396.1 GE/5–354
The United States Delegation to the Department of State
Secto 76. Repeated information Paris 172. Chauvel states that French delegation is working hard on proposal to be put forward at Geneva conference re Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.1 He said French wished to separate out the Laos and Cambodia question from that of Vietnam so that status of Laos and Cambodia will not be compromised by infinitely more difficult problem of Vietnam. He said that as soon as French had their thoughts in reasonable shape they would wish to discuss them with General Smith2 and this might be [Page 679] possible in next day or so. He felt it would certainly be possible to go over with us their position with respect to Laos and Cambodia not later than tomorrow.
- The U.S. Delegation informed the Department of State that same day in telegram Secto 81 that the French hoped to be in a position to introduce the proposal with U.S. support or at least U.S. approval at the beginning of the Indochina phase. (396.1 GE/5–354)↩
- Secretary Dulles departed Geneva for Washington May 3; Under Secretary Walter Bedell Smith succeeded the Secretary as head of the U.S. Delegation.↩