The relationship between Saigon and Washington had been under strain in view of differences that existed in

many key aspects of policy, and strategy, manifested at many levels of human interaction. The alliance had been in

"trial and error" mode, in view of embarrassing gaffes and diplomatic bumps on the learning curve of both

sides. The alliance had in fact been founded on the assumption that both sides share the same vital interest, an

assumption correct on an abstract, conceptual level. In implementing the policy on a human level, however, the

cultural complexity of various geographical areas in Vietnam proved overwhelming for State Department

officials, especially at upper levels. On the other side, their Vietnamese counterparts encountered similar

frustrations in dealing with their American partners. With great effort to overcome these obstacles, both sides in

the alliance tried to smooth out differences and ameliorate the troubled relationship. Unfortunately, as will be

shown in Chapter 1, political distractions in diplomatic relations caused multifaceted frictions, and eventual

degeneration into a disastrous crisis, one that ruptured the first Republic and led to the death of President Ngô

Đình Diệm and two of his brothers...