711.5851G/6–653: Telegram
The Chargé at Saigon (McClintock) to the Department of State
2387. Repeated information Paris 438. I called on General Navarre today. Re Department’s telegram 5827 sent Paris repeated Saigon 2357,1 he covered much of same ground described in General Trapnell’s personal TS message to Collins2 re forthcoming visit of American military mission to arrive not before June 20 but did not suggest mission limit its stay to between 10 and 14 days. Navarre said he hoped by twentieth to have his feet sufficiently on ground to be useful to military mission but added that after his departure for Paris on July 2 or 3 his deputies could take over if necessary.
General said several times he would be grateful for earliest indication of who chief of forthcoming military mission will be.
Navarre stressed repeatedly his hope that US General heading mission would not only be top-flight officer but would come with no preconceived ideas and in particular that he and mission would not judge war in Indochina by standard military criteria.
New Commander in Chief said that there is no war currently being fought anywhere comparable in character with conflict here. Only parallels in military history which came to mind were French campaign in Mexico and Peninsular wars of Napoleon. General refrained, however, from drawing historical inferences.