Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file
The President to General J. Lawton Collins1
Dear General Collins: The threat to the independence and security of Free Viet-Nam has reached such a critical stage that emergency measures are required to assist Free Viet-Nam to maintain itself, and [Page 2206] to promote United States policies regarding Viet-Nam. Accordingly, I am designating you as Special United States Representative with personal rank of Ambassador to go to Saigon for a limited period to coordinate and direct United States activities in Viet-Nam in support of United States policy objectives. I am hereby instructing you to undertake this mission with broad authority to direct, utilize and control all the agencies and resources of the United States Government in Viet-Nam.
Your mission is undertaken on behalf of the United States Government and all its agencies will assist you as required in this difficult and essential task. I have complete confidence that your wide experience will enable you decisively to assist in dealing with the urgent problems which confront not only the Vietnamese Government but the free world in Viet-Nam. In your conversations and dealings with local French and Vietnamese authorities, you are authorized to speak with complete frankness and full authority on behalf of myself and the Government of the United States. You should keep the United States Government fully and currently informed of the progress of your mission through the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense where appropriate regarding military matters.
For your guidance, the basic policies of the United States with respect to Viet-Nam are as follows:
- 1.
- To maintain and support a friendly and independent non-Communist government in Viet-Nam and to assist it in diminishing and ultimately eradicating Communist subversion and influence.
- 2.
- To assist the Government of Viet-Nam to develop and maintain forces necessary for internal security and to foster economic conditions which will strengthen and promote the survival of a Free Viet-Nam.
- 3.
- To provide United States assistance directly to the Government of Viet-Nam and to coordinate information and exchange of views on such assistance with Vietnamese and French authorities.
- 4.
- To encourage expanding relationships between Free Viet-Nam and its non-Communist neighbors, and support for Free Viet-Nam by the free world.
The immediate and urgent requirement in carrying out these policies and in meeting the deteriorating situation in Viet-Nam is to assist in stabilizing and strengthening the legal government of Viet-Nam under the premiership of Ngo Dinh Diem. Accordingly, the principal task of your mission is to coordinate and direct a program in support of that government to enable it to: (a) promote internal security and political and economic stability, (b) establish and maintain control throughout the territory, and (c) effectively counteract Viet Minh infiltration and paramilitary activities south of the military demarcation line. As an initial framework for a concrete program of action you should (a) use the joint instructions which the Departments of State and [Page 2207] Defense transmitted to the American Embassy in Saigon on October 222 and (b) take into consideration the latter’s reply of October 27, 1954.3
As this immediate program progresses, I will expect to receive your recommendations.
You will in these matters seek, and I hope obtain, the cooperation of the French authorities. Their cooperation will greatly facilitate the discharge of your mission.
You are of course advised of the United States position and policy with respect to the agreements of the Geneva Conference on Indochina and to the United States Declaration made there and in these matters you should conform to such position and policy.
I appreciate your undertaking this difficult and delicate mission which is of such great importance to the United States. This assignment and these instructions are convincing evidence of the firm intention of the Government of the United States to help the Vietnamese people preserve and promote their liberty and welfare.
With warm regard,
Sincerely,
- This letter was prepared in the Department of State. A draft was transmitted to Secretary Dulles by Assistant Secretary Robertson by memorandum of Nov. 2, for approval by the President. (120.251G/11–254) In a memorandum for the President, Nov. 3, Dulles stated that the letter had been approved by the Defense Department and FOA and was satisfactory to General Collins. (120.251G/11–354) President Eisenhower approved the letter the same day. (See memorandum of conversation, supra) The White House announced the appointment of General Collins by press release of Nov. 3. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, Nov. 22, 1954, pp. 777–778.↩
- See telegram 1679 to Saigon, Oct. 22, p. 2161.↩
- See telegram 1609 from Saigon, Oct. 27, p. 2188.↩