751G.11/8–153: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
212. Repeated information Paris 64, Hanoi, Phnom Penh unnumbered. Bao Dai arrived yesterday afternoon and left at 4:30 this morning for Paris. I saw him yesterday just after he had talked with DeJean.
Contrary to his state of mind during his last visit to Saigon, Bao Dai appeared in very good spirits and brim full of confidence, confidence in himself, his personal situation, and in French intentions. He told me he had just said to DeJean that with the July 3 declaration “Vietnam has no demands (revendications) to make of France; I am going to France to ask what requests France has to make of Vietnam”. He went on to say that it was only just that France should ask for certain advantages after granting full independence to Vietnam. [Page 711] If France intended to have her soldiers continue to fight side by side with Vietnamese against Communism, she was clearly entitled to be assured of certain advantages.
He said the delegation that would follow him to France would include members of political parties and lay representatives of the various religions. When I looked rather quizzical when he mentioned Vietnamese “political parties”, Bao Dai said that while they were small and not really organized, they nevertheless had an influence on Vietnamese public opinion.
The question of Tam’s visit to the United States coming up, Bao Dai said he would be against Tam going to the States prior to successful conclusion of negotiations with France. He said frankly that while Tam was a good man, he was not popular in Vietnam. If, however, as he fully believed, the negotiations in France were successful and would place Franco-Vietnamese relations on a new, equal, and friendly basis satisfying Vietnamese public opinion, then there would be no Vietnamese objections to Tam going to Washington. I pointed out that the original date of Tam’s visit had been postponed from the latter part of August to September 21, further explaining that President Tam had been offered the option of choosing any date between September 21 and October 27. Bao Dai said that it was possible that negotiations in France would be satisfactorily concluded by August or early September, but that September 21 might be a few days too early. Personally he would prefer that Tam’s visit be preceded by a visit of General Hinh to consult with Defense authorities in Washington.
After returning to the theme of his great hopes for satisfactory negotiations in France, he suddenly inquired whether, if he asked me to come to France during these negotiations, I could come. I said I would be glad to come but could not answer in advance of the approval of my government. I might be able to come unofficially on leave of absence.
Comment: I doubt that occasion will arise for Bao Dai to ask me to come to France during the negotiations. Department please comment or instruct.
After my talk with Bao Dai I spoke to Nguyen De, Director of Imperial Cabinet, who is apparently more than ever trusted by Bao Dai. Since Nguyen De will accompany Tam to the States, I informed him that Bao Dai thought that September 21 was perhaps too early. De felt certain that the negotiations in France would be satisfactorily [Page 712] terminated by the end of August and that September 21 would be an appropriate date.
Comment: Cheysson, French adviser to Tam, tells me that French Government is determined to finish the negotiations by the end of August.
I asked De whether in view of the new situation following France’s declaration of July 3 there were likely to be changes in the government, particularly whether His Majesty was giving any thought to the “solution” proposed by many Vietnamese of himself taking over the Prime Ministership of a government of national unity. He said that His Majesty was still opposed to that idea, but was now at the point of really taking into his own hands the formation and organization, but not the command, of the Vietnamese National Army. To my question whether His Majesty would actually make inspections or wear a uniform, De replied he would certainly make inspections and added that His Majesty had been devoting more and more time to the army. General Hinh and Defense Minister Quat had been increasingly summoned to Banmethuot.
In conclusion De very clearly indicated his opinion that Tam would remain on as Prime Minister for some months to come but negotiations with the French would be followed with Cabinet changes.