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

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

Saigon, November 23, 1956—7 p.m.

1718. Reference: Deptel 1425.²

1. Believe following action program desirable and will suggest it to Diem Monday November 26 unless contrary instructions received from Department.³

a) Prompt issuance by Diem offical GVN statement recounting recent tragic events DRV, denouncing Communist brutality, appealing strongly for new look at problem freedom of movement between two zones, and stating that message being sent this regard to ICC and other steps contemplated.

(b) Simultaneous despatch letter to ICC proposing that, in accordance principles set forth Article 8 Final Declaration Geneva Accord, and in view manifest dissatisfaction large segment local population North Vietnam with prevailing conditions, immediate consideration be given to resumption free movement population between two zones which ICC could supervise.

(c) GVN could follow up letter to ICC within few days with letter to President Colombo Plan organization asking latter, in name humanitarian principles, to use its good offices with North Vietnam regime to help ICC in obtaining agreement to freedom of movement request. (Comment: Department may wish suggest channel other than Colombo Group for this step.)

(d) Statement issued immediately thereafter in U.N., preferably by Philippines or country other than U.S., relating tragic events in North Vietnam, denouncing Communist repression, referring to GVN statement, and appealing to U.N. to denounce activities countrary to basic principles U.N. Charter.

(e) Statement by U.S., either within or outside U.N., supporting previous U.N. protest and GVN statement, and announcing U.S. willingness to assist in any refugee movement.

2. Believe desirable continue keep issue alive and this will necessitate series of actions, along above lines, which will have to be taken as soon as possible. We know Diem presently considering further moves and he may take some action over weekend.

3. Department may also wish instruct Chiefs of Mission certain posts to present available material (including wireless file coverage) to local official and other circles at their discretion.

Reinhardt

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/11–2356. Secret; Priority.

2. This telegram, November 22, reads as follows:

   “Request your recommendations best methods diplomatic and other exploitation North Viet-Nam up-rising, including possible GVN statement, UN protest, US public statement or even possible GVN complaint to ICC.” (Ibid., 751G.00/11–2256)

   At the beginning of November, a popular uprising occurred in Nghe An province of North Vietnam in defiance of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s policies of land reform and land redistribution. For secondary accounts of the disturbance, see Bernard Fall, The Two Viet-Nams: A Political and Military Analysis (New York, Frederick A. Praeger, 1963), pp. 156–157 and Joseph Buttinger, Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled, vol. II (New York, Frederick A. Praeger, 1967), pp. 912–916. On December 21, the Embassy in Saigon initiated a series of reporting despatches which attempted to digest, synthesize, and interpret information on the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The first report covering the period from mid-November to December 11, despatch 183 from Saigon, December 21, included information on the Nghe An uprising. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/2–2156)

3. In telegram 1446 to Saigon, November 24, the Department concurred with action proposed in paragraph 1, subparagraphs a and b. As for action proposed in subparagraph c, the Department concurred subject to deletion of reference to the Colombo Plan on the grounds that political matters should not be introduced into an economic body. Instead the Department suggested a letter to the U.N. Human Rights Commission. As for the action in subparagraph d, the Department did not concur with the idea of a U.N. denunciation on the grounds it would be difficult to obtain at the time. As for action proposed in subparagraph e, the Department suggested inaction but stated it would keep the matter under study. (Ibid., 751G.00/11–2356)