Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Vietnam, Volume I

THE ROLE OF THE TEMPORARY EQUIPMENT RECOVERY MISSION; THE QUESTION OF THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE ADVISORY GROUP CEILING; THE CIVIL GUARD AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARAMILITARY FORCES; UPGRADING THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM’S AIR FORCE; THE CAN LAO PARTY, CORRUPTION, AND THE USE OF U.S. AID; DETERIORATION OF INTERNAL SECURITY AND THE DEBATE OVER COUNTERINSURGENCY POLICY; INCREASE IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM’S ARMED FORCES; POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO DIEM AND THE ABORTIVE COUP OF NOVEMBER 1960¹

^1.For previous documentation on Vietnam, see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, volume I.

61. Letter From the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific’s Chief of Staff (Riley)

Saigon, March 31, 1959.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Official Correspondence January–July 1959 (54). Confidential.

62. Letter From the Commander in Chief, Pacific’s Chief of Staff (Riley) to the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams)

Pearl Harbor, April 9, 1959.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Official Correspondence January–July 1959(54). Secret–Personal. Extracts. The omitted material includes discussion of Admiral Felt’s and Admiral Riley’s schedules, the Anderson Committee, U.S. policy in Laos, and the date of General Williams’ retirement.

63. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State

Saigon, April 11, 1959—7 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.5–MSP/4–1159. Secret. Repeated for information to Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, and CINCPAC PolAd.

64. Letter From the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific’s Chief of Staff (Riley)

Saigon, April 14, 1959.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Official Correspondence January–July 1959 (54). Confidential.

65. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State

Saigon, April 18, 1959—6 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 411.51G212/4–1859. Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution. Repeated for information to Kuala Lumpur for Parsons.

66. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) and the Director of the United States Operations Mission in Saigon (Gardiner), Department of State, Washington, April 22, 1959

Washington, April 22, 1959

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2259. Confidential. Drafted by Mendenhall.

67. Letter From the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Dillon) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Irwin)

Washington, April 24, 1959.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 63 A 1672, 686 Vietnam. Secret. Drafted by L.E. Frechtling of W/MSC with clearances in substance from Moyer of ICA and by Palmer. A copy is also in Department of State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 66 D 193, Tan Son Nhut Airport.

68. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President of Vietnam’s Adviser (Ladejinsky) and the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow), American Embassy, Saigon, April 24, 1959

Saigon, April 24, 1959

Source: Department of State, Saigon Embassy Files: Lot 65 F 115, 350.21 Communism and Communist Activity. Secret. Drafted on April 25 by Ambassador Durbrow.

69. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State

Saigon, April 28, 1959—7 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.001/4–2859. Secret.

70. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of Defense (Shuff) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Washington, May 2, 1959

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 63 A 1672, 686 Vietnam. Secret.

71. Memorandum From the Deputy Chief for Logistics of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Lampert) to the Chief of the Group (Williams)

Saigon, May 9, 1959.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers. Secret. The source text is handwritten.

72. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State

Saigon, May 14, 1959—6 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.5/5–1459. Secret.

73. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State

Saigon, May 19, 1959—6 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.56/5–1959. Secret. Repeated for information to CINCPAC for PolAd; sent with instructions to pass to the Department of Defense.

74. Letter From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Felt) to the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams)

Pearl Harbor, May 25, 1959.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Official Correspondence January–July 1959 (54). Secret. A copy of this letter is attached to a memorandum from Kocher to Parsons, June 5, not printed. (Department of State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 66 D 193, SP Internal Security)

75. Letter From the Commander in Chief, Pacific’s Chief of Staff (Riley) to the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams)

Pearl Harbor, May 26, 1959.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Official Correspondence January–July 1959 (54). Secret-Personal.

76. National Intelligence Estimate

Washington, May 26, 1959.

Source: Department of State, INR–NIE files. Secret. A partial text of this NIE is printed in United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 1190–1195.

77. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President of the Republic of Vietnam (Diem) and the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams), Saigon, June 4, 1959, 9 a.m.

Saigon, June 4, 1959, 9 a.m.

Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Conversations with Diem 5 Jan 59–25 Nov 59 (162). Extract. Secret. Interpreter and drafting officer not indicated on the source text. The omitted topics of discussion include military operations in the area northeast of Bien Hoa and in the Fifth Military Region, sabotage, and developments in Cambodia.

78. Memorandum From the Secretary of Defense’s Deputy Special Assistant for Special Operations (Lansdale) to the Regional Director, Far East (O’Donnell) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

Washington, June 4, 1959.

Source: Department of State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 66 D 193, SP Internal Security.

79. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Department of State

Saigon, June 12, 1959—7 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.5–MSP/6–1259. Secret. Sent with instructions to pass to ICA and the Department of Defense.

80. Memorandum From the Assistant to the Regional Director, Far East (Evans) to the Regional Director, Far East (O’Donnell) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

Washington, June 16, 1959.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 63 A 1672, 092 Vietnam. Secret. A note on the source text indicates O’Donnell saw this memorandum.