Office of the Historian

851G.01/9–2449

The Chief of State of Vietnam (His Majesty Bao Dai) to President Truman 1

Saigon, August 31, 1949.

[Translation 2]

Great and Good Friend: Under the terms of the agreements which I signed in Paris on March 8, 1949 with Mr. Vincent Auriol, President of the Republic and President of the French Union, Viet-Nam was recognized as an independent State forming part of the French Union, with the status of an associated State.

The Government which I have just constituted as a result of these agreements and of which I assumed the presidency, henceforth possesses all powers necessary for the exercise of its authority. It comprises personages representative of the varied shades of Vietnamese public opinion.

It is my earnest desire that relations with Your Excellency’s Government may be established according to international custom, in the common interest of our respective nationals and in order to permit us more usefully to contribute on our part to the strengthening of world peace and security.

I express the hope that you will be among the nations friendly to the Vietnamese State, and I convey to you, Great and Good Friend, my best wishes and those of the members of my country’s Government for the prosperity and happiness of the people to whose destinies you devote your enlightened efforts.

I avail myself [etc.]

Bao Dai

  1. Original letter in French transmitted in the French Ambassador’s note 300, September 24, not printed. The latter referred to the French Ambassador’s note 280, August 31, not printed, in which the Department was officially informed of the newly constituted Government of Vietnam presided over by His Majesty Bao Dai. (851G.01/9–5449, 8–3149)

    As sent in Department airgram A–81, October 8, to Saigon (751G.00/10–549).

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