851G.00/4–447: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Hanoi (O’Sullivan) to the Secretary of State
115. With much confusion, French authorities instituted customs collections at Haiphong and other ports of Indochina under their [Page 85] control end of last week. There is great uncertainty regarding rates to be applied but effectively collections are being made by “federal” agents with monies apparently reverting to “federal” funds.
It will be recalled that French regulations for control Haiphong were precipitating cause of incident that city November 20 and question customs loomed very large in all French-Vietnamese discussions.
French authorities also have instituted “federal” sûreté on approximately same basis as before war with all Vietnamese required carry identity cards. While there is good reason in terms military security to justify this practice, its effect is reestablishment of pre-war administration. In this connection, it might be noted that both customs and police could be considered by French only “administrative matters” to which Baudet had reference in fourth paragraph Deptel 33, March 2875 yet they actually are policy decisions shaping future structure of “Indochinese Federation”.
Repeat to Paris.