Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI

751G.00/11–1650: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations

secret

Washington, November 22, 1950—6 p. m.

516. Re urtel 833 Nov 16.¹

1. Dept does not favor Peace Observation Commission² use in Indochina situation now although we can see that POC can provide evidence of Chi Commie aid to Viet Minh which may be helpful in winning support for our position re necessity military aid to Fr-Vietnamese.

2. However, the Asian UN members wld undoubtedly insist that, given the present relationship of France toward the Associated States, the UN shld examine the whole IC situation rather than merely sending a POC subcommittee whose mission, if able to be accomplished, wld only look toward cutting down Chi Commie aid to the Viet Minh so that the Fr might be able to reduce the warfare to guerrilla activity.

3. We agree that if IC subject is to come into the UN, it is obviously preferable Fr do it. However, we see no benefit in Fr appeal to UN without Fr declaration of intent to grant eventual independence to IC, along lines Letourneau’s statements at Saigon press conference (Saigon’s 657, Oct 24).³ Without such declaration by Fr, we believe any attempt to secure UN aid, including use of POC, wld lead to UN insistence on scrutinizing entire IC situation and Fr role toward both Associated States and Viet Minh, with unforseeable but hazardous results. Attempt to use POC is not worth the risks we see inherent in UN consideration of the IC situation at the moment.

Consequently, we do not consider it desirable for you to explore this question further jointly with UK and Fr Dels.

Acheson

1. Not printed.
2. For documentation on the Peace Observation Commission, see vol. ii, pp. 303 ff.
3. For extract, see p. 906.