751G.00/4–2553: Telegram
The Chargé at Saigon (McClintock) to the Department of State
2003. Repeated information Paris 310, Hanoi 252. President last night, requesting that his information be kept most secret, said that municipal elections of January revealed but scant support for Bao Dai and that it was for this reason that Emperor is so reluctant to see further elections in Vietnam. However, Tam proposes to go ahead with village elections for areas recently restored from Viet Minh control and then intends to hold provincial elections as an essential intermediate step toward national elections, which would have object of returning a constituent assembly.
Tam leaves next week on his tour of provinces (Embtel 1989, April 23, repeated Paris 301).1 He said that irrespective of Bao Dai’s wishes his land reform program was so well launched and had aroused such popular enthusiasm that Emperor would have no choice but to sign necessary decree.
Tam spoke with extreme candor and gave me definite impression that he is feeling less and less under Bao Dai’s thumb.
- Telegram 1989 from Saigon. Apr. 23, not printed, described a conversation between Chargé McClintock and Cheysson, French diplomatic adviser to President Tam. (751G.00/4–2353)↩