS. THIS TASK FORCE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISBURSE 24 FUNDS VIA CONTRACT DIRECTLY TO THE 7 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES 25 26 INVOLVED. THIS WOULD TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF THE VOLUNTARY 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 & AGENCIES, AND ENABLE THEM TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN ALL AREAS 7 0 FROM TRANSSHIPMENT TO POST-PLACEMENT PROBLEMS. 9 10 11 B) THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE EXPLORED FOR THE 12 POSSIBILITY OF RAISING FUNDS FOR THE DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE 13 14 ADOPTION AGENCIES. THIS SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH THE 15 AUSPICES OF A PRESTIGIOUS GOVERNMENT-ASSEMBLED PANEL. 16 17 18 19 FORM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY U. SA 20 2. DIVERSION OF AIRCRAFT. 21 22 23 A. BOTH LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO ARE SATSATURATED AND 24 ALTHOUGH BOTH COULD COPE WITH THE REMAINING 391 ORPHANS 25 26 IN MANILA, IT WOULD BE A STRAIN. THIS IS DOUBLY TRUE IF 2 3 4 5 6 I 2 3 4 5 6 RAPID TRANSSHIPMENT TO EUROPE, AND SECONDARY SITES IN THE 7 8 U. S. CANNOT BE ASSURED. 9 10 11 B. IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO DIVERT AIRCRAFT TO OTHER CITIES 12 THAT ARE UNPREPARED. ADDITIONALLY, HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL BACK 13 14 UP MUST BE SUFFICIENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AS MILITARY 15 CAPABILITY IS, FRANKLY, LIMITED. ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDIO 16 17 DESERVES EVERY COMMENDATION FOR ITS INCREDIBLE EFFORT, THEY 18 WILL FREELY ADMIT THE MILITARY'S LIMITATIONS. 19 20 FORM 0805 PRINTED 21 THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY 21 22 23 3. ACCUMULATED EXPERTISE. 24 25 26 A. THERE ARE SEVERAL CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PEDIATRICIANS, 2 3 4 5 6 I 2 3 4 5 & PLUS NUMEROUS AMERICAN RED CROSS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO 7 8 ARE NOW THOROUGHLY EXPERT IN THE CARE OF THESE ORPHANS. 9 THEY COULD BE MOBILIZED AS A CONSULTANT TEAM. THIS SERVICE 10 11 WAS GIVEN TO LOS ANGELES, AND PRODUCED A FAVORABLE OUTCOME. 12 A MANUAL FOR THIS PURPOSE IS IN PREPARATION. THEIR EXPERTISE 13 14 COULD BE USEFUL IN CARING FOR OTHER REFUGEES. 15 16 17 18 SIGNED: S. ALEX STALCUP, M. D. 19 FREM 0805 PRINTED BY THE STANGARD PEGISTER COMPANY U.S.A 20 21 NNNN 22 23 24 25 26 The original documents are located in Box 10, folder "Indochina Refugees - Orphan Airlift" of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.