851G.00/8–1346: Telegram
The Consul at Saigon (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 14—3:50 a.m.]
332. Delegations at Dalat Conference voted motion:
- 1.
- Protesting confusion which Viet Nam delegations Fontainebleau trying to provoke between Viet Nam claims and aspiration of Indochina as whole.
- 2.
- Informing press and French public claims stated at Fontainebleau differ from accurate desires of peoples of FIC.
- 3.
- Voicing reliance on critical sense of justice, democratic spirit French people to discount ambitions of minority (Viet Nam) which aspires dictatorial domination country.
- 4.
- Protesting any solution FIC problems not having concurrence all Indochinese peopled and states whose delegates alone competent to express and defend respective interests.
- 5.
- Censuring atrocities, destruction, bloodshed caused by Viet Nam in all FIC which makes all Indochinese fear consequences resultant hate and misunderstanding.
High Commissioner requested to accept above protests and inform French Government.
President Cambodian Delegation in press interview stated “Federation and organization suitable for technical coordination but it must not alter fundamental relationship between France and individual Federated States”. Adding Cambodia desires continuance direct representation French Union, not through Federation. He denounced Viet Nam “imperialistic aims”, pointing out that first step of these aims is union of three Ky[s]; second, absorption of Laos; and third, absorption Cambodia. He labeled Siamese policy crafty in that Siamese promise return province as gift when Cambodia independent because Siam hopes to win Cambodia to raise [support?] of Federation of Buddhist States comprising Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Siam.