Office of the Historian

711.551/2–854: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Berlin

top secret
Washington, February 8, 1954—2:08 p.m.

Tedul 28. Apropos Tedul 25.1Heath has reported that Navarre does not agree to O’Daniel’s remaining on permanent liaison station but accepts only periodic six week O’Daniel visits and a permanent junior liaison group. Heath foresees future difficulty between Navarre concept of liaison group to transmit aid requests to U.S. military and O’Daniel concept his mission to provide day by day tactical and strategic advice to Navarre and assist Navarre to secure necessary matériel. Heath further notes there was practically no meeting of minds between O’Daniel and Navarre.2

Smith
  1. Dated Feb. 5, p. 1017.↩
  2. The report by Ambassador Heath summarized here was contained in telegram 1381 from Saigon, Feb. 5. (711.551/2–854) Heath also expressed reservations regarding the desirability of the stationing of General O’Daniel at Saigon on a permanent basis in the following communications: letter to Bonsal, Feb. 2 (751G.00/2–254); telegram 1355 from Saigon, Jan. 30 (711.551/1–3054); telegram 1381, Feb. 5 (711.551/2–554); telegram 1405, Feb. 9 (711.551/2–954); and telegram 1412 from Saigon, Feb. 9 (711.551/2–954). See also letter from Heath to Under Secretary Smith, Feb. 24, p. 1076.↩