851G.01/9–949
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 15.]
No. 1442
Sir: I have the honor to report that during the course of a recent conversation with Mr. R. H. Scott, Head of the South-East Asia Department of the Foreign Office, he discussed with me the problem presented by the negotiations initiated by the Bao Dai government for representation in Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and India. It seems that Australia has approached the United Kingdom on this question and has asked for its views as to the appropriateness of accepting a Bao Dai representative.
[Page 80]Mr. Scott said that his Government was most anxious to do everything possible within the limits of law and common sense to support Bao Dai, and was attempting within these limits to find some basis to encourage other members of the Commonwealth to do likewise. The legal people in the Foreign Office, he said, raised three serious objections to the recognition of Bao Dai: (1) The agreement between Bao Dai and the French Government, even though fully implemented, would grant Bao Dai only the most limited sovereignty; (2) The agreement requires ratification by both parties to become effective and this ratification has not yet taken place; and (3) by no stretch of the imagination could the regime as now constituted be construed as being in de facto control. If the agreement were ratified, and if happily Bao Dai did obtain control of a substantial portion of the country, the Foreign Office lawyers might then, notwithstanding the limiting features of the agreement, be able to find some formula for de facto or even de jure recognition of Bao Dai, or at least encourage Australia and India to do so.
With respect to India, Mr. Scott recalled, Nehru temporized by stating that his departure abroad would interfere with the reception of a Bao Dai representative. Bangkok likewise was finding the question embarrassing because of the large number of Free-Laotian and other political refugees from Indochina resident in Northern Thailand. Never bold with respect to foreign affairs, it could not be expected that Thailand take a leading position in support of Bao Dai.
Mr. Scott inquired whether the Philippine Government had approached the American authorities in regard to this matter. He said it would be very helpful if he could be acquainted of the Department’s views. Because of the Australian inquiry, he said, the question was of some urgency.
I should be grateful for any information on the above subject which I could appropriately pass on to the Foreign Office.
Respectfully yours,
First Secretary of Embassy