Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 2

751G.00/11–2054: Telegram

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

secret

Saigon, November 20, 1954—3 p.m.

1911. Repeated information Paris 623. From Collins.

1. Foreign Minister Tran Van Do called on me yesterday at his request. Ostensible purpose his visit was inquire whether we had any information re source of recent “troubles” in Hoa Hao provinces where there is Cambodian minority, and if we knew Whether such “troubles” were in any way related to similar disturbances in Cambodia and Laos. Do implied minorities might have been armed by French specifically to create disorder. I assured Do we had no knowledge of alleged episodes, adding I had faith in Ely and could not believe he would countenance French participation in underhand operations.

2. I took occasion of Do’s visit to outline our thinking re development and organization of Vietnamese Armed Forces and defense of the territory. I said it seemed to us that by critical period of scheduled elections, free Vietnamese forces could not have been developed sufficiently to be able alone to offer effective resistance to Viet Minh if latter should resort to aggression and that continued presence of FEC would probably be necessary. Do expressed opinion elections should not be held since, because of greater population of north, free Vietnam would surely lose. Accordingly, he felt FEC should be maintained to dissuade Viet Minh from launching armed attack.

3. Do then turned to what I believe was real purpose of visit. He said that following Hinh’s departure and Diem’s broadcast appeal for national unity, and drawing on sense of strength government had gained from assurances of support I gave in press conference 17th,¹ Prime Minister must move promptly to strengthen his government. I agreed wholeheartedly with this view and said we believed key Ministries of Defense and Interior should quickly be entrusted to strong men.

4. During conversation on this subject, Do said acceptable choices for Interior might be Nguyen Ngoc Tho, former Secretary of State for Interior, or Tran Van Lam, present Government delegate for south Vietnam. In reply to question, he said Tran Van Li, former Governor of Center, would not be satisfactory. When Tam’s name was broached, Do said Diem would never agree to him; added that Tam’s vaunted efficiency as Prime Minister had been attributable to his control over army and police, and that under present circumstances he could no longer be efficient. Question of filling Interior Ministry raises problem of sects and Binh Xuyen. Do said he believed question of Cao Dai and Hoa Hao representation in government could be satisfactorily resolved only when national assembly had been set up. Assembly could act to reduce their present Cabinet representation of four seats each and still through assembly membership give them reasonable voice in affairs. Since Binh Xuyen control police and covet Interior Ministry, we suggested Binh Xuyen might be offered Deputy Ministership under strong man loyal to Diem. Do said this might be feasible.

5. Do believes Phan Huy Quat should have Defense, Ministry he has held before and where he has left many friends. In reply to our question whether Quat might be more useful in Interior, Do replied that Quat was needed in Defense and that in any case a southerner should have Interior.

6. Do believes national assembly should be set up as quickly as possible. Meanwhile Defense and Interior can be strongly manned. After assembly is created, further steps can be taken to strengthen Cabinet. I remarked that men named to Defense and Interior must be given full authority. Do agreed and said he felt sure that as Diem’s hand became stronger over army, sects and police, he would be willing progressively delegate greater powers to his subordinates.

Kidder

1. On Nov. 16, President Diem issued an appeal to all Vietnamese to rally to the support of the government. His statement was summarized in telegram 1893 from Saigon, Nov. 19. (751G.00/11–1954) General Collins held a press conference on Nov. 17 during which he emphasized that it was the policy of the United States to back the Diem government. (Joint Weeka No. 47 from Saigon, Nov. 20; 751G.00(W)/ll–2054) In telegram 1915 from Saigon, Nov. 20, the Embassy reported that on the previous day, Gen. Nguyen Van Hinh had departed for France. (751G.551/11–2054)