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

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

Saigon, October 25, 1962, noon.

456. For Secretary Harriman from Nolting. References: Departmentʼs telegram 466² and previous. I used occasion of presenting Presidentʼs message on Cuba³ to Diem to urge upon him again importance to GVN as well as us of his finding a way to continue diplomatic relations with Laos. I had previously worked again on Thuan and Nhu to this end. Thuanʼs previous cryptic word (Embassyʼs telegram 449)⁴ had been watered down by him in subsequent report to effect that GVN now seeking “middle position”. This turned out to be leaving of Laotian Embassy in Saigon and cutting back to consular representation in Vientiane in event DRV Ambassador accredited. I told Diem that this would not satisfy requirements as we saw them, since consular representative in Laos would not be in position to help with diplomatic influence on RLG and RLG would doubtless not leave its embassy in Saigon under these circumstances. I used President Kennedyʼs great and heavy responsibilities involving world peace, as reflected in decision re Cuba, as yet another reason why Diem as ally should support US and our President on Laos. I put this to him as strongly as I could without indicating any thought of withdrawal of support or infringement GVN sovereign right of decision. I asked Diem not to come to a decision immediately but to think it over yet again in the light of what I had said on instructions. He did not seem as adamant as previously, but did say that he thought that he had gone quite far, and as far as he could go, to accommodate our views. He added that he had no desire to undermine the agreement on Laos, although he had little faith in its outcome; but he also was determined not to undermine the will and rationale of the Vietnamese people by seeming to ignore an action on part RLG weakening to SVN relative to DRV. I cannot say what final result will be.⁵

Nolting

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 651J.51K/10-2562. Secret. Repeated to Vientiane.
2. Document 307.
3. For text of President Kennedyʼs proclamation, October 23, interdicting delivery of offensive weapons to Cuba, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, pp. 410-412.
4. See footnote 4, Document 307.
5. On November 8 the North Vietnamese Ambassador presented his credentials. The following day the Government of the Republic of Vietnam issued a communiqué stating that in view of the accreditation, its Embassy in Vientiane would “cease to function.” (Telegram 499 from Saigon, November 9; Department of State, Central Files, 6511.51K/11-962)