851G.00/9–1147: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
us urgent
3433. For the Ambassador. We have read with concern recent telegrams from our officers in Indochina (repeated to you) to the effect that local French military are seriously contemplating an offensive against Vietnamese in dry season beginning at end this month. It is difficult for us give credence these reports in light French economic, [Page 136] financial and food position. It is obvious that such an offensive, if it took place under these conditions, would have serious effect on public opinion here which would be reflected in a Congress which will be called upon to consider extensive financial aid for western European nations, including France.
Please make appropriate informal inquiries and report urgently.6 For your info Dept considering approach French on apparently rapidly deteriorating prospects for Franco-Vietnam settlement and is awaiting your reply this point.
- in telegram 3715, September 12, 4 p.m., from Paris, Ambassador Caffery reported his talk with Foreign Minister Bidault who said he understood the American viewpoint and that he knew of no plans for a military offensive against the Vietnamese in the dry season. The French Minister (Lacoste), in a lengthy conversation on September 12 with Charlton Ogburn, mentioned, inter alia, that only the French army in Indochina was preventing creation of a Soviet satellite state forming part of a Red band around nationalist China. (851G.00/9–1247)↩