851G.00/11–2845: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28—4:05 p.m.]
6857. Speaking of Indochina Chauvel37 said that when trouble with the Annamites broke out de Gaulle had been urged by the French Mission in India to make some sort of policy statement announcing France’s intention to adopt a far-reaching progressive policy designed to give the native population much greater authority, responsibility and representation in govt. De Gaulle considered the idea but rejected it because in the state of disorder prevailing in Indochina he believed that no such policy could be implemented pending restoration of French authority and would therefore just be considered by everyone as “merely more fine words”. Furthermore de Gaulle and the Foreign [Page 315] Minister believe that the present situation is still so confused and they have so little information really reliable on the overall Indochina picture that such plans and thoughts as they held heretofore may have to be very thoroughly revised in the light of recent developments.
Despite the fact that the French do not feel that they can as yet make any general statements outlining specific future plans for Indochina, Chauvel says that they hope “very soon” to put into operation in certain areas programs including local elections which will be designed to grant much greater authority and greater voice in affairs to the natives. This he said would be a much better indication of the sincerity of French intentions than any policy statement.
In this connection he said that Admiral d’Argenlieu38 is in touch with the King of Cambodia and the latter has indicated that he has no hostility to the French (but on the contrary apparently fears both Annamite and Siamese aspirations). The French hope soon to negotiate an agreement with him which will result in the granting of much greater responsibility and authority to the Cambodians. He mentioned specifically that there would be many more natives integrated into the local administrative services and it was also hoped that local elections could soon be held. The French he said intend to follow the same procedure in Laos when the situation permits and eventually also in Annam and Tonkin. When order is restored throughout Indochina and agreements have been reached with the individual states Chauvel said the French intend to embody the results of these separate agreements into a general program for all of Indochina.
Insofar as the Chinese are concerned Chauvel said that he does not believe they are encouraging the Annamites who have a hearty dislike of the Chinese nor does he believe they have any territorial aspirations in Indochina. On the other hand he thinks the Chinese are definitely trying to get the maximum “squeeze” from the French in the form of occupational costs for their army, et cetera (my 6815, November 26.39)
He also mentioned the economic negotiations with the Chinese relating to Indochina and said that the French are perfectly agreeable to the establishing of free ports for the Chinese with certain transit rights and use of railways, et cetera in Tonkin where they would be of real use but the Chinese are demanding free port and transit rights for the whole of Indochina. Furthermore, the Chinese are desirous of obtaining title to the northern section of the Indochinese Yunnan Railway. Chauvel was not inclined to place any great importance of [on] these differences of opinion and thought that agreement will be reached.