751G.13/9–1954: Telegram
The Ambassador in Vietnam (Heath) to the Department of State
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1110. Repeated information niact Paris 381. I have just seen General Ely who sounded very convincing when he said he had no foreknowledge that Hinh was going into open rebellion against the authority of the government.1 He speculated that Hinh’s action was due to a secret message from Bay Vien who arrives this afternoon. Ely says that he is absolutely without information as to Bao Dai’s instructions to Vien but he believes that the instructions direct the sects to issue a joint declaration, he said, asserting the failure of the Diem Government and inviting it to resign.
Ely said that he is summoning Bay Vien immediately on his arrival. If he learns that Bay Vien has instructions for a new government, he will tell him three things: (1) there must be [no] disorder accompanying a change of government since that would only be to the benefit of the Viet Minh; (2) that any new government must be of a character to merit recognition of France, United States, and other countries; and (3) if a new regime is to be installed and even if it is recognized it cannot count on the support of France and other countries unless it demonstrates its efficiency.
Ely is leaving tomorrow morning for France with the idea of accompanying La Chambre to Washington.
I conveyed to Ely the substance of Department telegram 1085 sent Paris 9972 although certain aspects of it have been overtaken by events. I emphasized the concluding sentence of the message.
- In telegram 1107 from Saigon, Sept. 19, Ambassador Heath reported that General Hinh had released a message which he had sent to Bao Dai in effect asking the Chief of State to dismiss Diem and to turn to the sects for the formation of a new government. (751G.00/9–1954)↩
- For the reference telegram, Sept. 17, see p. 2034. In telegram 1122 from Saigon, Sept. 20, Heath reported that General Ely had complained bitterly to him regarding the communication contained in the reference telegram which he regarded as critical of him personally. Ely had stated that unless there was some word from Washington correcting the accusation that he had acted improperly, he would not accompany La Chambre to Washington for discussions on Indochina. (751G.13/9–2054) In telegram 1022 to Paris, Sept. 20, the Department instructed the Embassy to provide General Ely with assurances of the confidence of the United States in his ability and fairness. (751G.13/9–2054)↩