Telegram from Donald Heath to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State h TELEGRAPH BRANCH 5 seat SECRET DIR A Control: 13154 DEP DIR Action SMDA Rec'd: July 30, 195 OFF MM FROM: Saigon 11:02 p.m ASST EX B Info the ADMIN SS TO: Secretary of State LEGAL PUB REL G P NO: 130, July 30, 8 p.m. BUDGET DECLASSIFIED EUR STAT E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 FE AMP OLI TOMAP State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 OPER CIA By Dars NLT, Date 16-18-8- P&P AAN ERSKINE SENDS. FILE DCL DCR Departed Saigon 1035, 24 July with Melby, members mission, Ministers and others. Arrived Tourane 1250, expecting to have brief conference with officials and see harbor facili- ties. Nothing accomplished because officials devoted entire attention to Ministers. Departed 1555 and arrived Hanoi 1845. Received by large impressive ceremonies and guard of honor which formed at 1700 to receive the party. On schedule arranged by officials in Hanoi departed for Haiphong 0800. Arrived Haiduong 0930 where party received with great ceremony which included guard of° honor, civil officials formed in ranks, village guards paraded and forma- tions school children waving small paper Vietnam and US flags. Almost every house flew Vietnam, French or US flags. I asked one child about eight years old what flag she held. She did not know. Departure route was circuitous through Chinese section city with all the ceremonies of a political parade acting Commanding General of the with area of Indo China I protested to General Marchand, my car campanion, about h exploiting mission politically. He stated it was important to have people see us and know we were there to help French and that the people and French liked that sort of thing. I still consider such exploitation mission unwise. Believe people will interpret these ceremonies either that Santa Claus has arrived and they can expect full stockings at early date or that Americans have arrived to help French keep detested military heel down on native population. Some natives heard using French slang expression for Santa Claus. Arrived Haiphong 1115. Received with impressive and colorful guards of honor. Scheduled visits included thirty minutes visit cement factory, fifteen minutes each for port, military base, navy yard. Three hours devoted to formal lunch and speeches. Military group completely submerged by political functions. HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY Expressed cheor Caolet SECRET REPRODUCTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS PROHIBITED