851G.00/1–1147: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Hanoi (O’Sullivan) to the Secretary of State
13. Have received from Viet-Namese sources copies of documents Ho Chi Minh wished to present Moutet (Viet-Namese Government apparently bitterly disappointed Moutet and Ho did not meet. Viet-Namese [Page 62] state messenger bearing letter of invitation for Moutet disappeared. French say letter never received). Paragraph from document which seems authentic, Ho was prepared to propose following to resolve present crisis: (a) Cease fire order supervised by mixed commissions on all fronts, troops returning to positions defined, by accord March 6 and staff agreement April 3 with release all prisoners political and otherwise; (b) Stop all reinforcements en route Indo-China; (c) Immediate meeting qualified representatives both Govts (Moutet and Ho) to organize referendum Cochin-China, treat diplomatic relations Viet-Nam with exterior, question of Indo-China Federation and place of Viet-Nam in French Union.33
In view evolution situation French would have refused accept return of troops to positions defined April 3 agreement which Ho obviously knew.
Repeat to Paris.
- Copies of documents were forwarded in despatch 179, February 7, from Saigon; they were finally delivered to Commissioner Sainteny about February 3, according to despatch 7666, February 20, from Paris, which also reported that the covering letter was dated January 9, the day after Minister Moutet’s departure (851G.00/2–2047). Consul Reed pointed out that only the Vietnamese side was presented in these documents. He concluded that “In the last analysis, it is certain that both sides have made mistakes, have violated the various agreements, and have thus precipitated the present conflict.” (851G.00/2–747) In his telegram 56, February 12, from Saigon, he reported that the press had published a Vietnamese communiqué at Paris which declared the conflict was becoming an international question and repeated earlier arguments (851G.00/2–1147).↩