147. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1
3626. During recent consultations in Washington of Ambassador Lodge following outline was basis for highest level discussions of elections and political development and its contents generally agreed upon. Outline, entitled “Principles Governing U.S. Operations Concerning Elections and Constitutional Assembly in South Viet-Nam,” is transmitted herewith FYI and for your general guidance.
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A. General Principles of U.S. Action
The U.S. Mission should seek to exert maximum influence toward the achievement of the substantive objectives stated in B below. At the same time, this must be done with recognition that a key objective is to avoid anti-Americanism becoming a major issue; we shall be accused of interference in any event, but it is vitally important not to give potential anti-American elements (or the press and outside observers) any clear handle to hit us with.
B. Objectives
- 1.
- Elections should be held as announced by GVN on April 15th, that is by September 15 of this year.
- 2.
- The issue of anti-Americanism should be kept out of the election campaign as far as possible.
- 3.
- The question as to whether the constitutional assembly will only have the role of drafting the constitution or will have some further function should not be allowed to become an active pre-election issue and the U.S. should take no position on this question.
- 4.
- The elections should be conducted so as to produce a constitutional assembly fairly representing the various regions and groups within South Viet-Nam (except those actively participating with the Viet Cong), including the Army, Montagnards, Khmer minorities, et al.
- 5.
- The elections should be conducted so as to gain a maximum improvement in the image of the GVN in the United States and internationally; this calls for a wide turnout, scrupulously correct conduct of the voting and counting process, as little political limitation on voter eligibility as possible and vigorous efforts to avoid voter intimidation from any [Page 404] quarter. Ideas to be explored are a brief election period ceasefire, international observation of the elections, students participating as poll watchers, etc.
- 6.
- The emphasis in the campaign should be on the selection of good men to draft the constitution; political parties are not expected to play a major role although the campaign may provide the occasion for laying foundations for future party organization. We will wish to work quietly with selected promising candidates all across the political spectrum in the expectation that some will be elected to the assembly and provide useful continuing contacts.
- 7.
- Unless new developments change our assessment, major efforts should be devoted not to stimulating the formation of a large nationalist party but rather to the adoption of the concept that these elections bring together all non-communist groups who are pledged, among other things, to their countryʼs independence and the continuing need to defend it with American help. Specifically, efforts should not be made to split the Buddhists or isolate the militant Buddhist faction.
- 8.
- The election process should be a vehicle for educating and engaging the population in the democratic process and it should be used to launch political and psychological initiatives with youth groups, students, labor, etc.
- 9.
- Restore as far as possible the unity of the Directorate and promote a reconciliation between Generals Ky and Thi. However, discourage efforts by the Directorate to form a government party designed purely to perpetuate the Directorate in power to the exclusion of other significant political groups. End Text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 14 VIET S. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Helble, cleared by Miller, and approved by Unger.↩