Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The British Commonwealth, The Far East, Volume VI

851.014/5–945: Telegram

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

Washington, May 9, 1945—noon.

1949. Following telegram dated May 8 received from the Secretary at San Francisco,²⁰ is repeated for your information.

“The subject of Indo-China came up in a recent conversation I had with Bidault²¹ and Bonnet. The latter remarked that although the French Government interprets Mr. Welles’ statement of 1942²² concerning the restoration of French sovereignty over the French Empire as including Indo-China, the press continues to imply that a special status will be reserved for this colonial area. It was made quite clear to Bidault that the record is entirely innocent of any official statement of this government questioning, even by implication, French sovereignty over Indo-China. Certain elements of American public opinion, however, condemned French governmental policies and practices in Indo-China. Bidault seemed relieved and has no doubt cabled Paris that he received renewed assurances of our recognition of French sovereignty over that area.”

Grew

20. The United Nations Conference on International Organization met at San Francisco from April 25 to June 26, 1945.
21. Georges Bidault, French Minister for Foreign Affairs.
22. For text of note dated April 13, 1942, from Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles to Ambassador Gaston Henry-Haye, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. ii, p. 561, or Department of State Bulletin, April 18, 1942, p. 335.