312. Letter From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Nolting) to the Director
of the Vietnam Working Group (Wood)1
Saigon, November 6,
1962.
Dear Ben: The enclosed is something I almost
sent off last week—but held. The matter has since died down somewhat,
and I would not recommend issuing any such statement at this time.
However, I wanted you to know how I felt about the matter in principle,
and I am also puzzled by the lack of any reaction from Washington. I
suppose our little problem was completely snowed under by the Cuban
crisis—right?—or was there a deadlock on whether to invoke
sanctions?
All the best,
Sincerely,
Fritz
P.S. This is for YOU personally—not intended to stir up any action.
F.
[Page 726]
[Enclosure]
Draft Telegram of November 1, 1962
CINCPAC for Polad. Embtel 466.2 Re Robinson (NBC) case. In response to American newsmen, I have in
mind making on-record statement along following lines, if Dept
approves.
“Embassy has done everything it can on this case (James Robinson, NBC), short of recommending changes
of US policy, which I do not think desirable or justified. The
Republic of Viet-Nam is a sovereign country and makes its own
decisions. For our part, we have made quite clear to President
Ngo Dinh Diem our
view on this matter, which is that the encouragement of a free
flow of information is the best way to vindicate the just cause
of Free Viet-Nam and to maintain full support for it. Measures
of suppression or control, either directly or through a
technicality, are in the final analysis self-injurious.
“I hold no brief for inaccurate reporting, nor for discourtesy in
any form, but I believe that the best antidote to criticism is
success and victory, rather than press control.”
I recognize such statement will in all probability bring heavy
riposte from GVN-controlled sources
here and may cause further decline my ability to influence Diem. On other hand, to let the
matter go without comment (Robinson has departed this afternoon) will, in my
judgment, increase tendency here to pursue policy of press control
and intimidation at expense U.S. ability to continue support this
effort.
We have of course been waiting for some guidance from Dept on this
matter, which I recognize may have been difficult under
circumstances of past week. Would appreciate reaction re above ASAP,
with discretion to use or not depending on circumstances—e.g., other
pending issues, degree of press interest, etc.
