Office of the Historian

101. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, April 6, 1955—5:15 p.m.

4361. FYI: we have been working on problem of elections in Viet-Nam, in great detail over last several weeks.2 NSC has asked Department submit policy for consideration by mid-April and we sure elections will be discussed during proposed U.S.-French talks [Page 209] Washington April 20.3 British have offered give us their views on elections prior those talks.

We feel best solution is for us be in position inform French British our views prior talks and believe it best we can put such forward as support of policy of Free Viet-Nam rather than as unilateral U.S. recommendations.

Our proposal is based on Eden’s plan put forward at Berlin Conference for all German elections and already approved by France for use Germany and rejected by the Communists. Basic principle is that Free Viet-Nam will insist to Viet Minh that unless agreement is first reached by the latter’s acceptance of safeguards spelled out, no further discussions are possible regarding the type of elections, the issues to be voted on or any other factors.

After we have Diem’s general acceptance we can proceed inform UK and France of this plan which we think only formula which ensures both satisfactory response to Geneva Agreement and at same time plan which is unassailable in intent but probably unacceptable to Communists because of provisions for strict supervision to ensure genuinely free elections. End FYI.

You should speak to Diem privately regarding elections, without showing him formula outlined next telegram.4 We are not now attempting secure his approval as such to our position but to assure he understands our viewpoint and accepts it to degree we can proceed with French British on broad assumption Free Viet-Nam’s position similar our own.

Believe best way accomplish this is to remind him of his and foreign minister’s conversations with Secretary on this subject5 and to continue that in specific cases of elections in Korea and Germany Free World has stood firm on issue of guarantees of genuine free elections, supervised by body having authority guarantee elements free elections (outlined last paragraph following telegram). In each case Communists have refused accept these safeguards which we think basic and fundamental. We believe unless such guarantees previously agreed upon would be dangerous for Free Viet-Nam be drawn into further discussions other issues of election. Ask Diem if we can assume our thinking is alike on this point.

Since time exceedingly important, hope we can have affirmative answer soonest.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–655. Top Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Hoey and cleared by Young, Sebald, Tyler, and MacArthur and with Dulles in substance. Repeated for information to Paris. Printed also in United States–Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 892–893.↩
  2. More information on the question of elections in Vietnam is in a memorandum from MacArthur to Dulles, April 1, and a draft paper, “U.S. Policy on All Vietnam Elections”, also April 1. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–155 and 751G.0/4–455, respectively)↩
  3. Memorandum from Cutler to Dulles, March 23. (Ibid., S/P–NSC Files: Lot 61 D 1, Far East, U.S. Policy Towards, Collins Report on Vietnam)↩
  4. Infra.↩
  5. See Documents 50 and 51.↩