751G.00/8–1354: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
565. Repeated information Paris 193. Limited distribution. Reference Paris telegram sent Saigon 35 repeated Department 420.1 Jacques [Page 1940] Raphael-Leygues called on me this morning. He said he was an old friend of Diem on whom he had called first. Last evening he had met various Vietnamese acquaintances including a representative of Binh Xuyen.
He said it was very evident from his contacts that a Junta was being formed to overthrow shortly Ngo Dinh Diem, with actual deposition of government effected by Binh Xuyen who control Security Police. Leygues said it was urgent for French Commissariat General and US Embassy to make clear to Hoa Haos and Cao Daists, but especially Binh Xuyen, that neither France nor US would recognize government proceeding from forcible overthrow of Diem government and that all aid would be refused to such a regime.
He said that, while Diem was neither a good politician nor an executive, he must be retained at head of, or at least in, any government because of his merited reputation for honesty and purity of ideals. Solution was for Diem to surround himself with stronger Cabinet and, immediately necessary, he would have to come to some terms with the sects. He urged me to warn Diem of danger confronting him and his government.
Among individuals engaged in promotion of this Junta, he named Tran Van An.
Leygues believes that Prince Buu Hoi, who is accompanying him on his mission, separately, arriving tomorow, will be able to give good advice to Diem, as well as to latter’s opponents. He said he did not know whether it would be practicable nor did he know whether Buu Hoi desired to take part in Diem’s government. He describes Buu Hoi as fiercely anti-Communist and now hated by Viet Minh, although in 1946 and for a time after when Viet Minh were more nationalist he was Ho Chi Minh’s “Cultural Counselor” in Paris.
At time we spoke we had not received news that Bao Dai had announced his early return to Vietnam. Leygues volunteered it would be disastrous for Bao Dai to return at this time. He said he would urge French Government to persuade Bao Dai to remain absent for time being, if indeed latter had any idea of returning.
Comment: Leygues’ news of formation of Junta to overthrow Diem government is, of course, what we have been reporting for some time (cf. Embtels 447, 489, 517).2 I do intend to warn Diem in stronger terms than I have used with him heretofore that he must hasten his negotiations with the sects and appoint a better government team with larger representation of south, which is only important region now left to Vietnam. I have already advised Cao Daists through General [Page 1941] Phuong (cf. Embtels 348 and 370)3 that any action or agitation against Diem government at this time would have a very bad reaction in US and abroad. I said same thing to Thuan, who a few months ago Bao Dai planned to appoint governor of south, when he came to inquire whether US was “supporting” Diem.
- See footnote 3, p. 1898.↩
- For telegram 517 from Saigon, Aug. 10, see p. 1932. Telegram 447, Aug. 4, and telegram 489, Aug. 7, are not printed. (751.0151G/8–454; 751G.00/8–754)↩
- Regarding telegram 348 from Saigon, July 28, see footnote 3, p. 1890. For telegram 370, July 29, see ibid.↩