Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East, Volume VIII

851G.00/9–1746: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Paris, September 17, 1946—5 p.m.
[Received September 17—3:24 p.m.]

4671. At final conference with French September 14, Ho Chi Minh signed joint declaration and modus vivendi and departed few hours later for Toulon to sail for Saigon. Agreement will be submitted to French Cabinet tomorrow⁶¹ and after expected approval, given to press on September 19. Following are essential points of agreement summarized from text obtained from Foreign Office.

Joint declaration emphasizes agreement of March 6, 1946, still in effect but modus vivendi providing provisional solutions of urgent problems was necessary until permanent and definitive agreement could be reached. Date and procedure for referendum in Cochin China is to be fixed later. It is expected Fontainebleau conference will be resumed in January 1947.

Summaries of numbered paragraphs of modus vivendi follow:

1. Reciprocal “democratic” rights for citizens of one country in territory of other.

2. Recognition of reciprocal property rights. French property requisitioned or seized in Viet Nam to be restored.

3. French schools to operate freely in Viet Nam; Pasteur Institute to be restored to French.

4. Viet Nam to give France priority when seeking advisors, technicians or experts.

5. Piastre tied to French franc to be single currency for Indochina with Banque de l’Indochine as temporary bank of issue.

6. Establishes customs union and free trade within Indochinese federation.

7. Provides for coordination of transport and communications of all types within federation and Union Française.

8. Pending agreement on Viet Nam diplomatic relations, Mixed Commission will arrange consular representation with neighboring states.

9. Re Cochin China: (a) all fighting to cease; (b) Mixed Commission of general staffs to control this; (c) all political and military prisoners to be released except those accused of common crimes; (d) democratic liberties reciprocally guaranteed; (e) unfriendly propaganda mutually to cease; (f) collaboration in control of ex-enemy citizens; (g) representative of Viet Nam accredited to High Commissioner will control execution of above provisions.

Signed by Ho Chi Minh and Marius Moutet.

It will be seen that Ho Chi Minh obtained satisfaction on majority of points reported in mytel 4591, September 12.

Boissézon of Foreign Office states French generally satisfied with agreement but would [have] liked to include paragraphs defining more precisely relations of Viet Nam to Indochinese federation and French Union. They were also unsuccessful in having written into agreement provisions for disarmament of resistance elements in Cochin China but Boissézon claims it was orally understood with Ho Chi Minh that such elements would have chance of either retiring to Tonkin with arms and baggage or giving up arms if remaining in Cochin China.

Sent Dept as 4671, repeated London as 690, Dept please relay to Saigon as 2.

Caffery

61. The French Council of Ministers approved the agreement on September 18; the text was transmitted to Department in despatch 6202, September 20, 1946, from Paris; neither printed.