851G.00/5–446: Telegram
The Consul at Saigon (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 5—6:48 a.m.]
144. Outbreak of terrorist activities in last few days in area round Saigon culminated yesterday in assassination Dr. Thach, member of Cochin China Consultative Council (not the Thach expelled from Dalat conference) who voted Cochin China should join Vietnam but killed evidently because friendly with French. Cochin Chinese [Page 40] friends say they are becoming afraid to talk to French as that may make them target for attacks.
French have retaliated with wholesale arrests and burning houses, villages where terrorists may have shelter.