establish their influence over the area.5 Nighswonger emphasized these early beginnings:

In mid-1961, the strategic hamlet program had been started (although not yet announced) by Ngo Dinh Nhu. He moved in advance and independently of American planners, including the members of the Staley mission who were discussing plans for rural rehabilitation at that time.6

ADVICE

By mid-1961 South Vietnam had already started strategic hamlets, and the government had some experience with pacification through the Agroville scheme. But, as Diem struggled with the problems of insurgency, he turned to other countries in an attempt both to learn from their experiences and, more particularly, to gain moral, material. and financial support. Diem sought advice and assistance from both the Philippines and Malaya, as well as from the countries who had supported them. This included British advisers from Malaya and U.S. advisers from the Philippines.

Although the experiences in Malaya and the Philippines were unique, there were many similarities with the situation in the Republic of Vietnam. Both Malaya and the Philippines used pacification as a major component of their strategy to defeat their insurgencies. As Diem considered his options, it was natural that he should look at these experiences.

The Malayan Communist Party, because of its opposition to the Japanese, was supported by the British