Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume II, Vietnam, 1962

158. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State¹

Saigon, April 16, 1962—8 p.m.

1309. Sihanoukʼs reiterated public urgings of international conference on Vietnam cause us growing concern. We believe that, unless prompt action is taken to put forth United States position of opposition to such conference, our political position vis-à-vis GVN will be impaired and, even more importantly, confidence of Vietnamese people and armed forces in United States support in war with Viet Cong may begin to waver.

Carefully nurtured efforts over past year by President Kennedyʼs statements and letters to Diem, Vice President Johnsonʼs visit to Vietnam and Taylor-Rostow mission to maintain confidence of Vietnamese in United States may well be brought to naught unless this move toward international conference on Vietnam is spiked as far as United States is concerned. Sihanoukʼs frequent headway to draw analogy between conference on Laos and conference he pushing on Vietnam is very thing most likely to raise serious doubts in Vietnamese minds about future United States intentions.

We believe therefore as a minimum United States should (a) make clear to Sihanouk its opposition to international conference on Vietnam (realizing that position conveyed to Sihanouk will almost certainly be made public by him) and (b) inform Diem what we are telling Sihanouk. We believe for sake our position among Vietnamese people and armed forces as well as to show international opinion clearly our stand on this issue it would be preferable for United States to make its own position public immediately after informing Diem and Sihanouk.

We recommend substance United States position be as follows:

1. Only issue for current discussion re Vietnam is cessation of aggression by Communist regime of North Vietnam against people and legally constituted government of South Vietnam. United States is quite prepared discussion this issue bilaterally through diplomatic channels with appropriate countries (meaning UK and USSR but without saying so publicly) in order make clear that its extraordinary military assistance measures to Republic of Vietnam will cease once guerrilla war in South Vietnam directed and supported by Communist regime in Hanoi has come to halt.

2. Since this is only issue for discussion and United States message on this score can be conveyed through bilateral channels to those whom it concerns, there is no reason at all in United States view to consider calling international conference on Vietnam and United States does not intend to consider matter further.

3. International conference already held on Vietnam at Geneva in 1954 agreed on cease-fire in Vietnam. United States and GVN have consistently respected this provision for sake of maintenance of peace. It is however Communist regime of North Vietnam which by its guerrilla war against Republic of Vietnam has upset the peace and stability established in Vietnam by the international conference held in 1954. There is no point whatsoever in convening a new international conference on Vietnam involving Communist regime in North Vietnam since it is violating basic purpose of Geneva Conference of 1954—re-establishment of peace in Vietnam.

4. As for idea neutralizing of South Vietnam sometimes bruited about, it is evident that peace of Vietnam and of Southeast Asia would be much better assured if it were North Vietnam that were neutralized since it is present Communist regime in that area that has upset the peace.

Nolting

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/4-1662. Secret; Priority. Repeated Phnom Penh, CINCPAC for Polad, London, Paris, Bangkok, Vientiane, Geneva for FECON, Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila, New Delhi, Ottawa, and Moscow. In a memorandum of April 17, Bagley informed Taylor that President Kennedy was interested in the view of the Department of State on this telegram and that Harrimanʼs initial reaction was not to make the public repudiation suggested by Nolting, but rather to inform Sihanouk privately that the United States opposed a conference. (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, T-132-69)