396.1 GE/4–3054: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State
Secto 54. Repeated information Paris 157, Saigon 18. French advise us of receipt from De Jean of his estimate on current overall situation. In De Jean’s opinion it was incorrect to envisage only two alternatives of internationalization of war or negotiation of cease–fire with Ho. Re latter, he would regard anything less than Laniel’s conditions as calamitous.1 He inclined toward increased American participation short of direct intervention but felt it essential French retain top control [Page 640] militarily, financially and politically. He would not yet admit fall Dien Bien Phu inevitable but felt that its fall would have very serious repercussions on Vietnamese military and civilian morale. He also felt that longer Geneva discussions continued, the worse would be effect on Vietnamese opinion.