313. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State 1
Dulte 29. Eyes only Acting Secretary from Secretary for President.
Dear Mr. President:
I leave Saigon greatly impressed by the immense improvement which has occurred over the past year. The sect armies which seemed to constitute an almost insurmountable obstacle have been almost wholly liquidated and what remains is a mopping-up operation. The elections were healthy and will bring touch of opposition into the open which is good. Diem has increased self-confidence and his stature has grown. Stubbornness and reluctance to delegate authority still remain, but Ambassador Reinhardt is free to admit in the past his stubbornness has usually justified itself.
Considerable problems remain as the French complete their withdrawal and the French armistice undertakings are left hanging in the air. Their solution is complicated by continuing distrust and prejudice between the French and Vietnamese, stemming from old colonial relationship. However, I believe I persuaded Diem to make a constructive and responsible statement as to his attitude toward the armistice.
This visit with Diem repeating my visit of last year has consolidated our personal relations. He feels grateful for the confidence which I expressed in him a year ago which he says helped to carry him through this difficult year.
There is in Vietnam as last year tremendous interest and confidence in you and gratification at your recovery.
Faithfully yours, Foster.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–DU/3–1556. Secret. Dulles was in Saigon on March 14 as part of his post-Karachi Asian tour. He left Saigon for Manila on the morning of March 15 and sent this telegram from there. A marginal note on a copy of this telegram in Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles–Herter Series, in Eisenhower’s hand indicates that he saw this cable and directed that it be filed.↩