201. Letter From the Charge in Vietnam (Trueheart) to President Diem1
I have been instructed to see Your Excellency once again on the Buddhist problem, primarily to make certain that you understand clearly the position in which the United States Government finds itself.
Liberal and press opinion in the United States is increasingly, and now almost unanimously, critical of the religious situation in Viet-Nam.
There are now indications also that the matter may be brought up in the United Nations. In that forum the United States, as the chief supporter of Viet-Nam, would face a difficult situation.
Justly or unjustly, this is the situation which the United States Government is facing vis-à-vis domestic and international opinion.
Most importantly, religious toleration is one of the most basic tenets of American civilization. The United States Government does not believe that the Government of Viet-Nam has gone far enough to convince and explain to its people the basic importance which it attaches [Page 447] to religious tolerance and national unity. It considers that the present state of mistrust in Viet-Nam requires a public statement from Your Excellency designed to bridge the gap of understanding.
Such a statement should, in our view, be made very soon, before there is another Buddhist incident. If an incident should nevertheless occur, the Government of Viet-Nam and the United States would be in a position to point to your statement as evidence of the good faith of the Government of Viet-Nam in trying to convince the Buddhists of a genuine desire to reach an understanding.
If, on the other hand, another incident occurs and Your Excellency has not made a conciliatory statement, then my government believes that the situation in Viet-Nam would soon get out of control. The United States Government would also have to make its own position perfectly clear.
Please accept, Mr. President, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 12 S VIET. Secret; Limit Distribution. Transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 18 from Saigon, July 3, which is the source text.↩