751G.13/9–2954: Telegram
The Ambassador in Vietnam (Heath) to the Department of State
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1270. Repeated information niact Paris 439. Limit distribution. Answer to question in Deptel 1254, September 28 (personal from [Page 2093] Smith) is yes. There can be built around Diem a government which with our support will be relatively enduring and may eventually obtain allegiance of sects and army. Diem has support Bao [Cao] Dai and Hoa Hao. French must stick loyally with us in getting Diem Government through present crisis and this can be done if we remain united and firm and if Diem Government accepts some necessary compromises. Unfortunately Bao Dai is still factor and I see no way of handling him except by going myself to Cannes. I could be back in four days.
While Diem is only man now in sight with character enough to form and head an enduring government, we must be looking around urgently, as so far we have been doing without success, for a relief pitcher and get him warming up in bullpen. Diem’s intrinsic faults may yet create a situation making his replacement necessary.
Army in its present revolutionary mood with Hinh’s camarilla in control has to be reckoned with and one concession Diem will probably have to make, and he doesn’t want to do it, is to put back Xuan as Minister Defense and Vice President. That I think we could persuade him to do.
To have Xuan replace Diem as Prime Minister would undoubtedly bring a temporary superficial appeasement in this situation. It would only be at cost of very dangerous delay in forming really solid military and government structure here. We have to stick by Diem at this moment.
Above are my views. They are not Daridan’s or Salan’s who do not believe Diem can form solid government. If it is his government’s policy to support Diem, Daridan will naturally not try to sabotage it, but he will implement it here without conviction. He will, I believe, locally cooperate on a Diem solution. His internal political adviser Commissioner Wintrebert, believes thoroughly in Diem solution while recognizing latter’s weaknesses.