US embassy cable - 05HANOI1300

UNCLAS HANOI 001300 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV, L/EAP 
HO CHI MINH CITY FOR CONS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, VM 
SUBJECT: GVN to Return Great Seals to USG 
 
1.(SBU) Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) Consular Department, Truong Xuan Thanh, and Charge met 
May 27 to discuss the return of two Great Seals of the 
United States that have been in the possession of the GVN 
since 1975.  This was a follow-on of discussions between 
Ambassador Marine and Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang. 
 
2. (SBU) According to MFA, both seals bear the inscription, 
"Consulate General, United States of America."  Our original 
request was for the return of the seal taken from the 
consular section of the former U.S. Embassy in Saigon and 
displayed in a museum in Ho Chi Minh City.  MFA has told us 
that the second seal was in the possession of a military 
museum in Hanoi, but they do not know from which consulate 
general it was taken. 
 
3. (SBU) Thanh proposed that the seals be returned to the 
Ambassador in a low-key but formal ceremony prior to the 
visit of the Prime Minister to Washington.  While no media 
would be invited to the ceremony, the GVN would like to 
coordinate with the USG a press release noting the handover. 
Thanh suggested that we agree on a text of "minutes" to be 
signed by both parties at the time of the handover. After 
several exchanges with MFA, we have tentatively agreed on 
the following text. 
 
3. (SBU) Begin text: 
 
MINUTES ON THE RETURN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST 
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM OF 02 (TWO) PLAQUES, EACH DEPICTING THE 
GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
 
At the formal request of the Government of the United States 
of America; 
 
To implement the Agreement between the Government of the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the 
United States of America signed on 28 January 1995 
concerning the transfer of diplomatic properties; 
 
The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam agrees 
to return to the Government of the United States of America 
02 (two) plaques, each depicting the Great Seal of the 
United States and bearing the inscription "Consulate 
General, United States of America."  Prior to 1975, the 
plaques were located in diplomatic establishments of the 
United States. 
 
On .. June 2005, at ..., Mr. Bui Dinh Dinh - Director 
General of the Consular Department of the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
returned the two above-mentioned plaques to Michael W. 
Marine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 
United States of America in Hanoi. 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the two representatives have signed these 
Minutes acknowledging the return of the two plaques. 
 
These Minutes are made in Hanoi on .. June 2005 in 02 (two) 
originals in Vietnamese and English and both versions are 
equally valid. 
 
 
ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT    ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 
 OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC       OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
        OF VIETNAM                       AMERICA 
 
 BUI DINH DINH - DIRECTOR           MICHAEL W. MARINE 
  GENERAL OF THE CONSULAR      AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND 
  DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF            PLENIPOTENTIARY 
      FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
End text. 
 
 
MARINE 
 
 
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