751G.00/9–1153: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
432. Repeated information Paris 118, Hanoi unnumbered. President Tam returned from Paris yesterday evening. There was record turn-out [Page 795] at airport and by no means all of those present were there because of orders or pressing “invitations” from government. Doctor Tan, director of Vietnam Presse, told me that many had come out because they thought that Tam’s political stock was rising again.
I saw Tam this morning. He seemed to have recaptured his customary optimism and self-confidence. He thought the idea of Congress was bad one but, since idea had been launched, he was confident he could organize and manage it so it did not go off the rails. Bao Dai and his advisers who had decided on the convocation of this Congress had become frightened by recent scarcely veiled anti-Bao Dai sentiments voiced by some of nationalist proponents of Congress in Vietnam. Tam intimated without directly saying so that in face of this development Bao Dai was very glad that Tam was still heading government.
Tam had suggested to Bao Dai that Congress be chosen from among 3,000 municipal and village councillors elected last January. Bao Dai had vetoed that suggestion. Tam had then insisted on written instructions from Bao Dai outlining the scope and functions of Congress. Bao Dai had given him these instructions which included fact that Congress should consist of 200 members selected from among political parties and these very religious groups. Although Bao Dai had instructed him to organize Congress with least possible delay, Tam had no sooner reached Saigon than he found telegram from Imperial Cabinet directing him to postpone preparations until decree setting up Congress could be issued by Imperial Council. Tam told me he was disregarding this instruction, which he felt was result of some “intriguing” by Buu Loc who is shortly to arrive here to help him form Congress.
Delay would give anti-Bao Dai and anti-government forces time to start intriguing and plotting.
Tam said he had no fear at all that Congress would develop into movement for revolutionary change or forum for anti-French sentiments. He said he would allow widest representation in Congress but that he would inform members clearly from start that there were two things on which they must take no action and only one function for them to perform. They must not take action on subject of independence since that had been accorded by French declaration of July 3. They must take no action on question of Vietnam’s membership in French Union because that had been decided affirmatively by Bao Dai. He would allow expression of individual views on question of independence and membership in French Union but it was beyond competence of this Congress to adopt formal resolution or recommendations on these subjects. Task of Congress was to agree on panel of 20 Vietnamese from whom Bao Dai could select members of his delegation to negotiate new arrangements with France. He said to me that if Congress got out of hand, attempted to become constitutional convention [Page 796] or agitated against government he would not hesitate to use military and police power to dissolve it. He felt confident that no such action would be necessary.