751G.00/8–2754: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France1
priority
733. Department profoundly disturbed at general trend of developments set forth Saigon telegrams 751, 752, 753, 758 and 759.2 Department generally approves views expressed by Ambassador Heath to Ely and commends him for prompt forthright expression thereof.
[Page 1994]Department requests Ambassador Dillon express orally following views to Mendes-France or LaChambre:
“Department of State deeply disturbed at reports that French authorities in Indochina apparently actively encouraging change of government there. Such activities contradict repeated assertions by Mendes-France and LaChambre regarding independence of Vietnam. If carried out such projects will destroy confidence Vietnamese in their true independence. Department trusts reports do not reflect French Government’s intentions.”
Ambassador Heath authorized to make similar statement to Ely. In addition Heath may make known to appropriate Vietnamese as well as to Ely that while US Govt. respects right of Vietnamese to select their own leaders, choice of a person such as Huu identified with idea of coalition government with Vietminh would make it impossible for us to request US Congress for assistance to free Vietnamese Government which we desire to render.
Department fully concurs with Heath’s statements to Diem regarding need for broadening base and improving efficiency his government. In addition to arrangements with sects which Diem apparently believes to be politically necessary and desirable, it would be Department’s hope that he would give favorable consideration to bringing into government other persons of proven ability and patriotism. Department cannot judge from here regarding availability such persons as Quat, Huyen, Buu Loc, and perhaps even Tam.
In discussing activities of sects with their representatives or with other Vietnamese Heath authorized to state that coup d’état against Diem would produce most unfortunate effect in US including serious doubts as to stability and prospects of free Vietnam and that it is our confident hope that patriotic Vietnamese will find peaceful means of adapting their government to needs and objectives of present situation through cooperation of all constructive elements determined to see that Vietnam remains free. US desires most earnestly to cooperate with those elements.
- Drafted by Bonsal of PSA. Also sent to Saigon as priority telegram 811.↩
- For telegram 751 of Aug. 26, see p. 1984; regarding telegram 752 of Aug. 26, see footnote 1, p. 1989; telegram 753 of Aug. 26 is not printed; for telegram 758 of Aug. 26, see p. 1985; and for telegram 759, Aug. 27, see p. 1988.↩