Office of the Historian

40. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, February 1, 1962—11:22 a.m.

951. Embtel 993.2 Following is text Secretaryʼs January 20 letter to you: “I was disappointed to receive your message of January 17 from Honolulu.3 Even before receiving it I had discussed Honolulu matter with Secretary McNamara and covered his personal talk with you. There is now no ‘piece of paper’. There is no doubt you are Senior US Representative in Viet-Nam, responsible for coordination and supervision of US official activities there including, of course, relations with GVN. Further, there is no lack of readiness here to clear up promptly any misunderstanding which might arise as General Harkins settles down to his new job. He will need all help you can give him and I am sure he will want to give you maximum support.

As to whether the background of this unfortunate affair makes it necessary to try to put the existing situation on paper, it is still my view that insistence on point, in absence of any actual misunderstanding, would almost certainly destroy very relationships which are critical to success in Viet-Nam. I would certainly not be willing produce paper effect of which would be make ‘treaty’ on constitutional and statutory responsibilities of President and members of his Cabinet. Letter from President to Ambassadors4 stands as heavy reliance on, and delegation to, Ambassadors in field.

Having said above, let me add that I fully appreciate difficulties which this matter may have caused for you, particularly for your peace of mind, but you can be assured you will have our full backing and support in what is one of most critical tasks in our diplomatic service.

Unless I hear from you again, I do not plan submit your letter to President because I should prefer that issue arise over something quite specific and tangible rather than on some general thesis—for reasons indicated above.”

Imperative that Harkins assume duty soonest. Expect you will promptly clear matter with Diem.

Ball
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/2-162. Top Secret, Niact, No Distribution; Eyes Only for the Ambassador. Drafted and approved by U. Alexis Johnson and cleared with Manfull.↩
  2. In telegram 993, February 1, Nolting reported that he had not yet received a reply through the pouch to his letter to the President of January 17. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Document 25.↩
  4. For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, p. 1345.↩