Office of the Historian

367. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, December 16, 1963—7:25 p.m.

949. Saigon 63 to Paris, 1164 to Dept.2 Re report that General Dinh is so concerned over Sihanouk’s conference proposal that he is considering how to “accommodate himself to a neutral solution for Viet-Nam.” As precautionary measure it seems to us useful to make special effort to reassure Dinh and others who may also be concerned. Nothing is further from USG mind than “neutral solution for Viet-Nam.” We intend to win. Secondly, as we have said, we are not going to attend conference unless positive gains for South Viet-Nam can be achieved, such as effective action to seal border.

Ball
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 S VIET. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Conlon, cleared by Harriman, and approved by Hilsman. Repeated to Paris for Rusk and to CINCPAC for POLAD.↩
  2. In this telegram, December 16, sent from Saigon to Paris and repeated to Washington, the Embassy expressed hope that Rusk, who was attending the North Atlantic Council Ministerial Session at Paris, December 16-17, would meet with the Vietnamese Ambassador-designate to Great Britain, Vu Van Mau, and reassure him that the United States was not considering a neutral solution for Vietnam. (Ibid.) The meeting apparently did not take place, given the Secretary’s schedule and other direct assurances to the Vietnamese.↩