220. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Reinhardt) to the Department of State1

44. 1. Foreign Minister Vu Van Mau showed me this afternoon July 5 draft of declaration Prime Minister Diem intends to make at noon tomorrow over radio. Draft consisted of two pages of which four-fifths was exposition reasons why Vietnam was not bound by Geneva Accords. Remaining fifth was well-buried statement that government believed in unification and democratic institution of elections provided they were absolutely free. I took position this was very negative document, that it was much less satisfactory than outline he had given me last week (Saigon 6040 to Department repeated Paris 1506, London 55, Ottawa 11, New Delhi 41, Phnom Penh, Vientiane unnumbered2) and would make poor impression abroad. I explained at some length why such a declaration should have an affirmative character and suggested it would be well to add a statement of government’s intention hold elections for a representative assembly in South in near future. Mau said he would convey my suggestions to Diem.

2. When I saw Diem this evening, I repeated to him argument I had made to Mau. Diem, after giving me the standard line about importance of not injuring Vietnamese public opinion by in any way seeming to accept Geneva Accords, ended by saying that Mau had transmitted to him my suggestions, and he found them interesting.

Only tomorrow will tell to what extent, if any, this exercise has succeeded in modifying the proposed statement.3

3. During course of day, Mau had similarly called in British Ambassador, Australian Minister and French Political Counselor. Stephenson was very upset by document but particularly because it contained nothing on subject of consultations. He is seeing Diem tonight to convey his government’s strong view that Diem must take positive position toward this matter, as well as on general subject of Geneva elections. Australian received information without comment, but French representative’s reaction was similar to mine. He stressed [Page 476] to Mau importance of government not tying its hands and becoming frozen on a position which it could not subsequently abandon without loss of face. He is recommending that General Jacquot see Diem tonight and stress this aspect.

4. In reply Australian query, Mau said Diem has not yet made up mind about consultations and inter-zonal elections.

Reinhardt
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/7–555. Secret; Priority. Repeated for information to Paris, London, Ottawa, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.
  2. Document 217
  3. On the morning of July 6, Reinhardt saw Vu Van Mau and suggested the following revisions in Diem’s statement, scheduled for release noon that day: removal of detailed criticism of the Geneva Accords, an announcement of national elections in the South, and sequence and wording changes to highlight the positive. Reinhardt also suggested that Diem postpone making the statement. (Telegram 56 from Saigon, July 6; Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/7–655) Diem agreed to the postponement. (Telegram 65 from Saigon, July 6; ibid.)