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

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

Washington, April 12, 1956—4:43 p.m.

3430. Joint State/Defense Message for Embassy and MAAG. Department’s 3362, 3375, 3388 to Saigon;² Saigon’s 4057, 4058, 4077, 4096.³ Details State/Defense understanding TERM and related problems MAAG as follows:

1. A Temporary Equipment Recovery Mission of 350 American military personnel is created for the purpose both of supervising the recovery and outshipment of excess MDAP equipment in Viet-Nam and of assisting in the improvement of Vietnamese logistical capabilities so as to preserve equipment in the hands of Viet-Nam Armed forces (Department’s 2790 to Saigon⁴). The estimated time period for the operation is 12 months and the operation will be restudied by our two Departments prior to expiration of that time. TERM personnel are also to work in conjunction with French military technical personnel completing French obligations under the Ely/Collins Agreement in respect to MDAP matériel in Viet-Nam and with any foreign civilian technicians that may be hired by the Government of Viet-Nam for the purposes stated above.

2. In view desirability requesting formal Commission approval for TERM operation, State and Defense have agreed delay TERM arrivals until May 9, 1956, thus leaving what appears to us reasonable time for Commission consideration.

3. Defense fully aware necessity keeping MAAG and TERM organizations separate insofar as possible. Personnel orders for incoming TERM personnel will therefore be labelled specifically for TERM and a specific officer will be selected to head TERM under command of Chief MAAG.

4. State has, however, concurred in Defense plan to transfer personnel from MAAG to TERM to extent required for maximum efficiency of its operations Viet-Nam, and it is consequently probable that some of new personnel arrivals will be assigned MAAG after arrival, with concurrent transfer certain present MAAG personnel to TERM.

5. State and Defense agree that ICC notification procedure for both TERM and MAAG personnel should be kept to minimum required as decided by Ambassador after consultation with Chief MAAG. U.S. certainly would not countenance Commission control of U.S. military activities Viet-Nam once personnel are on the spot.

6. In regard to ICC notification procedure Chief MAAG will be responsible for supplying to Embassy with minimum delay arrival and departure information all U.S. military personnel Viet-Nam, as well as required information re outshipment and arrival matériel and equipment. Embassy will then informally provide this information to French or Vietnamese for transmission to Commission.

7. Insofar as practicable, commercial aircraft will be used for new personnel arrivals in Viet-Nam. Whenever MATS is used, prior notification or MATS arrivals will be given Chief MAAG and Chief TERM for info Embassy whenever possible.

8. New military personnel will arrive in increments staggered over approximately 120 days. Full staffing MAAG and TERM as described para 12 below will not be achieved until sometime in August 1956.

9. In regard to clothing of military personnel, discretion is being left to Chief MAAG, Chief TERM, and Ambassador as indicated Department’s 3362 to Saigon.⁵

10. Funds and personnel for support TERM operation will be provided by Department of Defense.

11. No publicity will be given TERM operation in Washington or in field at this time. If knowledge of operation becomes public in Viet-Nam, U.S. Ambassador authorized to make such public statement as he and Chief MAAG deem necessary.

12. Problem of MAAG and TERM excess. Defense Department has agreed limit TERM to 350 personnel and comply with required ICC notification procedures on understanding that establishment TERM will satisfy its minimum personnel requirement Viet-Nam (Department’s 3323 to Saigon⁶). This requirement is 740 personnel including both MAAG and TERM. State and Defense agree that ceiling figures given Commission should be 342 and 350 respectively. Seems reasonable that gap of 48 personnel be considered excess for both groups to cover number personnel normally on leave, medical, travel status, etc., outside Viet-Nam. State has therefore authorized Defense to assign total of 740 military personnel to Viet-Nam with understanding there will not be actually more than 692 personnel physically present in Viet-Nam at any one time, including TDY’s, but excluding overlaps.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–956. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Kattenburg and cleared with SEA, FE, G, and Defense. Repeated to Paris, London, Ottawa, and New Delhi.
2. These telegrams, April 5, 6, and 7, contained preliminary thinking and instructions by the Departments of State and Defense on TERM and ICC approval of the mission. (Ibid., 751G.5–MSP/4–256, 751G.5–MSP/4–656, and 751G.00/4–656, respectively)
3. These telegrams, April 6, 6, 7, and 9, contained the Embassy’s views and comments on TERM and ICC approval of the mission. (Ibid., 751G.5–MSP/4–656, 751G.00/4–656, 751G.00/4–756, and 751G.5–MSP/4–956, respectively)
4. See footnote 3, Document 304.
5. This telegram, cited in footnote 2 above, reads in part: “Question uniforms for TERM personnel to be handled as follows. Since Defense Department poses strongest objections to restrictions requiring TERM personnel to wear civilian clothing, Chief TERM will determine conditions under which uniforms or civilian clothing are to be worn. In recognition of political and psychological factors involved, and after consultation with American Ambassador, Chief TERM will to extent practicable direct TERM personnel to wear civilian clothing when off duty and on other occasions as appropriate.”
6. Dated April 2, not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/3–2856)