851G.00/4–1147: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
1489. During private conversation Gustave Moutet, son of Minister for Overseas France, continued to insist that no negotiations are now in progress in Indochina but he added that he believed “a suitable approach from the Viet-Minh may well be made in the not too distant future”. Answering a question as to what would constitute in French eyes duly accredited plenipotentiary” (my 1409 of April 378), he said that in addition to being a person representing in fact elements dominant “throughout the Vietnam” he would have to carry an authentic communication indicating willingness to Accept France’s minimum security requirements: “In such a case we would agree to an armistice.” (These are thought to be the same as reported previously.)
From the above conversation the impression was derived that the French authorities may be playing with words when they state that no negotiations are in progress in Indochina, and that secret negotiations may even be taking place at the present time. If this impression is correct, what the French Government terms the “opening of negotiations” may really be the conclusion of the present suspected ones, marked by the arrival of a Vietnam plenipotentiary with the acceptance of France’s armistice terms which, according to Moute, are “well known to the Vietnam leaders.”
[Page 87]Referring to ex-Emperor Bao-Dai, Gustave Moutet declared that the French were in a quandary as while they felt the former still retained a considerable influence in Annam, he carried little weight elsewhere in Indochina. This [“Thus?”], added Moutet, “in availing ourselves of Bao-Dai’s service, we would be using an instrument of most uncertain value”.
Sent Department as 1489, repeated London as 286. Department please repeat to Saigon as Paris No. 12.
- Not printed.↩