Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 2

120.251G/12–254: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Vietnam¹

top secret

Washington, December 9, 1954—11:49 a.m.

2351. Limit distribution. Saigon 2051 repeated Paris 658.² Department wishes take this opportunity comment on general line your political program as reported 2051 and 1935,³ 2004,⁴ 2031,⁵ 2039.⁶

1) Close working relations on six-point program with General Ely and his staff should help materially deal with difficult problems faced Viet-Nam. Department concurs your general policy as outlined Saigon 2004.

2) With respect fifth point Saigon 2004 we have following comment:

Suggestions for National Assembly which you and Ely agreed to refer to a small joint working group responsible for preparing proposal alternative to that submitted to Cabinet (Saigon 2022),⁷ appears to us to differ in some important and fundamental respects from latter. Under Minister of Reform proposal, Assembly would be responsible for preparing within three months provisional charter to be applicable until definitive constitution adopted by elected Assembly. Under suggestions submitted by you and Ely, (Saigon 2039) Assembly would “not have constitutional drafting powers”. Under Minister Reforms proposal, Assembly agreement would have to be sought on all budget proposals and Assembly would have right interpellation with respect all domestic or foreign political questions, whereas under your suggestions Assembly powers would appear far more limited and circumscribed. Department recalls there still exists in Saigon meaningless “Provisional National Council” introduced with great fanfare during Tam regime, and is concerned that under suggestions which have strong French flavor another such useless body might again eventuate and again be rejected by Vietnamese as a whole as completely inadequate their needs for democratic government. While in full accord that we should urge speedy creation responsive and responsible National Assembly, we feel substantive details should be left largely to Vietnamese themselves to solve if their independence is to have real meaning, and U.S. prestige remain unimpaired.

3) We emphasize Secretary’s remarks paragraph 1C our 2112⁸ which expressed our view joint U.S.-French action in all cases was not conceded by U.S. We do not wish Diem and Vietnamese think U.S. and French ganging up on Diem. Much initiative must come from Diem. Department concerned lest Vietnamese get impression Americans and French planning their future for them in great detail. Therefore Department desires suggestions on internal matters such as specific ministers and reforms be conveyed individually as much as possible though not necessarily always. This must be left discretion you and country team.

4) Regarding elections as raised your 1841⁹ and 2051: Our 2113¹⁰ to Saigon reported only discussion this subject during Mendes visit and was raised outside plenary meetings. Our 2112 paragraph three while not specifically referring elections reported U.S. and French views regarding relations with Viet Minh. We did not desire during Mendes visit to go into this subject any further than necessary to learn French policy. Mendes reply was inconclusive and we reserved our views. We continue believe discussions with French or Vietnamese this subject should be avoided for time being until trend of security development in Free Viet-Nam is more clearly defined. If raised by Ely, confine response to absence instructions this point. We are continuing study how and when make fundamental approach to French this matter.

Dulles

1. Drafted by Young and Hoey of PSA. Repeated for information to Phnom Penh and Paris via pouch.
2. In telegram 2051 from Saigon, Dec. 2, not printed, General Collins requested guidance on the question of projected 1956 elections in Vietnam. (120.251G/12–254)
3. Dated Nov. 23, p. 2279.
4. Dated Nov. 29, p. 2315.
5. Dated Dec. 1, p. 2325.
6. Telegram 2039 from Saigon, Dec. 1, not printed, summarized a meeting between General Collins and General Ely during which problems of the establishment of a Vietnamese National Assembly were discussed. (751G.2/12–15)
7. Telegram 2022 from Saigon, Nov. 30, describing a Vietnamese draft plan for a provisional national assembly, is not printed. (751G.2/11–3054)
8. Dated Nov. 24, p. 2303.
9. Dated Nov. 16, p. 2256.
10. For text, see footnote 2, p. 2305.