751G.5/7–2652: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
219. Rptd info Paris 53, Hanoi unn. DefMin Nghiem Van Tri called upon me today to request US Govt assistance in purchase by Viet Govt of two Beechcraft airplanes (see Embtel 218)1 I took this opportunity to sound him out on army and mil matters.
Tri stated he had been extremely busy straightening out certain matters in his Ministry. Development of Viet natl army had not progressed in as logical a fashion as cld be wished and there were wrinkles notably in admin and service sectors.
Tri asserted his aim is two-fold; to develop a regular army and a guerrilla force. He laid considerable stress on latter declaring Viet Minh had both and it was imperative that guerrillas be fought with guerrilla methods. Tri wishes to estab guerrilla training schools. To my question whether Fr were not in process training guerrillas he replied Fr efforts being directed toward developing commando type units. Tri‘s intentions appeared to be to develop units more along native lines. He implied Fr were in accord with his plans but did not give categorical affirmative answer. He indirectly indicated that one of major problems in creating effective Viet armed force is instilling morale comparable to that of Viet Minh.
[Page 225]Re possibility of expediting development Viet Natl Army Tri explained that principle obstacles are lack of funds and equip. So far as 1952 is concerned no expansion was possible. It wld be possible to make a significant increase in 1953 provided US were able to contribute increased equip and Fr or US cld provide finan aid required. In a sense, however, it is already too late for 1953 programming completed and wld be difficult to amend. I pointed out that it was always possible to obtain consideration of a revised prog if policy considerations made this desirable to which he concurred.
Speaking of Viet war effort Tri said that financial burden on Vietnam is very heavy even the level of living and comfort of troops very low. However Vietnam wld not shirk its responsibilities and it is contemplated that 1953 Viet mil budget wld be approx 58 mil dols or 50 percent of entire budget. This wld represent 18 percent increase over this year’s mil budget. Describing his shortage of funds, he said at present he had no money with which to build mil schools and camps or estab facilities for equip repair. One advantage of guerrilla type org was its relative inexpensiveness.
To ques re status VM morale Tri made revealing admission he unable speak authoritatively since Viet natl army has no intell service. He remarked that dependence on Fr mil intell is one of most serious gaps in Viet mil org. He also touched on ques of Vietnam having mil att in Wash but asserted there is no qualified Viet officer who cld presently be spared for this job.
Comment: Tri obviously much taken with his Viet guerrilla proj which he termed still very secret. He is undoubtedly encountering admin and finan difficulties but apparently approaching his job with industry and earnestness of purpose which is encouraging. I observed that it was fortunate that for first time Vietnam had DefMin who was giving his full time to task development natl army.
- Telegram 218 from Saigon, July 26, is not printed.↩