PERSONS/ENTITIES: Lodge, Ambassador Henry Cabot
DATES: 11 Sept 1963
CATEGORIES: DIEM

OCCURRENCE: In a state telegram from Saigon (SAIG478) Lodge provided the following reflection on the situation: "My best estimate of the current situation in Vietnam is (a) that it is worsening rapidly; (b) the time has arrived for the U.S. to use what effective sanctions it has to bring about the fall of the existing government and the installation of another; and (c) that intensive study should be given by the best brains of the government to all the details, procedures and variants in connection with suspension of aid."

SOURCE: IG Report 1967 (CIA) p. 21
STAFF: Dawson
FILE: DATE: 6/27/75

PERSONS/ENTITIES: McCone, Colby, Kennedy, John F., McNamara, Lodge
DATES: 11 Sept 63
CATEGORIES: DIEM

OCCURRENCE: In a Presidential meeting on Vietnam with the CIA participants being McCone and Colby the record by Colby reflects that McNamara pointed out that Lodge has little contact with Diem and has not been out of Saigon. Mr. McCone concurred that he believed that we should move cautiously, that we should talk seriously to Diem and that Lodge should be urged to visit the countryside to obtain a more realistic view of the effects of suspending aid. Mr. McCone also suggested that another approach be made to Nhu to seek his cooperation in departure. The President asked whether we had carefully studied the detail effects of cuts in aid (as proposed in a paper prepared by Hilsman). It was evident that the effects had not been studied. The President asked DOD and CIA to analyze the Hilsman paper. He also asked that a telegram be sent to Lodge asking him to try to reduce press leakage from Saigon and to establish some real contact with Diem. Any current plans for aid negotiation should be stalled, and the President should be well informed of any steps taken in this connection such as the recent CIA movement to Colby last week.