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

851G.00/1–2446: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Assistant Chief of the Division of Southeast Asian Affairs ( Landon ), Then at Saigon

secret

Washington , January 28, 1946—noon.

Please proceed Hanoi, remaining such time as you consider necessary, and report to Dept as fully as possible on conditions northern Indochina and especially on any French-Viet Minh negotiations. D’Argenlieu² understood to have stated privately that French negotiations with Ho Chi Minh³ have been proceeding since late Nov and satisfactory agreement anticipated by end of Jan. Other reports deny existence negotiations. D’Argenlieu also reported to have expressed personal willingness accept Philippine model for Annam with independence at end 30 years. Urtel from Saigon received Jan. 24⁴ appreciated. Please try to secure maximum information details French or Annamese economic agreements with Chinese and status of such agreements.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Byrnes

2. Adm. Thierry d’Argenlieu, High Commissioner of French Indochina.
3. “President of the Provisional Government of Vietnam Democratic Republic”.
4. Not printed, but see paragraph 2 of telegram 182, January 30, 6 p.m., to Chungking, p. 21.