851G.01/7–549: Telegram
The Consul General at Saigon (Abbott) to the Secretary of State
221. In private conversation with Dugardier some days ago said I had just finished reading text of March 8 agreements and was somewhat astonished and worried by certain provisions particularly in Section Two on diplomatic questions.
There did not seem to be a single right accorded Vietnam which was not limited some way to requirement for approval or consultation with French. What worried me I explained was that when the time came [Page 68] for presenting the Vietnam for membership in UNO our experts might feel that under the terms of the March 8 agreements the Vietnam had little if any diplomatic independence and would have difficulty in finding grounds for our support for its application. I emphasized these were my own personal views and were expressed without consultation with or instructions from Department. Dugardier replied that also speaking personally he could say that both he and Pignon realized that many of the diplomatic clauses were politically unwise and unenforceable and believed that Pignon did not intend to try to apply them. Dugardier said that it was his understanding (he was not present during the negotiations) that the present text did not represent Foreign Office views and that most restrictive clauses inserted at express demand Ministry Overseas France. He hinted strongly that he felt Quai d’Orsay would not resent expression American views along above lines particularly UNO angle.
Dugardier then mentioned again importance of removing GIC from control Ministry Overseas France. Said General Revers strongly agrees and has recommended that if for internal political reasons IC cannot be given to Quai d’Orsay it must at least be placed directly under Prime Minister’s orders (announcement that Coste-Floret would visit IC July and later announcement visit postponed may be connected this).
Sent Department, repeated Paris, pouched Hanoi.