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    "label": "Telegram from Donald Heath to Secretary of State Dean Acheson",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Telegram from Donald Heath to Secretary of State Dean Acheson",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 30,
            "logicalDate": "1950-07-30",
            "month": 7,
            "year": 1950
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    "ocrText": "SUCHAP\n-2-#130, July 30, 8 pomog from Saigon\nExpressed my extreme displeasure to General Marchand who stated\nschedule had been arranged accordance desires of Saigon.\nInformed Marchand that my observations up to that time led\nme to believe that French in north area were more interested\nin ceremonies, political parades and social functions than\nin fighting dissidents and that many of the troops used in\nhonor guards and ceremonies should be in field eliminating\nViet-minh. Further that unless I was given opportunity to\nsee installations and discuss matters with troop commanders,\nI would return to Saigon and report my impressions to my\ngovernment. Marchand seemed shocked and stated schedule was\nprepared by administration officials and implied he had not\nbeen consulted He promised more satisfactory schedules in\nfuture.\nScheduled briefing by General Marchand and sector commanders\ncancelled due to long lunch period.\nDid manage with Marchand's guidance to make hasty visit to\nmilitary base, navy yard, supply depot, and ordnance shop\nbut saw little due to lunch period and siesta time for work-\nmen. Sector commander expressed his disappointment at not\nbeing able to give me briefing and discuss his situation\nbecause he had just completed a 20-day operation in which 150\nVM's were captured with 23 machine guns, 4 mortars and large\nnumber small arms.\nDuring conversations with Marchand he stated:\nA. He could clear up Tonkin state by January 1951 if so\nordered but VM would only move into Laos, Annam, and China.\nB. Now committed to send two or three battalions to Annam\narea in near future.\nC. That Vietnamese troops are no good without French leaders.\nD. That Viet -minh activity in delta areas now limited to\nnight raids to forage, distribute grenades and propaganda, and\nplant mines and boobytraps. That French now using night\npatrols Vietnamese troops with French officers to counter this\nactivity.\nMelby has seen.\nHARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRHEATH\nCEI:CEI\n1\nSECRET"
}