WHO'S BOSS IN VIET: CIA OR LODGE?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01009A000100050036-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2013
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: January 1, 1963
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/07/05: CIA-RDP80M01009A000100050036-5
Who's Boss
In Viet: CIA 1
Or Lodge? I
CIA Chief Recalled
SAIGON, Oct. 5 (UPI) .?John H. Richardson,
U.S. Central Intelligence chief in South Viet Nam,
flew to Washington today for "consultations," re-
liable American sources reported.
There was speculation that Mr. Richardson
was being called on the carpet for CIA's alleged
failure to learn in advance of the Vietamese
government's Aug. 21 crackdown on Buddhists.
By MARIANNE MEANS
Hearst Headline Service White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.?Reports out of Saigon of
the confusion and contradiction within the U. S. mis-.
sion prompted a fresh examination today of whether
the Central Intelligence Agency should not get out of
the "Department Of Dirty Tricks."
Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge arrived at his
new post in South Viet Nam determined to be boss of
his own embassy staff, theVarious economic aid pro-
gram officials, the military mission, and the CIA
agents. President Kennedy insists that his ambassa-
dors control all government branch operation in the
country involved.
Feud With General Denied
But Mr. Lodge discovered that the CIA and the
military don't much like reporting to an ambassador,
and sometimes embassy staffs tend to regard new
ambassadors as transitory appointees not to be
bothered with.
Mr. Lodge' task of analyzing what was really
happening in the Diem government was dangerously
complicated by the widely differing accounts and
opinions he was given by the various branches of the
U. S. mission there. Officials in the various branches
were so emotionally involved in the political crisis
that Mr. Lodge could not get a clear account of the
situation
Reports have indicated that Mr. Lodge and Gen.
Paul Hacrkins, head of the military operations there,
have clashed. And a Pentagon spokesman hinted at
possible trouble by sniffing at the suggestion that
Gen. Harkins ought to report to Mr. Lodge as well as
his direct military Contmander, Adm. Harry D. Felt,
chief of U. S. military operations in the Pacific.
"A military man does not report to a civlian," he
said curtly.
High administration sources denied .vigorously
that Mr. Lodge was feuding with Gen. Harkins over
U. S. policy in South Viet Nam or their respective
authority. One source pointed out that Gen. Harkins
and Mr. Lodge were long-time friends and that this
friendship was a factor in Mr. Lodge's selection as
ambassador.
A source also said that Gen. Harkins has been
Turn to MEANS, Page If ?
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/07/05: CIA-RDP80M01009A000100050036-5
By MARIANNE MEANS
Continued from First Page
_
4-?''.atremely careful to show Mr.
Lodge his xeports to Adm. Felt
or the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ?
The chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Gen. .Maxwell
D. Taylor, recently cabled Gen.
Harkins for his opinion on the
military and political situation.
Gen. Harkins cabled back that
he was submitting his views
only after showing the report
to Mr. Lodge, this source said.
HARKINS' ORDERS
Gen. Harkins is under mili-
tary Instructions to help the
Vietnamese win their war
against the Communist Viet
Cong, not just direct a military
assistance group. Therefore,
acting as a field commander,
he has authority to prosecute
the war on his own?so long as
It does not conflict with basic
U. S. policy. Only when policy
questions might be involved is
Gen. Harkins under obligation
to clear his moves with the
ambassador.
It is now clear that Mr.
Lodge's biggest problem in es-
tablishing control over U. S.
operations in South Viet Nam
has been with the CIA. CIA
activities are always shrouded
In mystery and agents prefer
traditionally to operate inde-
pendently under instructions
from their chief, John McCone,
without consulting with out-
? siders?and to their way of
thinking ambassadors are as
outside as anybody. ?
RECALL REPORTED
This conflict resulted yester-
day in the reported recall by
President Kennedy of John H.
Richardson as chief CIA agent
In Saigon. The recall is sup-
posedly for "consultation," but
It is not likely he will return
to Viet Warn. Mr. Lodge, de-
spite official denials, is said to
lave asked for a replacement.
Central to the clash between
Lodge and the CIA is the ques-
tion of the inteligence agency's
proper function. Mr. Richard-
ion, a former career diplomat
who enter S. spy work in
World War II, believes the CIA
d
should not only gather inform-
ation but take an active role
In financing and master-mind-
ing plots to advance U. S. in-
terests. Mr. Lodge insists the
CIA, at least in Viet Nam, must
leave policy to the State De-
partment and suspend its so-
called "department of dirty
tricks" in the area,
DEEPLY INVO
The CIA has been 4eeply in-
volved in tricks in S uth Viet
Nam at least since l'54, when
Viet Nara was partitioned after
the defeat of the French in the
Indochina war. According to
ene version, the then-chief CIA
agent, Col. Edward G. LUIS-
dale, was primarily r ?ble
for,5.ettig, g up Ng iem
as presfaerit Overo con-
tenders for power.
Col. Lansdale also persuaded
CIA director Allen W. Dulles?
who in turn persuaded his
brother, .Secretary .of .State
John Foster Dulles?to support
Diem as the best prospect for
a strong anti-Communist gov-
ernment, the version goes.
Now some CIA agents would
like to press hard to get Diem
out, being sadly disillusioned
with the man of their own
making. Mr. Lodge?backed up
by blunt words from Secretary
of Defense McNamarara and
Gen. Taylor on their trip to
South Viet Nam?has laid down
the firm U. S. policy line of
support for the Diem regime so
as not disturb the war effort.
And CIA, according to sources
here, has been ordered to go
along and confine itself within
the bounds of U. S. policy as
supervised by Mr. Lodge.
111'