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

338. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Reinhardt) to the Department of State¹

Saigon, July 9, 1956—9 p.m.

95. 1. Vice President visit Saigon went off according to plan (Saigon’s 38 July 3²) except that inclement weather rendered impractical overflight Caisam resettlement project. Govt and people very pleased with visit, and today’s press full of laudatory comment being reported separately. Vietnamese particularly impressed by Vice President’s informal and cordial manner which they feel good omen for continuing friendly relationship between two countries.

2. In private conversation with Vice President afternoon July 6, Diem mentioned in passing importance of developing industrial capacity of country as well as good use he could make of augmented military forces, but he devoted major part of interview to exposition of his new plan for agrarian reform which had been subject of previous day’s conversation with Barrows and me (Embtel 92³). He handed me Vice President’s memorandum on subject which is being forwarded by pouch. Apart from slight amendments of details, principal differences in plan as presented July 5th and July 6th were that total US assistance requested was now from twenty to thirty million dollars, and Diem expressed desire to be in position to announce project on July 20. Vice President expressed sympathy with plan in principle but added technical feasibility and details would of course have to be discussed by two govts.

3. When I saw Diem this afternoon, July 9, he reiterated his gratification at Vice President’s visit and expressed deep appreciation for President’s message⁴ which he said had given him and Vietnamese encouragement for future.

4. I raised with him subject of agrarian reform project and suggested plan to make announcement by July 20 was unfeasible. Although I felt sure Washington would be sympathetic to project in principle, nevertheless much more detailed and exhaustive study of problem and method of implementation would be necessary. Both preparation of such study as well as its analysis in Washington would take some time. I added it was my personal feeling there was psychological advantage in not using July 2 [20] date for political pronunciamentos and that he could have no greater political success at moment than an uneventful and serene July 20. Finally, I suggested that new agrarian reform law which would have far reaching economic and social implications would be most appropriate subject for new Assembly to deal with. Reaction both here and abroad would be much better if such reform could be launched by legislature rather than by simple fiat. He did not argue point in principle but expressed misgivings as to new Assembly’s ability to cope with such difficult problem in reasonable time. He admitted that July 20 was apparently not feasible date to announce agrarian reform project but left without comment my general suggestion July 20 was not best day for political pronunciamentos.

Reinhardt

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.1100–NI/7–956. Confidential.

2. Telegram 38 from Saigon, July 3, contained a detailed schedule for Vice President Nixon’s trip to South Vietnam.

   Nixon’s visit to Vietnam, July 6–7, was part of a larger Far East trip, the primary purpose of which was to attend the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Government of the Philippines. After leaving Saigon, Nixon traveled to the Republic of China, Thailand, Pakistan, and Turkey. Documentation on the trip is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 729A.

3. Supra.
4. Text of this letter, June 29, which was entirely congratulatory and ceremonial, is in telegram 8 to Saigon, July 2. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/7–256)