Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 1

751G.13/12–153: Telegram

The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State

top secret

Saigon, December 1, 1953—7 p.m.

942. Sent Paris 271. Bao Dai told me today that immediately after Prime Minister Tam’s return Paris, a new government would be formed.

Tam would be allowed to exit gracefully since Bao Dai would suggest that he take a rest period, the intimation being that he would be recalled to government at a later period. The new government would be a “temporary” government.

This meant, Bao Dai said, that Tam would not be making the trip to the States to which he had been invited by reason of his position as Prime Minister.

Bao Dai did not indicate who would head or form the new government.

Heath