NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
Copy 1 of 6.
21 Oct 1954
TO: Amembassy SAIGON
JOINT STATE-DEFENSE MESSAGE TO US AMBASSADOR SAIGON AND CHIEF OF US MAAG SAIGON
The following message contains the policy of the US Government and your instructions necessary to carry out paragraphs 10-a and 10-d, Part IV of NSC 5429/2:
PART I US Governmental Policy
(1) It is US Govt. policy to support the Government of Free Vietnam under the Premiership of Ngo Dinh Diem and to assist that Government initially (a) to promote internal security and political stability in Free Vietnam, (b) to establish and maintain control by that Government throughout the territory of Free Vietnam, and (c) effectively to counteract Viet Minh infiltration and paramilitary activities south of the 17th Parallel.
(2) For these purposes and utilizing existing Vietnamese armed forces, it is the policy of the US Govt. that all appropriate agencies and MAAG Saigon should immediately develop and initiate with the Vietnamese Government a program for training that number of Vietnamese armed forces necessary to carry
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