751G.00/5–1354: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Cameron) to the Department of State
priority
[Received 1:37 p.m.]
660. Repeated information Saigon 580, Paris 304, Geneva unnumbered; pouched Bangkok. Geneva for US Delegation. Governor Tri [Page 1551] called me to his office urgently this morning. He said he was profoundly disturbed by reports he had received of several statements made in Washington within past 24 hours by Secretary and Secretary Wilson. As he heard it on radio here, first of these statements was to effect that if Indochina fell, US would continue its efforts in rest of South Asia. The second of these statements, according to Tri, was in sense that fall of Indochina would not mean general catastrophe or loss all South Asia. Tri asked if I could give him fullest information about these statements. I replied that I had not yet received texts, but would immediately try to obtain them. (For Embassy, Saigon: If texts these statements available, please telegraph.)
Then Governor Tri said he understood that Secretary Wilson had said before leaving Washington for his Far Eastern trip that he did not plan visiting Indochina.1
Tri said he wanted me to know that statements such as these were being interpreted to mean that US was now in process joining France and United Kingdom in writing off Indochina, As result, individuals in North Vietnam who had committed themselves to struggle against communism were becoming deeply discouraged. On other hand, Viet Minh were taking full advantage of situation to impress on people that they were being abandoned by West and that it was high time for them to make their peace with their Viet Minh brothers. Governor Tri said this was producing a situation which could become increasingly difficult to meet, especially since people saw no concrete evidence of French Union military preparations in delta for effective resistance to Viet Minh.
Tri said that it was impossible for Vietnamese people successfully to resist “Communist flood” without assistance from abroad. No country, he commented, could stand alone in such a struggle. He emphasized, however, that North Vietnam would not go down without a fight. Plans were being made, he said, to continue the resistance even if French forces were withdrawn and no help from other quarters was received. Zones of resistance around Hanoi, Haiphong and along communications between these cities were being planned. These plans were discussed with Defense Minister Quat during his recent visit to Hanoi. As a last resort, Tri said Vietnamese planned to withdraw from Hanoi and make stand at Haiphong.
Comment: During short time which I have been in Hanoi, I have gained several definite impressions. First, there exists an effective government and administrative apparatus in North Vietnam. Second, there is mutual respect and close cooperation between North Vietnam [Page 1552] and French civilian and military officials. This has been remarked not only in Hanoi but in outlying provincial centers and defense positions, Third, French civilian and military authorities seem to be making a conscious effort to support and play up the local government. Fourth, there appears to exist a substantial degree of unity in North Vietnam. My long talk with Bishop Chi confirmed Catholic support (2 million) for regional government. Fifth, North Vietnam Government has exploited with skill reports of possible division of Vietnam and thereby, at least publicly, thrown its weight behind idea of national unity. Six, North Vietnam officials have shown a stability and firmness in face present situation which has surprised me and others on Consulate staff who have been here much longer than I.
I do not feel in a position to weigh these impressions but feel that they should be brought to attention of Embassy, Saigon, and Department. If conditions which produce these impressions do in fact exist and we feel they do, there is still time to make use of them. In all frankness it must be emphasized however, that time is swiftly running out.
- Secretary of Defense Wilson left Washington on May 12 for a tour of the Far East. He visited Japan, South Korea, the Republic of China, and the Philippines before returning to the United States on June 2.↩