325. Telegram From the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump)1
151139Z. Cite MAGCH 3887. For Admiral Stump and limited distribution.
President Diem assembled considerable number of the General Staff, division and region commanders and part of Cabinet at Kontum on 9 May for a conference that lasted until 12 May. He went to Kontum personally on 10 May taking Chief MAAG as guest. First night was spent in Kontum, second night in Pleiku. Villages and troops in this plateau area were visited. Furthest village to north was Darto. I did not attend the conference but travelled with the President and Chief of Staff2 throughout the period. Diem stated purpose in having conference in Kontum was to have members of Cabinet and military commanders, many of whom had never been to the sparsely inhabited plateau country, learn something of the area and its strategic importance to Vietnam.
Under heavy discussion were means of improving road net for both economic and military reasons, encouragement of settlers from the coastal regions, means of winning the tribes to national government, counter action against Vietcong propaganda in the area, etc. All of which I had recommended to him repeatedly last November and December after my initial reconnaissance of this country and seemingly at that time totally without success.
The President, Secretaries [title deleted], Public Works,3 Finance,4 Agriculture,5 and other officials are really fired up with determination [Page 683] to develop the plateau country. Particularly large demonstrations were held at Kontum and Pleiku by both tribesmen and Vietnamese. At Pleiku an estimated thirty thousand were assembled. The demonstrations were even greater than on our trip to the South and West last month. Personal security for Diem became at times completely nil. In several long talks, with only his brother and myself present, he strengthened my belief that he is especially well informed, has a keen analytical mind and has the highest moral standards. His popularity with the “common man” today is plainly evident regardless of reports from some sources to the contrary.
Unquestionably, good results, military and economic, will result from this trip. Diem has now completely rejected the old concept inherited from French that defense of Vietnam must be limited to Ban Me Thuot and south thereof to Saigon. He rejects the old concept of buttoning up in battalion and company size forts and block houses and agrees that divisions must be kept flexible and mobile. He will have difficulty in convincing some of his commanders who had long service with the French colonial army, however his hold on them is so strong that sooner or later they will accept the doctrine and listen more readily to teaching of our advisors.
Chief MAAG with interpreter and aide were only whites in party and were treated with great consideration and courtesy by all. Signed Williams.