The basis for this allegation was presented in a State Department document called "Why Vietnam?" and has been recently cited by several administration spokesmen in defense of our policy there. The State Department document in question quotes in full a letter from President Eisenhower to thenPresident Diem. written in October 1954. in which. in the first place. President Eisenhower mentioned that the Government of the United States. in response to his request. had assisted Diem in transferring thousands of refugees from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. But that is the only allusion to any request by Diem. Then. the letter goes on to say that President Eisenhower had instructed his Ambassador to explore with Diem in what manner aid could be given by the United States.
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refugees