Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 2

751g.5/9–2354

Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State to the President

secret

[Washington,] September 23, 1954.

Subject:

• Suggested Letters from the President to the Prime Minister of Viet-Nam and the King of Cambodia¹

The Departments of State and Defense believe that prompt action must be taken to reassure the Vietnamese Prime Minister of United States intent to aid free Viet-Nam in order that he may take the necessary steps to establish a strong and stable government capable of resisting Communist pressures. In keeping with the policy outlined in my recent message to Mendes-France I recommend that you send a letter to Prime Minister Diem announcing our willingness to supply aid directly to Viet-Nam and to undertake direct military training of the Vietnamese National Army. I am enclosing as Tab A a suggested letter to the Vietnamese Prime Minister which I propose be published on delivery.²

Since the Government of Cambodia is keenly desirous of direct United States aid in a military training mission, in the supply of arms and equipment, and in economic and financial assistance, and will undoubtedly wonder if United States policy toward Cambodia will approximate that publicly announced toward Free Viet-Nam, it is recommended that you sign the letter under Tab B which will be given to the King of Cambodia and made public after delivery.³

Because of the special status of Laos following the cease fire agreement and the present absence of the King from that country, it is not believed necessary at this time to address a similar message to the King of Laos.

If you approve these two messages, I will make a further determination here, after consulting the French, as to the best time to send them.⁴

Walter B. Smith

1. A handwritten notation on the source text indicates that the President approved the letter to the King of Cambodia on Sept. 24 and the letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam on Sept. 28.
2. Tab A is identical with the letter actually delivered to Prime Minister Diem on Oct. 23; for text, see p. 2166.
3. Tab B is identical with the letter actually delivered to King Norodom Sihanouk on Oct. 2; for text, see editorial note, p. 2114.
4. The following typewritten notation appears at the bottom of the source text: “Handwritten note: We are starting talks with the French on the 27th and I hope to smoke them out.”