Office of the Historian

363. Telegram From the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump)1

Saigon, March 22, 1957.

MAGCTE–CH 5537 (Navy message). For Admiral Stump from Lt Gen Williams. Reference: Last para my 210309Z.2

[Page 767]

Ngo Dinh Nhu is of course right that the first name is the family name in Vietnamese and the third name the individual’s personal name. He has, however, misled Admiral Stump on other counts. Using the third name preceded by Mr. or the person’s title is standard practice among the Vietnamese themselves and universally used by all foreigners. Although the Vietnamese generally use all 3 names when referring to President Ngo Dinh Diem in official documents, it is frequently abbreviated to President Diem, almost never to President Ngo (including publications issued by the press office of the presidency in 1956).

In very rare instances a Vietnamese will rise so far above his compatriots in stature that he becomes known by his first name. Ho Chi Minh is the outstanding and perhaps the only example of this today. It has been obvious for many months that Diem and his entourage have been anxious to raise the president’s prestige by placing him on a comparable pedestal with Ho Chi Minh and the expression “President Ngo” has been used off and on, mostly in adulatory articles in the press, for over a year.

If the GVN wishes to make this standard practice it would be relatively easy for us to follow suit.3 However, as long as the overwhelming majority of Vietnamese as well as all other foreign nationals continue to speak of President Diem it would appear a little odd if we were the only ones to begin calling him President Ngo. As for Ngo Dinh Nhu himself, it is doubtful that either you or I will see the day when he is known as Mr. Ngo or Ambassador Ngo.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.11/3–2257. Confidential. There is no time of transmission on the source text. Repeated for information to the Department of State; the source text is the Department copy.↩
  2. Not printed, but see footnote 2, supra.↩

  3. According to telegram 3116 from Saigon, April 13, Anderson put the question squarely to Diem as to his preference for “Diem” or “Ngo”. Anderson reported the conversation of April 12 as follows:

    “He stated categorically preference for latter which was in accordance with Vietnamese tradition and current practice with respect to Chiang Kai-Shek and even Ho Chi Minh. Characteristically he blamed French for having started and perpetuated Diem appellation.

    “Under circumstances I believe we should use president’s full name whenever appropriate but should respect his wishes which are in line with GVN’s recent efforts to have him known as Ngo.

    “It will of course be some time before this change will be generally accepted. It will probably be longer, if ever, before brother Nhu will be generally referred to as ‘Ambassador Ngo’”. (Department of State, Central Files, 751.11/4–1357)

    Anderson’s suggestion that the Department use Diem’s full name whenever appropriate became standard practice. (Telegram 2710 to Saigon, April 17; ibid., 751G.11/4–1757)

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