Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 1

751G.00/1–2051: Telegram

The Minister at Saigon (Heath) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Saigon, January 20, 1951—9 p. m.

1286. On urgent invitation Bao Dai British Minister and I proceeded Hue Wednesday January 17 to be present at (1) ritual ceremony of Bao Dai’s report on the state of the union to his imperial ancestors and (2) his address to Viet people and accompanying festivities. Apparently it had been planned to have General De Lattre as only honor guest but Bao Dai’s imperial Cabinet and Governor Giao decided that if De Lattre alone were present it would reinforce Viet Minh propaganda that Bao Dai is merely French puppet. Hence our belated invitation. Bao Dai’s prayers and reverences before the altars of his nine imperial predecessors was witnessed only by the hierarchy from the courtyard. De Lattre, President Huu British Minister and I were only spectators admitted to the temple.

Bao Dai’s address to Viet people (copy by pouch) was an unexciting appeal for national union and to “fence sitters” to offer their services to the government, plus promise that his government would create national army and bring prosperity to Vietnam.

Under energetic stage management of Governor Giao some 20,000 or 30,000 Viets were gathered to listen to Bao Dai’s speech and since there was a number of school children there were cheers of satisfactory volume and duration. The town was decorated with banners mainly eulogizing Bao Dai but also paying tribute to General De Lattre and an occasional banner or poster expressing gratitude to US and Great Britain.

At night there was a fete on the river of [garble] with gaily lit junks and sampans, floating theaters and banners celebrating Bao Dai and De Lattre. De Lattre had left, however, after brief luncheon conference with Bao Dai to return to fighting in Tonkin.

President Huu seemed very unhappy and in the morning expressed intention of returning same day to Saigon on pretext that his presence there was necessary in view of battle raging in the north.¹ He later talked with Bao Dai, however, who ordered him to stay. Bao Dai told me he had directed Huu to demand the resignations of all his ministers so that new Cabinet could be formed by January 22 or 23. Huu was to continue as President, Tri would become Minister of Defense and Governor Giao chief of staff of Viets army. Bao Dai had not yet decided on other Cabinet posts. It will be recalled that Bao Dai told Blum (Legtel 1189, January 8)² he would postpone forming new Cabinet until after De Lattre’s trip to France in latter half February.

The Viet Minh offensive in north and the insistence of apparently all his advisors except Huu that he could no longer delay informing strong government of national union has finally decided Bao Dai to take the long overdue step of naming new Cabinet. It was rumored that one of the most effective arguments used by his advisors was that because of his present lack lustre, slow-moving government, Bao Dai was being completely eclipsed by energetic De Lattre.

I might add to my account of the Hue festivities that at a dinner he gave to Bao Dai that evening Governor Giao gave toast lasting some 15 minutes devoted principally to praising Bao Dai and, secondly, to General De Lattre. The most interesting portion of this “toast” was directed to proving that national or local elections were not possible under present circumstances. As long as “the Communist menace weighed on the consciences” of the Viet people there could be no “free elections”. Giao told me afterward that the reason for this passage was that Bao Dai had received a personal letter from President Auriol³ asking for early Viets elections. I remarked to Giao that I could understand that free nation-wide elections were impossible at present time but suggested that an effort be made at earliest possible moment to form a provisional Assembly or regional assemblies which might serve as forum for discussion of the actions of the government.

Sent Department 1286, repeated info Paris 570.

Heath

1. On January 12–13, the Vietminh opened their heaviest offensive of the war, advancing on a broad north of Hanoi. They were repulsed by French Union forces in a week of bitter fighting. The decisive action occurred in the area of Vinh Yen, January 15–17. There followed a relative lull in the war of about two months.
2. Not printed.
3. For partial text of the letter from Vincent Auriol, President of France, to Bao Dai, December 15, 1950, see telegram 1291 from Saigon, January 21, p. 355.