751G.00/1–851: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
8853. Deptel 813, December 29 Saigon (repeated Paris 3480)1 and Saigon telegram 1157, December 31 (repeated Paris 544).2
Embassy in general agreement with Saigon comments and recommendations but believes that two basic factors in Indochina situation should be kept in mind in considering Legation’s recommendations;
- (1)
- Principle of primary French responsibility in Indochina was accepted during conversations with French Government at Paris in May 1950 and Embassy believes that no action should be taken by US Government, in view its present and probable future commitments in other areas of world, which would tend to vitiate this principle. Some of Legation’s recommendations, as for example with respect to direct financial aid for national army, underwriting Associated States budgetary deficits and US assistance in handling refugees from north, would appear, if adopted in toto, represent a trend toward breakdown of principle of primary French responsibility. Embassy’s comment is directed not against specific recommendations of Legation but toward action which would have over-all effect of weakening principle of primary French responsibility in absence of any fresh decision on this point.
- (2)
- Although Legation does not so indicate, Embassy assumes that discussion with French Government prior to action is envisaged on various of its recommendations where there would be very definite French concern rather than merely matter of US action. This would seem to be particularly necessary in matters such as constitution broadened national government in Vietnam, question problem of facilitating defections from Viet Minh, question of US advisers and informational activities.
Embassy strongly supports Legation’s recommendation regarding desirability preparing counter guerrilla and resistance organizations for operations within and behind enemy lines.
Embassy considers important that joint US–UK French military staff talks be held at earliest possible date. In this connection. Foreign Office official informs us that British have expressed to French Government agreement on urgent necessity such talks and that Schuman3 [Page 344] is taking matter up direct with Pleven4 with view to pushing matter.
If decisions have already been reached with respect to US Government course of action in event Chinese Communist aggression against Indochina, it would be helpful for Embassy to be informed of these decisions. It is inevitable that among questions French Government would raise in joint staff discussions Indochina situation would be that of action to be taken in event Chinese Communist overt crossing border into Tonkin, either through use of “volunteers” or with openly organized units of regular Chinese Communist armies, as well as whether US Government was prepared to assist with air and naval forces, or even ground forces. Pertinent to the foregoing would also be question whether problem would require immediate discussion in and action by UN and whether US Government prepared to act with or without UN sanction.
Sent Department 3853: repeated info Saigon 384. Department pass Saigon.