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

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

Saigon, January 5, 1962, 7 p.m.

892. Ref: Deptel 838.² Following is summary actions taken by GVN to implement memo of understanding contained Embtel 756.³

A) National Internal Security Council: no further information since Embtel 834.⁴

B) Military Command Structure.

1) Dec 28 Thuan indicated to Ambassador and McGarr general acceptance of necessity for Naval and Air Force representation on the Joint General Staff, though he stressed personnel shortage would limit size of representation for immediate future.

2) Assignment of MAAG (Civil Guard) advisors to sector commanders (Military Province Chiefs) has begun.

C) Intelligence.

1) Following transfer of NPSS to CIO, latter has given priority to organizing and overhauling police and security services. however with US assistance good quality weekly intelligence syntheses will begin appearing January 15. …

. . . . . . .

3) Assignment US military intelligence advisors awaiting availability of personnel.

[D)] Joint provincial surveys: pilot project involving provinces in Saigon area began December 28 with Tay Ninh. Second province scheduled be surveyed beginning January 8.

E) Border Ranger Force. December 28 Thuan said 35 Ranger Companies could not be released for border Ranger force. However, stated II Corps Commander has ten Ranger companies available for border patrol. An additional six Ranger companies now training could also be used, and it possible Montagnard companies could augment Rangers for border patrol. In meantime MAAG learned II Corps Commander plans use 10 of his 11 presently assigned Ranger companies and considerable portion 3,000 recently recruited Montagnards to form special battalions for operations in remote areas. Therefore, there no certainty Ranger forces will be made available solely for border operations in near future, though one of several missions these special battalions would be border patrol.

F) Military Coordination.

1) American helicopter, SEA patrol and Air Force units have for some time been working in coordination with Vietnamese forces. Coordination has been satisfactory and no problems have arisen.

2) On Dec 28 Thuan agreed to proposed joint tactical air control system and to introduction of the necessary equipment

3) GVN has agreed to assignment of five MAAG advisors per battalion.

G) Administration. No additional US advisors have yet been requested to serve with GVN civil agencies … .

H) In addition those contained pare 6 Embtel 756 following measures to broaden sense of popular participation in war effort have now been taken.

1) Wide range of economic measures announced by Vice President in Dec 30 press conference to put economy on sounder basis should have important austerity effect, hit upper classes harder than lower, and restrict availability luxury items.

2) National Economic Council, created in Dec, has been convened to meet on Jan 8.

3) Government has announced that henceforth only emergency or sick leave will be granted civil servants.

4) Government agencies recently instructed survey personnel needs with view making additional people available for duty in provinces.

5) Assembly debates on civil budget showed greater freedom of expression than in past. Speakers did not hesitate to cite government ministries for acts considered inefficient or wasteful, and several deputies flatly accused senior officials of unethical or immoral conduct. Unfortunately, this expansion of assemblyʼs role comes at time when public taking more than usually dim view of body as result passage social purification bill.

6) Constitutional Court, another recently created institution, has for first time received (limited) funds for activities. This constitutional review body will probably hear first case this year.

7) Military training program for government employees announced late December. Program now getting under way in Saigon area. City also being divided into “self defense” sectors with groups local Republican youth groups responsible for patrol and possible defensive actions.

I) Measures to develop more contacts between government and people. As in years past President spent Christmas in countryside, this time visiting two remote ARVN posts and island off coast never before visited by Chief of State. Recent acquisition two small helicopters should increase capabilities for informal travel.

J) Develop more effective information service.

1) Recent appointment well and favorably known Dang Duc Khoi as special presidential press liaison officer big step forward this field. Initial reactions of American journalists highly favorable.

2) Official VN Presse coverage security situation has improved in quality and credibility.

3) Civic Action Ministry established special information and civic action teams several SVN provinces. USIS info indicates these having good effect.

K) Bring non-communist prisoners promptly to trial. No developments.

L) Develop and announce an amnesty policy. Early in Dec Assistant SecState for National Defense generally approved an ARVN amnesty plan which had been submitted several months earlier. Plan now being translated for Task Force Saigon assessment.

M) Development of democratic institutions. See above.

Nolting

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/1-562. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC for Polad and to Bangkok. At the top of the first page, presumably in Woodʼs handwriting, was: “COT [Sterling J. Cottrell]-IMPT Answer to Taylorʼs Query re Progress on Joint Agree. W” No record of Taylorʼs request has been found, but telegram 838 to Saigon, January 3, requested a summary of Vietnamese actions in response to the Joint Memorandum of Understanding for discussions with Ambassador Nolting when he arrived on January 5. (Ibid., 75 l K.00/12-462)
2. See footnote 1 above.
3. Telegram 756 from Saigon transmitted the Joint Memorandum of Understanding, December 4, 1961; see the enclosure to Noltingʼs letter to Diem, Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, vol. I, Document 307.
4. See Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, vol. I, Document 332.