281. Editorial Note

On December 6 and 13, Diem and Reinhardt exchanged notes for their respective governments acknowledging United States approval in principle of support of a Vietnamese Armed Force of 150,000 in 1956. Included in Diem’s note of December 6 was a plan for reduction of Vietnamese forces to 150,358 military and 5,319 civilians [Page 598] by June 30, 1956. In accepting the force structure contained in Diem’s note, Reinhardt expressed confidence in his note of December 13 that the Vietnamese Government would continue efforts to reduce the high cost of maintaining its armed forces. Texts of these notes are enclosed in despatch 203 from Saigon, December 27. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.5–MSP/12–2755)