893.01/6–2849
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (O’Shaughnessy)
| Participants: | M. Daridan, French Embassy95 |
| Mr. MacArthur, WE96 | |
| Mr. O’Shaughnessy, WE |
Mr. Daridan called today at our request. He was informed that word had reached us from Nanking that the French Embassy there had expressed its determination to recognize the Communist regime at the earliest date in order to protect French interests in Indochina (see Nanking’s 1395 of June 28). We stressed the need for following a common course of action in China and expressed our concern over the effects of premature recognition of the Chinese Communist Government on the situation in Indochina. Mr. Daridan replied that the [Page 49] views set forth by the French Embassy in Nanking do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foreign Office and that it was perhaps difficult for the French in China to view the problem with sufficient objectivity in view of their proximity to Indochina. He added as an extenuating circumstance that French Ambassador Meyrier was an “able administrator” rather than a top-flight political officer and that furthermore he was surrounded by a green staff. He said that he would communicate with Baeyens personally and bring our concern to his attention.