751G.00/9–2454: Telegram
Senator Mike Mansfield to the Secretary of State
niact
[Received 12:51 p.m.]
212. Repeated information priority Paris 28, priority London 23. For Secretary Dulles from Senator Mansfield. Re Deptel 1046 to Paris, Sept 22, rptd Berlin as Paris tel 12.1 As requested in reftel, which was paraphrased to me here Sept 23, following is my reply.
[Page 2056]The political crisis in south Vietnam arises from the insistence of Diem on forming a government that is free of corruption and dedicated to achieving genuine national independence and internal amelioration. He is opposed by various Vietnamese political, military, and Demi-Monde groups and probably to a lesser extent by the quasi-religious sects.
Diem is inexperienced and finds it difficult to compromise. These personal shortcomings exacerbate the crisis but I do not believe they are at the root of it. It is doubtful, in my opinion that any compromise he would be willing to make short of the virtual abandonment of his objectives—that is, national independence, an end to corruption, and internal amelioration would satisfy his opponents. They fear an immediate loss of power and revenue, perhaps even more than the ultimate threat of the Viet Minh.
Ironically, however, only a govt of the kind Diem envisions—and it would be a govt worthy of our support—has much chance of survival, eventually free of outside support because only such a govt can hope to achieve a degree of popular support as against the Viet Minh. If Diem fails, the alternative is a govt composed of his present opponents, no combination of which is likely to base itself strongly in the populace. Such a govt would be indefinitely dependent on support of the French and could survive only so long as the latter are able to obtain Viet Minh acquiescence in its survival.
Most of those who oppose Diem have a long history of initimate working relations with the French in Indochina and have been amenable to the latter’s guidance in the past. The fundamental question, therefore, may well be not can Diem form a worthy govt but do the French really want Diem and what he stands for to succeed? Even if Paris were so inclined, the French Govt would have to be willing to deal firmly with its large political and military bureaucracy in Indochina. Otherwise, Diem’s prospects of achieving success could be constantly undercut by their activities and machinations in Saigon, regardless of official French policy.
- The reference telegram, not printed, requested an evaluation of the Vietnam situation by Senator Mansfield who was in Europe, having recently completed his study mission in Indochina. (033.1100 MA/9–2254)↩