751G.00/12–2450: Telegram
The Minister at Saigon (Heath) to the Secretary of State
1124. Bao Dai arrived Saigon yesterday for signature Pau accords followed by dinner given by De Lattre. Saw him this morning before his return to Dalat. While waiting for Bao Dai, President Huu asked me how request for agreement of Governor Tri as first Viet Minister to US would be received. I stated Tri enjoyed very good reputation among Americans here and abroad. I expressed surprise, however, that Bao Dai had changed his decision that Tri must continue as Governor of Tonkin during present critical period. Huu said that Chi, Minister of Public Health, would replace Tri as governor of the north. Later Bao Dai explained to me that he felt Tri must go since he had so offended De Lattre by his casual last-minute cancellation of a luncheon which former was giving in his honor in Hanoi (see Legtel 1123 of December 23).1 Bao Dai then went on to give me his personal [Page 955] estimate of De Lattre and the policy he intended pursue with him. De Lattre was, he said, abnormally sensitive and vain. De Lattre had told Bao Dai that he had not made his visit to Hue because he had been so disturbed by what he considered Tri’s calculated affront which he hoped was not typical of Viet official attitude towards him. Bao Dai said that in effect the general had really been “ill” over the incident. Bao Dai was sure De Lattre would never forgive Tri or work with him or have confidence in him and in this circumstance there was nothing to do but to get Tri out of Tonkin, valuable and necessary as he was there. Bai Dai said he had been completely impressed with De Lattre’s determination to build up a Viet national army and to support Bao Dai’s regime. De Lattre, with his energy, military ability and will, could really accomplish great things for the country. He was a man, however, who was either completely for or against you and an affront to his vanity would quickly turn him from dynamic supporter to relentless enemy. It is for that reason that Bao Dai was not pushing the question of De Lattre’s surrendering the HICOM’s palace and he asked me to disregard Huu’s request to me to intervene to that end. Bao Dai said it was very important for him to have the HICOM palace as a place of residence and government. It was less important, however, at this moment than maintaining De Lattre in his present good intentions. If the matter were raised now De Lattre would be quite capable of resigning the high commissionership and the situation could hardly stand another sudden change even, if his successor were a man of comparable ability and prestige. Bao Dai said he was determined to build united and peaceful Vietnam and he was quite prepared to endure slights and humiliations if they were necessary to achieve this aim. He asked me to see him in Dalat after first of the year. De Lattre will visit him on December 30.
Sent Department 1124, repeated information Paris 528.
- Not printed.↩