751G.13/11–1351: Telegram
The Minister at Saigon (Heath) to the Secretary of State
1016. De Lattre came Saigon from Dalat yesterday noon and sent chief his milit cabinet Gen Cogny to (1) inform me that he seeing [Page 543] Pres Huu at 1750 and wld like see me afterwards and (2) show me photostat of letter from Viet in Paris to Tuyen1 (see mytel 998; rptd Paris 391 Nov 9)2 asking him return Paris where he would put him in touch with certain reps Fr polit groups and enclosing copy anti-De Lattre art in L’Observateur which he said Huu had inspired. Gen took this as additional proof that Huu conspiring against De Lattre in France since altho Huu had dismissed Tuyen at De Lattre’s instigation last summer he keeping in close contact with him.
De Lattre told me had no “row” with Huu but had merely reproached him (1) with having ordered that no mention be made De Lattre or Bao Dai in vernacular press and (2) his continued association with Tuyen. De Lattre showed Huu photostat of intercepted letter to Tuyen. Huu, De Lattre said, had professed be shocked by letter and said that Tuyen’s connection with anti-De Lattre campaign in France on Tuyen’s own initiative and without any knowledge Huu. De Lattre said he told Huu he believed this statement and observed to him that any such attempt against him in France wld be met by disclosure from De Lattre’s archives which wld do Hun’s Govt more harm than any Viet campaign cld inflict on De Lattre’s support and reputation in France. De Lattre said Huu appeared anxious and was far from frank. They to meet again today.3
De Lattre said that while Tuyen was dangerous man who ought be punished, it impossible take any action against him.
De Lattre said that Bao Dai had stated that Huu shld remain in office for couple months yet. At end that time if Huu wld not agree release portfolios he holds in his own hands and content himself with Presidency of Council and Min Foreign Affairs, Bao Dai wld dismiss him and call on someone—not yet determined—to form new govt. De Lattre of opinion that Huu wld not voluntarily release portfolios he now holds because of personal financial advantage of control their secret funds. In couple months Huu wld, however, be in weak position to oppose dismissal order. To my question whether he had actual proof that Huu personally appropriating these funds De Lattre answered he had definite proof and that total of secret funds Huu now controlled amounted to about ten million piasters a month.
De Lattre then passed in review Viets who now rendering or might be expected render good service as Cabinet Mins. Tri an excellent man [Page 544] but not immed available. He not sure as to honesty and efficiency Vinh, FinMin. He might be all right if he cld be removed from Huu’s influence. Tam really first class as Min security. Gov Ly of Central Annam splendid, honest civil servant. He had cleaned up corruption and confusion left by Gov Giao who De Lattre claimed had been billing Govt for 6,000 regional militia when actually his forces amounted to only 2,000. De Lattre thought that Tran Van Kha might give good service altho he admitted his reputation of official honesty controversial. In recent conversation with Tran Van Kha he alleged to me that he had had dip into his own bank account in order that Min Natl Economy cld function with some success.
Present milit operation in north, De Lattre said, had proved very successful and wld be followed, he indicated, very promptly with other local offensives. He must content himself with local small offensives for present time until completion, about Feb 15, 1952, of defense “redoubt” in Tonkin Delta. Thereafter he wld dispose of additional 25 battalions for his mobile reserves. Fr had, he asserted, reliable reports that morale in VM forces dropping and that Ho’s prestige and popularity waning. If Chi Commies did not directly invade De Lattre felt utterly confident that in one year he wld have completely eradicated VM from South Vietnam and completely freed and secured Tonkin Delta and that by spring 1953 VM revolt wld have been stamped out.
Sent Dept 1016, rptd info Paris 399.
- Tran Van Tuyen, former Secretary of State for the Presidency.↩
- Not printed.↩
- In telegram 1030, November 14, Heath reported on the Huu–de Lattre meeting of the previous day. The telegram concluded as follows: “My impression was that Huu thinks he has patched up truce with De Lattre which he hopes to develop into more permanent harmony. Doubt, however, that De Lattre has changed his opinion or intentions regarding Huu which reported in mytel 1016 of Nov 13.” (751G.13/11–1451)↩