751G.00/10–2154: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State1
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[Received October 20—9:57 p.m.]
Dulte 5. Repeated information Saigon 209. Eyes only Acting Secretary from Secretary. Saigon eyes only Ambassador. During and after dinner tonight with Mendes-France, we discussed Indochina. I said our recent reports indicated disturbing internal situation South Vietnam. Mendes-France agreed situation serious, but said understandable we should now be at psychological low point following armistice. He was also firm regarding importance giving Diem every chance. He went on, however, to say that plans should be laid for “another structure of government” which could be produced in event Diem failure. In response my question, he was unclear as to meaning his phrase and indicated he had no other local political figure in mind as possible replacement Diem. He stressed, however, importance of utilizing thread legitimacy deriving from Bao Dai, although he was frank in discussing latter’s failures and spoke of necessity keeping him off front of stage.
At conclusion conversation, Mendes-France indicated desire before my departure to discuss situation South Vietnam and what we might do about it at greater length. In anticipation such further talk, I would appreciate receiving urgently Department’s latest estimate political developments.