751G.00/10–2352: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Sturm) to the Department of State
226. Dept pass Paris, Saigon; rptd info Paris 117, Saigon 178. Prime Minister Tam yesterday evening in interview with C. Tyler Wood, Deputy Associate Director MSA,1 expressed opinion in reply direct question that VM rebellion can be put down within two years. Asked to state his reasons for this view, Tam said that military cadres developed painfully by General Vo-Nguyen-Giap over years 1946 through 1949 have been largely dissipated by successive military operations and replaced only by raw recruits; he added that VM food supply problem is becoming progressively acute, suggestion that means to solve it can probably not be found. Questioned with regard to Chinese Commie aid to VM as a factor tending to prolong state of war, Tam answered that US aid to Vietnam more than outweighs whatever advantage VM derive from Chinese Commie material support.
Wood asked Tam if Vietnam wld be willing accept services of US advisers in technical and financial fields. Prime Minister replied that for time being this question is delicate, but that when Vietnamese independence has been more firmly established the country will welcome not only US advisers, but capital as well.
At dinner offered by Governor Binh last evening, Tam told me that because of disastrous effect of typhoon in south, especially at Phanthiet, [Page 270] he was obliged cancel plans fly over area of operations in northwest today in order return Saigon this morning. Prime Minister brief stay in Hanoi was limited principally to discussion of measures now being put in effect, with fair degree of success, to lower price of rice. Although he conferred with Letourneau, Tam did not witness any part of military operation in progress.
- Wood and Theodore Tannenwald, Jr., Assistant Director and Chief of Staff, Office of the Director for Mutual Security, were on visit in Indochina.↩