Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

851G.00/1–417: Circular telegram

The Secretary of state to certain Diplomatic Officers ¹⁶

secret

Washington, January 7, 1947—3 p.m.

Nav Attaché Bangkok¹⁷ reports French now trying clear lines Saigon to Cambodian border using all French Indochina reserves. These troops and 16,000 now en route from France then be thrown into all out reconquest Tonkin where puppet Govt may be set up. This is plan of d’Argenlieu and LeClerc,¹⁸ with Moutet wavering as leftists Saigou reportedly favor reopening negotiations with Ho. Final decision be made when Moutet returns Paris Jan 16.

Byrnes

16. At Paris.
17. Comdr. Alfred W. Gardes, Jr.
18. Maj. Gen. Jacques-Philippe Leclerc, Inspector General of French Armies in North Africa, formerly Commander in Chief of French Forces in the Far East.