251G.51G22/8–1754: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
613. Repeated information Paris 212, Manila 74, Tokyo 13, Hanoi 65. Department pass Defense. Meeting of Vietnamese, French and American officials working on refugee evacuation problem held yesterday at MAAG Saigon, disclosed extremely gloomy picture.1
Although refugees pouring in by airlift and by French ships and first increment of 2,000 on board US Navy craft, expected arrive Saigon August 19 or 20, building has started on only one out of five refugee camps in Saigon area and this camp has only thirty tents so far erected. Reception center planned for Cap St. Jacques still in blueprint stage. Nevertheless, yesterday being official holiday, no work was done. Chief Naval Section MAAG explained at meeting that starting middle next week, American ships will be arriving daily with a build-up shortly to reach desired average of 100,000 refugees per month. Attempt made pin down responsibility for details of embarkation in north and debarkation and transport to reception center in [Page 1952] south. This reveals planning for matters such as local transportation, feeding, medical facilities, et cetera, woefully inadequate.
Ho Quan Phuoc, now responsible for Vietnamese side refugee program who has been on job only three days, explained frankly his situation—he has so far staff of only three persons, he unable control or requisition civilian labor, he apprehensive civilian drivers would steal trucks, he without any means rapid communication with Vietnamese authorities in north. He must have assistance Vietnamese National Army as only a military organization can hope make program success. He states he has talked to Chief of Staff General Hinh but Embassy representatives believe meeting of minds not yet fully achieved by any means. It notable Vietnamese Army not represented at meeting in spite of vital interest. Nevertheless one Vietnamese Army battalion has been despatched Cap St. Jacques for labor and security work and one battalion made available for Saigon area. With regard French Army, close cooperation still does not exist. French do not move until specifically requested. This results in over-all lack leadership which US representatives attempting overcome through urging increased cooperation and tripartite organization where practicable.
French Army Major protested implication French not cooperating and appealed to US representatives not to attempt hurry refugee transportation even though ships available. He emphasized grave dangers involved in arrival swarms of refugees in south where preparations receive them non-existent. He added French are giving first priority to evacuation Vietnamese troops and their families.
Richard R. Brown, STEM refugee expert with broad European and Near East Asian background, states conditions in north worse than anything he has ever experienced, including Germany at end war. No Vietnamese willing take responsibility for camps and French giving number one priority to French soldiers, dependents and equipment, paying little attention to refugees. Camps are without sanitation, refugees not registered, and medical staffs have quit not having been paid. Brown states there are 132,000 refugees in desperate circumstances waiting to be moved. Situation could not have been better planned by Viet Minh themselves for Communist propaganda purposes.
Above is deeply depressing, but General O’Daniel, MAAG chief, Saigon, remains optimistic and with STEM is doing everything humanly possible put US expertise at [omission] Vietnamese in attempt solve their problem. General believes his representatives at Haiphong may be able establish better coordination in north and states that US Navy will be able assist resolve serious problem breakdown of communications system between north and south.
- Documentation on the problem of the evacuation of refugees which was transmitted to Washington by the Embassy at Saigon included the following despatches: No. 73, Aug. 17, enclosing a note from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Aug. 10 expressing appreciation for the American offer of assistance (251G.51G22/8–1754); No. 75, Aug. 19, transmitting minutes of country team meetings on the refugee problem on Aug. 10 and 14, and a memorandum on the background of the situation (251G.51G22/8–1954); and No. 76, Aug. 20, enclosing the minutes of the country team meeting of Aug. 20 (251G.51G22/8–2054).↩