Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI

751G.00/6–2350

The Chargé at Saigon (Gullion) to the Secretary of State

secret
No. 248

Saigon, June 23, 1950.

Subject: Political Views of Ngo Dinh Thuc, Catholic Bishop of Vinh Long

I have the honor to enclose a memorandum of a conversation June 18 with Monsignor Hgo Dinh Thuc, Catholic Bishop of Vinh Long, who is planning to cross the United States accompanied by his brother Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem, and a pharmacist, Mr. Nguyen Viet Canh. It will be recalled that Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem, reputedly the chief leader of the Vietnamese Catholics, is perhaps the most prominent of the Vietnamese “fence sitters”, having achieved a reputation for strong nationalist views while eschewing association either with the Viet Minh or with Viet-Nam government of Bao Dai.

It is said that Bishop Thuc, whose diocese owns extensive properties, is “one of the few persons who are able to bring in all their harvests.” His attitude of abstract nationalism, neutrality between existing factions, and political inaction, is symptomatic of South Vietnamese “fence sitters”. It will be interesting to observe whether Monsignor’s visit to the United States will serve to open his eyes to the Communist danger to Viet-Nam or merely to make him impatient of the serious attitude now current in the United States toward Communism.

Edmund A. Gullion

[Enclosure]

Memorandum of Conversation¹

secret

[Saigon, June 18, 1950.]

Participants:	Monsignor Ngo Dinh Thuc, Catholic Bishop of Vinh Long (South Viet-Nam)
	Edmund A. Gullion, Chargé d’Affaires
	H. Francis Cunningham, Jr., FSO

The Bishop called with regard to his desire to obtain visas to transit the United States from West to East enroute to Rome, accompanied by his brother, Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem, the renowned Catholic political leader and leading “fence sitter”, and Mr. Nguyen Viet Canh, a pharmacist.

Mr. Gullion asked the Bishop if he cared to express himself with regard to the political situation in his region. Monsignor replied that from the beginning he has insisted that he and his priests must have full liberty to travel throughout their jurisdiction. Accordingly, he and his men move about as “neutrals”, and have no difficulty in going anywhere in their region, regardless of whether the Franco-Vietnamese forces or the Viet Minh are in local control. He says he avoids political activity, and his trip to the United States will likewise be nonpolitical. However, when people ask him for his political views, he gives them. For example, he has given them quite frankly to His Majesty Bao Dai.

The Bishop said he felt pessimistic. He believes things can go on indefinitely as at present, with each side shooting at the other with no solution.

“What support does Prime Minister Huu’s government have?” queried the Bishop. “Huu relies on His Majesty,” said Monsignor in reply to his own question. “And what support does His Majesty have? Bao Dai relies on French bayonets.” The Bishop declared there was no public opinion behind this government. He said the French should, in his opinion, give Viet-Nam its independence. The country has very little independence now. He believes Bao Dai needs to have an ideal for which to fight.

Mr. Gullion inquired what the Bishop thought of the Catholic Auto-Defense Group that controls a particular area of South Viet-Nam. The Bishop remarked that not all members of this organization are Catholic—many officers are non-Catholic. But he considers the group serious, thanks to the efforts of Colonel LeRoy, who organized and leads them. The Bishop went on to say that unfortunately this group also lacks a political ideal for which to strive.

Mr. Gullion asked whether Monsignor expected important results of the Interstate Conference. No, said the Bishop, everything was being prearranged here, and the show to be put on in France was merely for public consumption.

The Bishop remarked that he deplored that American economic aid would be regarded by his people merely as help to the French Colonialists. Mr. Gullion emphasized in reply that the aid would really reach and benefit the people. The Bishop countered that it would still be regarded as Colonialist. In his opinion, the United States should have applied pressure to alter French political aims.

Monsignor said he was going to Rome for Holy Year and wished to pass through the United States for the personal reason of acquainting himself with America. He met Cardinal Spellman² when the latter was passing through Saigon.

1. Presumably drafted by H. Francis Cunningham, Jr., Consul and First Secretary at the Legation in Saigon.
2. Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York.