Office of the Historian

315. Telegram From the Chargé in Vietnam (Anderson) to the Department of State1

Saigon, March 17, 1956—4 p.m.

3792. Tokyo pass Ambassador Reinhardt.2

1.
Accompanied Young when he called on Diem March 16. Long conversation during which President reviewed internal and economic situation. Following up his comments to the Secretary on the need to increase the armed forces and garde civile (Embtel 3759 March 15, paragraph 53) Diem referred specifically to the weakness of the navy and his desire to increase the garde civile by 15 to 20,000 (above the 40,000 programmed for fiscal year 1957).
2.
In the economic sphere the President emphasized his fear that the Viet Minh would use the increased cost of living to promote strikes that might bring on a vicious spiral of wage increases. Such a development would in turn cause discontent in the armed forces because of their relatively low pay.
3.
Regarding proposed declaration on armistice and ICC, Diem said that Chau had briefed him on conversation with Reinhardt and Young afternoon March 15 (Embtel 3767 March 164). Diem’s principal comment was to the effect that Vietnam should not undertake long-term formal commitments and that any declaration would have to be drafted with that in mind. (Note that this is in line with Secretary’s caveat to Diem—Embtel 3759 paragraph 3.) Young pointed out problem was a practical rather than juridical one and expressed hope Vietnamese would take the initiative with the French on this. He said that Vietnam’s international standing would be strengthened and the Communists perhaps put on the defensive if the Vietnamese Government would work out a satisfactory formula. Diem seemed to accept this point of view, stating that the whole question was a matter of “prudence”.
4.
Young referred to Secretary’s view on the desirability of a statement regarding Vietnamese support for genuine free elections. Diem mentioned that the idea was contained in the suggested declaration. However, he then spent several minutes outlining how such a statement might confuse and upset the people in Vietnam and perhaps lead them to believe the Viet Minh were playing predominant role here. In fact, he seemed cool to the idea of a statement on free elections.
5.
It will be recalled that various public bodies, political parties, and the [garble] have recently expressed firm opposition to Geneva agreement (Weekas 10 and 115). This indicates Diem anxious to reassure his countrymen that he is not considering any dealings with the Viet Minh—though French are expanding theirs—before symbolic July date for general elections.
Anderson
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/3–1756. Secret. Repeated for information to Paris, London, New Delhi, Ottawa, and Tokyo.↩
  2. Reinhardt was at the Far East Chiefs of Mission meeting in Tokyo.↩
  3. Supra.↩
  4. In this telegram Reinhardt reported that he and Young had discussed with Chau the language of a possible public declaration by Vietnam on the armistice. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/3–1656)↩
  5. Dated March 10 and 17, neither printed. (Ibid., 751G.00(W)/3–1056 and 751G.00(W)/3–1756)↩