851g.00/6–648
The Vice Consul at Hanoi (Rendall) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 15.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith five copies of “L’Entente”,1 a semi-official daily paper of Hanoi, containing the text of the accord signed June 5, 1948, in the Baie d’Along (mytel 124 of June 6, 19482), together with the remarks made on that occasion by High Commissioner Bollaert, ex-emperor Bao Dai, and General Xuan, president of the “Provisional Central Government Vietnamienne”.3
A necessarily cursory comparison indicates that the texts as printed herewith substantially correspond to those released this morning by the Press and Information Bureau of the Commissariat of the Republic for Tonkin. Any discrepancies revealed by further study will be reported.
In one respect, the first paragraph of the article in large print containing the text of the accord is misleading. It implies the accord was signed by Bao Dai and Bollaert with General Xuan as an observer. Actually, it was signed by all three, according to the official release and the verbal statement of the chief of the Press Bureau here. Exactly in what capacity Bao Dai signed the document is not clear, but the use of the initials S.M. (Sa Majesté) in the official press release would appear to imply recognition of some sort of royal prerogative.
The statements attributed to each of the three principal participants on the ceremony were made immediately after signature of the formal agreement.
Respectfully yours,