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

851G.00/2–1647: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

secret

Paris, February 16, 1947—3 p.m.

705. I reviewed in some detail yesterday with Ramadier the situation in Indochina, restating our point of view and emphasizing especially the outmoded colonial outlook of many French officials, especially in Saigon. Ramadier agreed; in fact, he agreed that our point of view was reasonable all along the line. He told me that Leclerc has definitely turned down the Government’s request to go to Indochina as High Commissioner and that he, Ramadier, had offered the job only a few minutes before to General Juin,⁵⁶ who promised to think it over and reply at an early date. Ramadier observed: “Of course no one wants that job at this juncture, but I very much hope that Juin will take it”. (Juin came out of Ramadier’s office as I went in).⁵⁷

Repeated London 136.

Caffery

56. Gen. Alphonse Pierre Juin, Chief of the French Army General Staff.
57. Telegram 839, February 24, 2 p.m., from Paris, reported that General Juin declined the offer (851G.00/2–2447).