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

1653. President and I have decided that it would be important for me to extend my visit to the Far East with a two or possibly three day visit to Saigon. This would give me a full opportunity to bring you and General Khanh up-to-date on our discussions at SEATO in which South Viet-Nam will play a most important role. Further, it will give you and me a chance to go over the situation in great detail, to give me some personal feel of a country which I have not visited as Secretary of State, and another opportunity for us to reemphasize our support for our common effort there. I could arrive in Saigon in the early afternoon of Friday, April 17. I hope this will not cause you or General Khanh undue inconvenience about existing schedule commitments.

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Would much appreciate your suggestions as to how to make best use of time.2 President is asking General Wheeler to proceed direct to Saigon to be there when I arrive. I do not plan to swamp you with entire SEATO delegation most of which I would leave in Manila. Names of few who would accompany me to Saigon will be forwarded later. Putting aside personal considerations I am of a somewhat divided mind as to whether to bring Mrs. Rusk since your and my time will presumably be filled with business. I would greatly appreciate your personal and frank advice on this. Please reply to Acting Secretary with Nodis relay to Manila for me. Warm personal regards.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State. Central Files. ORG 7 S. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted and initialed by Rusk.
  2. In telegram 1953 from Saigon, repeated to Manila for the Secretary, April 10, Lodge suggested Rusk should plan to have a long talk with Khanh and Quat, and he might consider a trip to the countryside to see how the pacification program was working. (Ibid.)