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

274. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Vietnam¹

Washington, December 31, 1960—8:15 p.m.

961. From Parsons for Durbrow. Your 1216, 1217, 1231,² 1232.³

During this period intense danger and concern for position free world SEA, your recent telegrams provide excellent and realistic analysis. You and your staff highly commended.

The substance of your messages is receiving our close attention and we will be commenting in more detail as appropriate. Our preliminary thoughts follow:

1. Believe for present Embassy has gone as far as feasible in pushing for liberalization and future exhortation likely be counterproductive. Believe we both should be thinking about our minimum objectives this field, and suitable pressures which might be effective to produce action by GVN.

2. Re 20,000 man increase ARVN, Washington agencies prepared study promptly, upon receipt, counter-insurgency plan plus comments Ambassador, Country Team and CINCPAC. (This study will be in context overall situation SEA as well as in context your views on GVN as reported reftel s.) Advise when will arrive Washington.

3. In view extremely sensitive nature subject, suggest highest classification and limited distribution future messages containing any references to alternative leadership GVN. We both should be thinking about this contingency in practical terms.

4. On your return for consultation, hopefully early in year, we would plan on thorough review with you and interested agencies our policy Viet-Nam in light a) SNIE to be prepared coming weeks, b) counter-insurgency plan and c) your assessment of conditions at that time.

5. In mean time know you will be watching situation closely and in particular endeavoring to reassess and re-evaluate relative importance of the two halves of major problem in Viet-Nam i.e. insurgency and political support of GVN.

6. Your comments on personnel security problems most helpful.

Merchant

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.OO/12–2960. Top Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Cleveland and Wood, cleared by Anderson, Steeves, Flesch for paragraph 2, and approved by Steeves on behalf of Parsons.
2. Documents 270, 271, and 273.
3. In telegram 1232 from Saigon, December 29, Durbrow reported that there was growing unease among official and private Americans in Vietnam because of the abortive coup of November 11/12, the recent battle for Vientiane, and the hit-and-run terrorist tactics of the Viet Congo The Ambassador reported that the Embassy was taking every precaution to ensure the safety of Americans. He suggested that Washington agencies tell their Vietnam-bound personnel and dependents “that some American may get hurt.” Durbrow stated that it was his intention to ask for removal of any member of the U.S. mission whose preoccupation with his own personal safety became embarrassing or for those who lacked “sufficient courage and emotional stability to face the challenge.” (Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/12–2960)