751G.13/11–1051: Telegram
The Minister at Saigon (Heath) to the Secretary of State
1006. Huu sent for me yesterday. I listened uncomfortably for an hour to his criticism De Lattre’s action and complaints De Lattre’s criticisms of himself.
[Page 541]Huu evidently worried, puzzled, and seeking gain sympathy, if not an ally, in his difficulties with De Lattre. De Lattre, he said, indulging in open criticism Huu’s admin to Hanoi visitors and even foreign correspondents and this criticism known in Saigon. It not, Huu said, way HICOM shld behave toward chief govt. If he had complaints he shld make them discreetly and direct. De Lattre had complained, according to Huu, that latter had enjoyed too good press in France and was saying to all comers it because Huu had “given millions” to French publications. Huu implied this nonsense but refrained from any specific denial that he had distributed largesse to Fr press.
Alleged that De Lattre also complained his home-coming reception less impressive than Huu’s. Huu said that inevitable. People wld not turn out in same numbers for Fr general as they wld for their own govt. In fact, he boasted, chief of police had refused let all people who wanted attend line streets because of danger infiltration VM terrorists. Even so, there people all way from airport to presidential palace.
De Lattre had acted unwisely and improperly in making his speech extolling necessity and virtues Bao Dai and this without advance consultation with Huu. If cause of monarchy to be promoted it not for foreign general to launch campaign. Here Huu showed his anti-monarchial, possibly anti-Bao Dai, leanings by saying that people of Vietnam advanced politically beyond stage of powerful monarchy. Huu’s Socialist friends in France had complained to him about continuance of Bao Dai as Chief State and he had replied to them that they must accept it as necessary transitional apparatus. When peace came Viet people wld themselves decide. He remarked that it was, of course, conceivable Viet people might decide in favor of limited Constitutional Monarchy.
He complained that De Lattre had rather rudely urged him to leave Washington immed after former’s arrival. Huu said that he had planned stay “incognito” two or three days and during that time it wld have been very proper for De Lattre to have taken him to meet General Collins and other personalities in Dept of Defense. De Lattre had told him, however, that Amer Govt wished Huu leave Washington during De Lattre’s visit. I interrupted here to say that, of course, he knew that neither I nor any other Amer official had suggested he leave Washington during Gen De Lattre’s visit but I felt called upon to say that it might well have been somewhat embarrassing for Huu if he had stayed. While De Lattre not guest of US Govt but of Joint Chiefs Staff in recognition his services as allied commander during World War II, his visit and publicity had been aranged long in advance. Huu’s visit unplanned and unexpected. In gen, Fon Mins visit foreign capitals only when advance arrangements had been taken to insure there wld be no competition with other visiting personalities or official events.
[Page 542]Planned program and publicity for De Lattre’s visit and inevitable lack public attention on Huu due to absence of Secy State and other high officials during Hun’s unplanned visit might have been found invidious by Huu and Viets.
Huu very carefully refrained, I thought, from recounting De Lattre’s allegations of Huu’s alleged appropriation secret funds of several mils which he heads, and I naturally refrained, at this juncture, from bringing up at his charge. I told Huu that in my last conversation week ago De Lattre had expressed anxiety over progress of mobilization but had quite clearly intimated to me his opinion that Huu shld continue at this time to preside over govt. I then went on to say that while I had been glad report that Huu’s Govt had extended its auth and had achieved increased public support, that my Govt which contributing substantially to defense and econ and social needs Vietnam, concerned over fact that Viet Govt had not yet published budget. My govt also concerned over fact that Huu retaining so many ministerial portfolios in his own hands. This very heavy load for him and not, we thought, in interests good admin. Huu passed over my remark about absence budget but said, unenthusiastically that while there had been difficulties in finding suitable candidates for ministerial posts that perhaps now with increased prestige his admin he might be able appoint Mins to portfolios he now holds. I added that even appointment of capable Secy Gen of Defense Min wld be step in right direction. I concluded my observations by saying that it very unpleasant position for me to be in middle of misunderstanding between French Viets; that it necessity such hour for Fr reps and Viet Govt and US, as contribute both to Fr and Viet forces, to work very loyally and frankly together. I trusted that he and De Lattre wld be able iron out any misunderstandings. Huu replied that there no “misunderstandings”. De Lattre’s criticisms intentional but he not sure just what De Lattre aiming at. Perhaps, he said, De Lattre building up excuse to retire from IC. Huu said that De Lattre’s habit of threatening, when things not going way he wanted, that he wld throw up his command and High Commissionership. I said I doubted that was De Lattre’s intention.
Sent Dept 1006, rptd info Paris 396.