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

795.00/12–350: Telegram

The Minister at Saigon (Heath) to the Secretary of State

secret   niact

Saigon, December 3, 1950—noon.

988. Dugardier called this morning at his request to inform me of uneasiness of the French authorities over the repercussions in this theatre of the Chinese onslaught in Korea.¹

Viet-Minh and Chinese in Tonkin and South China were encouraged at developments. He stressed that balance of force between the French union forces and the Viet-Minh was most precarious and could easily be upset by even limited Chinese intervention volunteer cloak or otherwise. This fact was perfectly apparent to Chinese and Viet-Minh.

French Government statements in Paris had perhaps created mistaken impression that metropolitan reinforcements had or were shortly about to arrive. They had been promised but it would be sometime in January before they would reach the field. Much US aid would also not be effective before then.

In meantime there was a most dangerous gap which Chinese could take advantage at any time. French did not know what significance to attach to intelligence reports which indicated evacuation of civil official families in Canton and great acceleration of work on South Chinese airfields by several thousand coolies, but these signs could be interpreted as preparatory to an offensive as well as being defensive. In these circumstances HICOM Pignon most eager know when B–26’s promised for MDAP aid could arrive. French were apprehensive that Korean campaign cause them to be diverted to Korea and also that material General Brink MAAG Chief had earmarked for Indochina during his recent visit to FECom might be retained in Korea area. Although they understood our position French hoped we could give them latest possible news about scheduled arrival dates of these planes and matériels. Pignon wishes to meet with me and British Minister tomorrow afternoon and Dugardier hoped I might have some information by then.

Department pass Tokyo; sent Department 988, Tokyo for SCAP.

Heath

1. During the last week in November, United Nations forces advancing toward the Yalu River were driven back by Chinese Communist counterattacks; for documentation on Chinese intervention, see volume vii .