751G.001/4—1051: Circular airgram
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic and Consular Offices 1
There is transmitted herewith Saigon’s telegram 1751 of April 1 to the Department.
“Although FBIS yesterday cabled fol text leaflet found on Saigon Streets yesterday afternoon, unusual importance message justifies direct consideration by Dept:
‘To all classes of Vietnamese people, day of the gen counteroffensive has come.
‘Whole people of Vietnam, from towns to countryside, from north to south, have heartily and eagerly participated and supported our movement to switch over to the gen counteroffensive to drive Fr aggressors from our country and to fight against greedy and merciless Americans who are watching for opportunity invade our Vietnamese land.
‘Compatriots, don’t hesitate, opportune time has come. Battle has begun. And with aid and support Russian Red Army and that of new China, Fr enemies have been heavily defeated in Cao Bang, Bac Giang and Langson fronts. We have completely liberated these areas.
‘Facing glorious successes of our people and soldiers, facing heavy attacks of our people and soldiers on entire Indochina territory, Fr puppets and American imperialists are confused and frightened, that is why they have sent their mil chiefs to Indochina to study mil sitn and to aid puppets to slaughter our compatriots. But they cannot do so because we have formidable forces of the Russian Red Army and those of new China to help us free Vietnam from Fr and Amer colonialism and imperialism.
‘Compatriots, opportune time has come, let us rise altogether at same time to realize with govt of the People’s Republic of Vietnam aspirations of whole peoples; to free our people from colonialism and imperialism.
‘Down with the Fr and Americans.
‘Down with Bao Dai and his followers.
‘Long live democratic spirit.
‘Success to revolution of proletariat.’
This morning Fr intelligence confirmed genuineness leaflet as Viet Minh product.
Refs to Sov and Chi Army as well as intensified action tone seem consonant with organizational changes producing new Workers Party Vietnam.”
You should watch for USIS guidance on the use of this information, and in your discretion you may bring the contents of this airgram to the attention of government officials in your area.
[Page 416]It will be recalled that the Department has for some time sought to encourage the recognition of the governments of the three Associated States in Indochina by non-European nations. There has heretofore also been considerable reluctance upon the part of Southeast Asia and South Asian countries to accept the fact that the Viet Minh have actually been a pawn of Russian colonialism rather than a truly nationalist movement. The leaflet quoted should be useful in seeking to correct the point of view of these States.
- Sent to the Embassies in India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Burma, Thailand, the Philippines, and China (Taipei), to the Consulate at Singapore, and to the U.S. Political Adviser in Japan.↩