225. Draft Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1
Deliver following letter to President Diem from Secretary:
“Dear Mr. President:
Please accept my congratulations on completion of your Government’s first year in office. The Nationalist cause under your leadership has successfully met many challenges with fortitude and honor since the trying times of July 1954. It is indeed gratifying that the people and Government of Free Viet-Nam have made such strides in consolidating their independence and in advancing the national reconstruction of the country. All those from the North and the South [Page 481] who seek true freedom for the individual deserve the tribute of free men everywhere.
I realize that you and your associates still face many urgent and formidable tasks in achieving liberty and unity in the struggle against Communism. We in the United States hope that the goals of the Vietnamese people who believe in genuine freedom can be fulfilled in peace and security.
The support and assistance of the United States for Free Viet-Nam will continue. It can be helpful to the extent that democratic nationalist elements in Viet-Nam are effective and united. I trust that the Government of Viet-Nam under your leadership will continue to consolidate its strength, bring stability and progress to Free Viet-Nam, and develop sound relations with its neighbors in Southeast Asia and its friends throughout the free world.
Many Americans have applauded your resolution and courage during a year of crisis in Viet-Nam. Looking to the future, I hope the Free Vietnamese will continue to rally together for the common good and the execution of national tasks.”
Letter may be made public.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.11/7–655. Limited Official Use; Niact. This draft was written by Young. Robertson changed the first two sentences in the third paragraph into a single one which reads: “The support and assistance of the United States for Free Viet-Nam can be helpful to the extent that democratic nationalist elements in Viet-Nam are effective and united.” Robertson then sent the draft to Dulles who cut out all but the first sentence. The final message, signed by Dulles and sent as telegram 52 to Saigon at 7:40 p.m. on July 6, reads: “Deliver following message to President Diem from Secretary: Dear Mr. President: Please accept my congratulations on completion of your Government’s first year in office.” (Ibid.)↩