851G.00B/9–1746: Telegram

The Consul at Saigon (Reed) to the Secretary of State

secret

374. Both Clarac and Chief of Sûreté have informed me increase[d] Communistic activities in French Indochina are disquieting. Intercepted letters indicate Chinese Communists are entrenched in Chinese centers Saigon and Haiphong and that Annamites chiefly in Tonkin and Annam, but also to certain extent in Cochin China, are receiving much Communist propaganda. They feel Viet Nam leaders not entirely responsible for this apparent trend but point out those leaders have Communist training and leanings. Clarac added that one difficulty in handling Communist problem is impossibility using word “Communist” in regard to this movement as strength of Communist party in France precludes any unfavorable mention. Both believed continuance uncertainty French-Viet Nam relations despite signing provisional agreement60 will contribute to such activities but stressed Communists are already in French Indochina (no Russians) and close watch over developments must be maintained as agencies outside French Indochina are undoubtedly supplying propaganda.

This telegram 374 to Department, repeated as 2 Nanking. Department please repeat Paris.

Reed
  1. See telegram 4671, infra