Office of the Historian

751G.5 MSP/11–1954: Telegram

The Chargé in Vietnam (Kidder) to the Department of State

secret
niact
Saigon, November 19, 1954—5 p.m.
[Received 5:34 a.m.]

1891. Repeated information priority Paris 620. From Collins. Reference Department telegram 2027.1

1.
There are two fundamental principles involved in training problem:
(a)
Assumption of full responsibility for training by US MAAG preferably not later than January 1, 1955;
(b)
Complete phase-out of all French training and advisory personnel by some definite date to be determined later.
2.
I understand that Mendes-France has not challenged principle (a) which is covered in paragraph 3 of proposed minute of understanding. If he should challenge this point, I urge that we not yield.
3.
We feel here that principle (b) of great importance since it is indissolubly related to French directives in Vietnam and may have serious effects on French–US relationships in Vietnam as well as [Page 2270] French–US relations with Diem government. I feel we should do everything to convince French that it is part of wisdom for them not only to give complete autonomy to Vietnamese Armed Forces in field of command as stipulated in paragraph 2 of minute, but also to withdraw their influence from military advisory and training fields. I, therefore, urge again that we bargain hard with French to obtain acceptance of principle (b). Time of phasing out of their full influence in armed forces will actually depend on conditions in Vietnam one year or eighteen months from now. No one can predict what these conditions will be. I would think, therefore, that paragraph 5 could be accepted by French if they genuinely mean to give Vietnamese Armed Forces true and complete autonomy.
4.
If face-saving device is needed in order to answer possible question in French Assembly or if after sharpest bargaining we cannot for any reason obtain agreement on paragraph 5, I would suggest a compromise along following lines:

“It is recognized that because of uncertainties of future it is not possible to determine now when or if all French training and advisory personnel will be eliminated from Vietnamese Forces. However, all key positions will be occupied by Americans not later than July 1, 1955; by December 31, 1955, French personnel retained will not exceed 10 percent of total training mission.”

5.
It would appear that above compromise solution could serve to save face for French since it is my understanding that this minute will not be published.
Kidder
  1. Telegram 2027 to Saigon, Nov. 18, not printed, stated that preliminary discussions had indicated that Mendès-France was opposed to eventual exclusive U.S. training responsibility in Vietnam. The Department of State therefore requested an immediate expression of the views of General Collins on any acceptable modification of the concept set forth in paragraph 5 of Collins’ draft minute of understanding (contained in telegram 1854 from Saigon, Nov. 16, p. 2259) which provided for the phasing out of all French training and advisory personnel. (751G.5 MSP/11–1854)↩