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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011  Relations with Thailand, strained somewhat in 1959 because of Thailand;s decision to repatriate its Vietnamese refugee minority to North Vietnam, have improved largely because of common and overriding concern with increased Communist encroachment in Southeast Asia during the past year. South Vietnam, nonetheless, probably still continues to feel that the repatriation (already more than 20,000 of the estimated 70,000–80,000 refugee Vietnamese have been sent to North Vietnam) would strengthen DRV propaganda and diplomatic efforts for international recognition as the legitimate government of Vietnam.

Since the latter part of 1959, DRV propaganda against South Vietnam in lino with the step-up in Communist subversive activities, has been more aggressive and provocative than at any time since the end of the Indochina hostilities. The persistence of bids to "regularise" relations with the Diem government, an earlier important feature of DRV propaganda has all but been replaced by blatant calls for intensification of the "people's struggle" and for Diem's overthrow. For its part the Diem government has since 1959 increased its efforts to counter DRV propaganda and diplomatic activities and has taken the initiative within the ICC to cite the DRV with subversive activities in the south and with violations of the 1954 Geneva Accords. Rh