Office of the Historian

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

Washington, August 3, 1955—8:37 p.m.

388. Saigon 541 repeated Paris 145, London 78, Ottawa 73, New Delhi 72, Canberra, unnumbered.2 In order retain support international public opinion, particularly British, French, Indians, we continue believe advisable Vietnamese transmit written reply Dong letter3 in addition making simultaneous broadcast. Since, however, our object is prolong consultations process long as possible, response need not be rushed.

Inasmuch as response limited to broadcast could be considered by Viet Minh if they so desired as reply permitting proposal next step consultations, broadcast gambit would probably not delay procedure. Only possible benefit might be postponement Vietnamese recognition Viet Minh authority in North. Suggestion paragraph 2–B your 436 repeated Paris 128, London 68, Ottawa 64, New Delhi 63, Canberra 14 appears solve problem address in manner avoiding such recognition.

With respect transmittal, since Vietnamese have already had indirect contact through French on Joint Commission, this military channel might be considered connection letter.5

Recommend you point out to Diem direct reply would have advantage international approval, and that it seems feasible devise address, method forwarding, and content which would not damage domestic position. Suggest you not press strongly, however, since issue of secondary importance in comparison other imminent questions where heavy U.S. pressure may be required.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/8–255. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Byrne and cleared in PSA and FE. Repeated for information to Paris, London, Ottawa, New Delhi, and Canberra.↩
  2. In this telegram, August 2, the Embassy reported that Foreign Minister Vu Van Mau foresaw great difficulties in his government’s replying to Dong’s letter of July 19. (ibid.)↩
  3. See footnote 3, Document 233.↩
  4. According to this telegram, July 27, the suggestion was “Mr. Pham Van Dong at Hanoi”. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/7–2755)↩

  5. On August 9, the Republic of Vietnam broadcast a reply to the Dong letter which reiterated previous declarations that South Vietnam was not bound by the Geneva Accords and that conditions for free elections did not exist in the North. Vu Van Mau sent copies of this declaration to the British Ambassador and General Jacquot with the hope that they would “be able to bring this text to attention of the Vietnamese residing north of 17th parallel.” (Telegrams 679 and 680 from Saigon, August 10; ibid., 751G.00/8–1055)

    Text of the declaration is also printed in Cameron, Viet-Nam Crisis, vol. I, pp. 389–390.

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