LANSDALE REPORTS FOR VIET DUTY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000300430049-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 49
• Publication Date: August 30, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2003/12/02 : CIA-RDP 5-00001 R000300430 5 r
I - C7 -
WASHINGTON POS ' ,)
AND lJMES HERALD ga a o
enorts for
sVloet'Dut
tired U.S. Air Force general
who-will concentrate on South
Viet-Nam's frustrated social
revolution arrived without fan-
fare today to take up his
vaguely defined duties as spe-
cial, assistant to Ambassador
Henry Cabot Lodge.
Maj. Gen. Edward G. Lans-
dale, whose unorthodox ap-
proach frequently upset Pen-
tagonians in the past, flew in
from Hong Kong saying he
felt he had arrived home.
He pointedly avoided dis-
,cussing his duties here, which.
are to channel more U.S. Mis-
sion emphasis into grassroots
reforms to attempt to balance
the enormous American mili-
tary buildup which becomes
more evident every day.
"Viet - Nam represents a
whole social revolution," he
said, often frustrated and even
betrayed, but destined for sue.
cess in the future."
Lansdale, a ' slow-spoken
roan who delivered a state-
mcnt which he had prepared
carefully, was met at the air.
port by high-ranking embassy
aides, but not by the ambas-
sador' himself.
Although, mission sources
said Lodge would not go to
the airport to. greet, anyone
below cabinet rank, it , was
:noted.,that,; odge; arrived a
`Washington. Post foreign Service
SAIGON, Aug. 29--The re-
few moments after Lansdale's
departure to greet Philippines
Gen. Jesus Vargas, recently
named Secretary Gene rel of
SEATO who had' hoped to
say hello to Lansdale.
"I have no team of my. own,"
'Lansdale told newsmen today.
"There will be a little group
of us working closely together
under the direction of Am?
bassador Lodge."
"I am not a very good office
man," he said in reply to a
question whether he would be
working mostly in Saigon. He
said he would be working en
tirely in the civilian field.
Although he speaks no Viet?
namese-"I am not good at
languages" he said-he will be
establishing contacts among'
Vietnamese intellectuals' and
politicians and religious 'lead-.
Lodge had asked him about
10 days or two weeks ago to
join him in Saigon, he' said,
and "I had the 'happy feeling
that he was really asking me
to come home again."
Home was not always happy
here in his earlier days when"
he locked horns first with'
American - officialdom ' an c(A
later with the late Presidents
Ngo Dinh Diem when the .lat.'
to shrugged off popular re.,
form proposals.
Approved For Release 2003/12/02 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R00030043004.9-5