"Mr Wilson appears to have convinced President Johnson that Britain is already making a contribution to the defence of Malaysia which is comparable in size and cost to the American effort in South Vietnam. He produced the figures of Britain's military commitment in Malaysia, reminding President Johnson that Britain already has 8,000 troops in Borneo and a total of 20,000 in Malaysia as a whole."
"As a result Mr Johnson felt impelled to ask other friendly nations, Britain foremost among them, to share America's burden. But it was a request to which Mr Wilson could not accede."
"To underline his account of President Johnson's repeated pressures sometimes in 2am telephone calls I would cite the president's almost pathetic request that Britain should send six Highlanders in kilts with bagpipes to Vietnam. They were not sent."
During his first meeting with President Johnson, Prime Minister Wilson successfully resisted American pressure to contribute British forces to the Vietnam War. Wilson argued that Britain was already making a substantial defense contribution through its military presence in Malaysia, with 8,000 troops in Borneo and 20,000 total in Malaysia, comparable to the 20,000 US advisers in Vietnam. Wilson also highlighted Britain's potential role in supporting India's defense following China's nuclear device explosion, addressing Indian demands for a nuclear weapons program. This strategic presentation convinced Johnson that Britain's existing commitments were sufficient, allowing Wilson to decline the American request without damaging the bilateral relationship.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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