Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part IV. A. 3.djvu/72

Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

TOP SECRET – Sensitive

	USFOTO 263 to Paris and Saigon, 24 Nov 54 (S); (Ely and Collins' strong recommendation that the FEC be maintained in Vietnam overcame reservations of military and diplomatic leaders in Washington that it be withdrawn. Washington's reasoning: civil war, not overt aggression, threatened Vietnam — and the FEC would not be used in a civil conflict; the immediate US objectives of restoring order in Vietnam and bolstering Diem were not furthered by the presence of French troops. Therefore the FEC is not worth the cost of its upkeep.)
73.	Paris Msg 2433, 8 Dec 54 (TS).
74.	Saigon Msgs 2250 (NIACT), 13 Dec 54 (TS); 2024, 30 Nov 54 (S); 2261, 142009ZDec54 (C); Paris 2601, 19 Dec 54 (TS).
75.	Paris Msg 2270, 31 Dec 54 (TS); Paris Msg 2870 (NIACT), 7 Jan 55 (TS); Deptel 2766 to Saigon, 7 Jan 55 (TS).
76.	Saigon Msg 2455, 25 Dec 54.(TS).
77.	Saigon Msgs 2660 (NIACT), 9 Jan 55 (TS); 2663, 101230ZJan55 (S); Paris Msg 2797, 3 Jan 55 (S).
78.	Saigon Msgs 2453, 24 Dec 54 (S); 2676, 10 Jan 55 (TS); 2876, 221940Z Jan 55 (S).
79.	Paris Msgs 3064, 20 Jan 55 (TS); 3195, 28 Jan 55 (TS); Deptel 2629 to Paris, 24 Jan 55 (TS); 2726 to Paris, 1 Feb 55 (TS); Saigon Msg 3343, 111757ZFeb55 (C). Franco–American cooperation often missing in other endeavors was fairly good in TRIM. Intrigues between French and U.S. personnel and French intrigues against Diem existed—but their interference with the task of directing and developing the VNA was not as great as it might have been. Even Lansdale—hardly an avid French supporter—says: "there was a job to be done", and credits some French officers for their competence and cooperating in doing the job. (SMM Report).
80.	Paris Msg 2601, 19 Dec 54 (TS).
81.	Paris Msg 2987, 14 Jan 55 (S).
82.	Saigon Msg 2250 (NIACT), 13 Dec 54 (TS).
83.	Ibid.
84.	Saigon Msg 2303 (NIACT), 16 Dec 54 (TS).
85.	Saigon Msg 2250, 13 Dec 54 (TS).
86.	Memorandum for Walter S. Robertson (Assistant Secretary of State for the Far East) from Ambassador Donald R. Heath; Subject: "Comments on Saigon Telegram 2303", 17 Dec 54 (TS).