Office of the Historian

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

Saigon, October 14, 1957—3:55 p.m.

140755Z. MAGCH 6564. Mr. Barrows, Director USOM, states Mr. Chau, Minister to the Presidency, 9 October discussed with him organization and operations of the Civil Guard saying President wished to attach Civil Guard organizationally to Department of Defense and would possibly make written request to that effect. Yesterday President indicated to me during long conference on many subjects2 he did intend to write such letter. Basically, as I see it, the problem is this: The President believes, a. Civil Guard should be officered as good [well] as Army or better and be adequately equipped and trained for use as a national police force but capable of assisting Army in rear areas as para-military force in time of war. b. That Civil Guard has retained many worthless Officers and NCOs of little professional or academic education, is poorly trained, inadequately equipped. c. That these conditions can be correct [corrected] if under DOD. From conversations with Barrows I understand University of Michigan Mission advises him. a. Guard should be equipped and trained along purely police lines, only. b. All Army or ex-Army Officers and NCOs should be removed from the Guard. c. Guard should not be under DOD. My comment. Although having no responsibility for Civil Guard organization, training or equipment have advocated repeatedly to the Country Team guard standards be raised to enable it more quickly take over additional pacification duties delta area, thus releasing Army troops for combat training. At one time President placed Army Brig General Oai in command all Civil Guard later gave him additional duty as fifth region commander. Job too big for one man so Oai relieved overall command of guard. Now has fifth region only. However, as such has all Army troops and all Civil Guard in fifth (delta) region under his command. My impression from Civil [Guard] sources considerable jealousy between Civil Guard and Army in fifth region. Additionally get impression MSU also has dim view of Self Defense Corps. Certainly someone is passing plenty of adverse criticism of SDC to members Country Team mostly on charge Viet Cong infiltration of which I cannot get evidence. Barrows suggests hidden motive of President desire may be to get financial assistance Civil Guard from Military budget. However as U.S. does not contribute to pay and allowance of Civil Guard [Page 850] doubt President has such motive. President having discussed these differences in concepts of command and equipment with me on several occasions I asked him yesterday why he didn’t use Doctor Fishel head MSUM, one of his intimate advisors, to resolve difficulties. He replied Fishel was incapable in this instance. Consequently suggested he call Barrows in and explain his concepts personally and in detail prior to or at time of submitting letter.3 Believe this will now develop into hot subject as President has been expressing same views on different occasions for about two years.

  1. Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, TWX’s 1957 (14). Confidential. Drafted by Williams.↩
  2. See infra.↩

  3. Barrows discussed the Civil Guard with Chau on October 17, and described the meeting in a memorandum to Durbrow dated October 18. (Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Record of Conversation between President and Ambassador Durbrow (120)) The Vietnamese letter on the Civil Guard, addressed to Barrows from Chau and dated November 2, was transmitted to CINCPAC in MAGCH 6658, November 4 (040721Z). (Ibid., TWXs 1957 (14))

    In a preliminary conversation with Chau on November 7 concerning the new Vietnamese concept of the Civil Guard’s function, Durbrow stated that “it would be difficult for us to see our way clear to furnish the Civil Guard arms on the present MSU list if in a year or two under the new concept they would need different types of arms. Mr. Chau admitted that this raised a difficult problem but made no specific suggestion.” Durbrow stated further that it was not clear to him “where the Self Defense Corps fitted into the picture under the new Civil Guard concept. Mr. Chau was not too clear in his answer but stated that the Self Defense Corps would be a completely separate organization from the Civil Guard, would be static, and act primarily as village policemen.” (Memorandum of conversation between Chau and Durbow; transmitted to CINCPAC in MAGCH 6699 from Saigon, November 13 (130315Z); ibid.)

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