Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume III, Vietnam, January–August 1963

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

Washington, August 8, 1963, 8 p.m.

178. Just as report your interview with Ngo Dinh Nhu (Embtel 189)² reassured us somewhat, Halberstam story carrying Mme Nhu’s latest outburst appeared this morning NY Times (see septel).³

You are accordingly to seek new interview with Diem and tell him again that while we recognize Mme Nhu is private citizen rather than GVN official it clear we cannot ignore such destructive and insulting statements by person so clearly identified with him. Diem cannot overlook effect this has of undercutting his authority and creating image abroad that he being led around by apron strings.

Contradictory statements on Buddhist policy by President and Mme Nhu leave us, and Vietnamese people as well, in dark as to actual policy GVN pursuing. Seems essential to us that GVN at this time and without any equivocation publicly reaffirm conciliatory posture on Buddhist issue. This will require at lease implied repudiation Mme Nhu’s remarks.

Tell Diem that since he has assured us he following policy of conciliation and since Nhu has reiterated his support this policy to you as late as August 7, USG now regards it as absolutely required that Nhu make public statement confirming he in fact supports this policy.

Public statement Nhu and further conciliatory statements by Diem would go some ways toward assuaging doubts in USG. Tell Diem frankly, however, that at this crucial juncture most convincing action vis-a-vis both Vietnamese and US opinion would be to remove Mme Nhu from scene. We have in mind action similar to that taken in early years Diem regime when she sent to Hong Kong convent.

You could note that in Halberstam’s story Mme Nhu claims Diem has no following his own right, and that he must depend on her and his brothers for popular support.⁴In Time magazine cover story,⁵ Mme quoted as stating “scornfully,” connection Diem’s policy of conciliation: “President too often wants what French call ‘a circle with corners’. He would like to conciliate as the Americans desire, smooth, no bloodshed, everyone shaking hands.”

Ball

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15-1 S VIET Secret. Drafted by Heavner and Kattenburg, cleared in substance by Harriman and in draft by Forrestal, and approved by Hilsman. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD.
2. Document 247.
3. Reference is to telegram 175 to Saigon, August 8, in which the Department sent the Embassy summaries of two related front-page stories on Vietnam in The New York Times, August 8. The first was by David Halberstam in Saigon, entitled “Mrs. Nhu Denounces U.S. for ‘Blackmail’ in Vietnam”; the second was by Tad Szulc in Washington and reported on growing concern in the Kennedy administration that the Diem government would not survive unless it became more willing to compromise on Buddhist demands. (Department of State, Central Files, POLS VIET-US)
4. In telegram 180 to Saigon, August 9, the Department of State informed the Embassy that The New York Times and The Washington Post of August 9 both contained editorials critical of Madame Nhu. The Department provided extracts and noted that they might also be useful to Nolting in his upcoming discussion with Diem. (Ibid.)
5. Time, August 9, 1963, pp. 21-25.