Office of the Historian

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

Saigon, February 26, 1962—6 p.m.

1088. Eyes only Secretary from Nolting. Ref Deptel 1015.2 Thank you for your message. I shall proceed on basis you outline, and am confident Gen. Harkins and I can work together successfully assuming [Page 176] our respective day-to-day instructions are consistent. In this connection, the more we can think and speak of Viet-Nam struggle in its present phase in terms of “pacification of the country and winning the allegiance of the people” as contrasted with “winning the war”, the more we will find success, in my judgment.

I appreciate very much the Presidentʼs and your own expressions of confidence, and warmly reciprocate them.

Nolting
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/1-2662. Secret; Priority. A note on the source text in U. Alexis Johnsonʼs handwriting reads: “No action required. Shown to Gov. Harriman.”↩
  2. Document 82.↩