033.1100 NI/11–653: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
804. Repeated information Paris 233. For the President and the Secretary of State. Vice President and Mrs. Nixon’s visit to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos October 30–November 4 was an extremely successful one from standpoint both of our relations with and our policy towards Indochina and also with regard to French relations with Associated States. Their personalities, their tireless and sincere interest and friendliness in meeting people of all walks of life made a definitely good impression which echoed in local press. Clarity and warmth of Vice President’s numerous speeches added conviction to general opinion that American desire to aid in winning this war against communism and in assisting countries toward security and progress is sincere and continuing. At same time, in almost every speech Vice President made clear necessity and importance of French military assistance and sacrifices if countries were to gain real freedom against aggression. In unexceptionable terms he promoted idea and necessity of Indochina’s harmonious union or association with France and pointed out that any break in this association and unity could only result in a Communist victory. His visit to French and Vietnamese [Page 858] units in action in “Mouette” (latest military operation in north) made an impression not only on troops and officers of units visited, but through press on Vietnamese public opinion as well. In conversations and in his talks Vice President clearly and persuasively indicated dangers of any talk of armistice except on terms that would entirely assure national security and independence.
Favorable press and radio publicity which preceded, attended and followed Vice President’s visit was larger in volume than for any similar visit in Indochina. This publicity has registered and is still registering with Vietnamese readers and listeners, but even Vietnam, most literate of the Associated States, is not a newspaper country. Therefore to reach provinces and people we are using Vietnamese Information Service and USIA with their large coverage of towns and villages. Vietnamese army radio, moreover, has brought trip and and speeches to all army camps.
While in south, Vietnamese Government and Bao Dai gave lavish official dinners, as did the French, while Embassy in two receptions and a sizable dinner brought them into contact with various strata of Vietnamese, there was no popular manifestation which would enable them in Saigon to have been seen and perhaps have some contact with youth and population of city. This was in part due to reasons of security but, as I said to the Vice President, it is undoubtedly due to fact that any popular demonstration, which would have had to be organized or at least tacitly encouraged by Vietnamese Government, might have seemed invidious to French effort and presence here. At this stage of tension in Franco-Vietnamese relations and opposition in France toward continuation of French sacrifices in Indochina, Government obviously did not want to put on popular manifestation in favor of America which could not have been duplicated in case of a French official visit here. Jacquet, French State Secretary in charge of Indochina affairs, is due here in a week. Vietnamese feeling toward France has very greatly improved in past three years, and especially in past three months, but there is too deep a memory of colonial inferiority which has not yet been eradicated but which will, I hope, be alleviated by forthcoming negotiations in Paris. Quite some time ago Auriol told Bao Dai he wished to visit Vietnam. Bao Dai told me that he had discouraged him very definitely. In this situation celebration of Vice President’s visit to Saigon had largely to be confined to official receptions and ceremonies.
In north, however, due to natural tendency of Governor Tri and a better security situation in Hanoi and in districts visited, reception took on a more popular character. In the field the Vice President moved in free and friendly fashion among troops. On an afternoon visit to Sontay Province, the school children, a youth organization, and their elders, the latter spontaneously, lined the street and cheered [Page 859] the US and its representative. In hospital visits in Hanoi and also in Saigon Mrs. Nixon talked with the sick, the wounded, and the children.
One incident which pleased me was his taking time in his tremendously crowded program to gather together personnel of this Embassy to thank them for their extra work in preparing the visit and to assure them of the continuing appreciation and solicitude of the administration for their welfare; and to tell them not to mind isolated attacks in Congress and elsewhere since knocks, not boosts, made news.
Heath