Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 1

751G.13/8–2951: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State

secret

Paris, August 29, 1951—9 p. m.

1316. From Heath. Pres Huu and Viet and Laotian dels¹ arrived Paris this morning, and were met by Letourneau, Pres Sarraut,² numerous officials. After military honors Huu read fairly lengthy declaration reported in separate tel.

I had long talk with Huu later. I expressed regret, by way of warning him against too great expectations, that presence of some 50 other dels and conflict of other conferences, such as NATO mtg at Ottawa, might interfere with discussions and contracts which in less crowded times wld have been arranged. Huu said he realized situation and Bao Dai had tried to dissuade him from heading the delegation to San Francisco for this reason. Huu had not originally thought to head del but public satisfaction over invitation to San Francisco conf and general expectation that he would attend in person had decided him to make trip. He hoped nevertheless to meet President Truman and that latter would accept Vietnam’s highest decoration. He also hopes to meet Secretary Acheson and to be able to call on Governor Dewey in view of latter’s visit to Vietnam.³

There were two matters which he particularly wanted to discuss in the States. He wished to broach idea of a mutual defense pact such as he understood US was concluding with Australia.⁴ He wished also to invoke future direct financial assistance for Vietnamese Army. With the proposed increases, Vietnamese Army would cost around $150 million for maintenance in 1952 whereas total revenues of Viet State in 1952 cld not in time of countrywide war be expanded above their present level of $100 million per annum. I remarked that I anticipated that Schuman and possibly Gen De Lattre might discuss question of future financing of Viet Army since Fr has carried greater part of Viet military expenditures to date. Pres Huu agreed.

I then took up question of his declaration in Saigon calling for Jap reparations to Vietnam, and explained to him that it was utterly impossible for Japan to pay any reparations except in limited form provided for in treaty, notably Article 16. Pres Huu said that he was quite aware that it was neither within realm of possibility nor in interests of peace to exact substantial reparations from Japs but he must be able to say to his people that there will be some reparations. He was particularly interested in Jap rails and bridges to re-establish Saigon–Hanoi railroad line.

I said that would be a matter for Viet negots with Jap but only within limits provided in Article 14. I stressed that Article 14 represented ultimate in reparations that could be provided. Huu said that he hoped to have some discussion with the Japs at San Francisco but that in any case US could depend on him not to create any difficulties at conf on score of reparations or any other point.

Viet, and Cambodian and Laotian dels will leave with Fr del from Paris at 14:30, Sept 1, arriving New York very early Sunday morning Sept 2. He had not yet been informed whether they would proceed immediately on to San Francisco. He had hoped to stop off at Washington en route, but I pointed out that there would hardly be time for such a detour. It is my understanding that del expected to arrive at San Francisco the day before the opening, on the third.

Dept pass Saigon; sent Dept 1316, rptd info Saigon 82.

Bruce

1. Reference is to the Vietnamese and Laotian delegations en route to the San Francisco Conference.
2. Albert Sarraut, President of the Council of the French Union.
3. Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York, on a tour of the Far East, had visited Indochina from July 25 to July 28, meeting with General de Lattre de Tassigny, Bao Dai, and Prime Minister Huu.
4. For documentation on the ANZUS Pact, see pp. 132 ff.