851G.00/12–1647: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
5398. Following is Foreign Office version of meetings on December 6 and 7 between Bollaert and Bao Dai. Additional reports will follow.
Bollaert and Bao Dai reached agreement in principle on future status of Vietnam (Embtel 5282, December 921). At outset Bao Dai demanded as prerequisite to any understanding guarantee that French will not negotiate with Ho Chi-minh at any time and make public announcement to this effect. [Page 151] Under agreement Bao Dai is to return to FIC and establish new government. Vietnam, which will include Tonkin, Annam and Cochin-China, is to be granted independence within French Union; foreign relations are to be conducted by France with Vietnamese being incorporated in French Foreign Service. Vietnam will have independent army which will, however, be “available for defense of any part of French Union”. There will be common customs and integration of transportation and communication systems.
Details of agreement presently being studied by French Government and no public statements will be made until Bollaert returns to Indochina and Bao Dai government established. Foreign Office source sees as principal difficulties the formula for return of Bao Dai to FIC without being branded as French “stooge” and formation of representative and effective government. Source adds that inclusion of Cochin-China (because of its constitutional status as a “Crown Colony”) in Vietnam will require act of Parliament and expects that this bill would be subject of attack by Communists. Latter who up to now have actively campaigned for union of “three Kys” as part of their all-out campaign of support for Ho Chi-minh would doubtless reverse themselves on this issue if uncompromising anti-Ho statement as demanded by Bao Dai is made.
Department pass to Saigon as Paris 37.22