851G.00/1–347: Telegram

The Vice Consul at Hanoi ( O’Sullivan ) to the Secretary of State

secret

1. Have recently learned that Federal Information Service Saigon published news that Chinese Consul (actually Consul General) and myself in interview with General Morlière11 December 21 “expressed without restriction their indignation at conduct of VN which they qualified as criminal and bestial folly”.

On that date General Morlière, Acting Commissioner as Sainteny then in hospital with wound, called conference British Consul, Chinese Consul General, and myself (British Consul unable attend as he could not because of gun fire safely leave his residence). General Morlière expounded details Vietnamese attack night December 19 upon French. I made no statements (nor did Chinese Consul General) re Vietnamese, or their actions. I considered interview one of information which called for no declarations on my part.

That General Morlière or Federal Information Service in Saigon should have seen fit to publish communiqué on meeting without consent or knowledge of participants I find most unusual. I do not understand at all fact that he (or Information Service) should attribute to them statements they did not make.

O’Sullivan
  1. Acting French Commissioner for Tonkin and North Annam and commanding French troops in that area.