Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Vietnam, Volume I

248. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Reinhardt) to the Department of State¹

Saigon, August 24, 1955—11 a.m.

900. Reference: Deptel 411 sent Paris 474.²

1. Re questions raised in paragraph 2 reference telegram, MAAG believes that providing present plans for reorganization, regrouping and training (under 150,000 force concept) are approved and implemented, VNA has potential for increasing capabilities to extent necessary substantially to replace French ground forces even if latter withdrawn as quickly as is physically possible. By end 1955 MAAG estimates VNA should have capability maintaining internal security and constituting mobile blocking force against external aggression, which supported by available French air and navy, would have certain delaying capabilities against Viet Minh aggression. MAAG’s position has been and remains that, from military point of view, minimum French force of two combat divisions with balanced combat and service support should be retained in Vietnam at least until end 1955. In light of Vietnamese attitude toward continued presence FEC, however, and French reluctance to fight in Vietnam, we believe U.S. should accept whatever agreement is reached on FEC in Paris in current negotiations between French and Vietnamese. It will probably not be physically possible to withdraw French ground forces before the end of 1955 even if desired by both parties, and it is understood that Vietnamese recognize desirability retaining French air and navy until late 1956.

2. Re questions raised in paragraph 3, reference telegram, there exists adequate inventory MDAP equipment showing items in hands French and Vietnamese. Return to U.S. control of MDAP matériel no longer required for purposes for which it originally made available is governed by Minutes of Understanding signed December 1, 1954, by Generals Collins and Ely. Release of matériel proceeding in accordance capability local forces to take it over, and matériel not required by forces in Indochina, which is being released by French to U.S., is being redistributed outside Indochina. In accordance with above minutes removal MDAP matériel from Indochina requires U.S. consent, and departing FEC units have been taking only equipment belonging to France. In general there are adequate supplies of MDAP equipment to equip recommended Vietnamese force of approximately 150,000 as well as forces of Cambodia and Laos as now contemplated.

Reinhardt

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/8–2455. Secret. Repeated for information to Paris.
2. In this telegram, August 5, the Department of State noted that the FEC in Vietnam was to be reduced to 30,000 by October 1955 and that this could provide justification for the United States reopening the question of the $100 million in U.S. aid for the FEC. The Department also asked whether the VNA could maintain internal security in light of rapid French withdrawal, what the Embassy considered to be a desirable level for French forces in Vietnam, and what the status was of MDAP equipment in Vietnam. (Ibid., 851.10/7–3055)