751G.5/9–1551: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
1606. Fr note mentioned Deptel 1531 to Paris, 368 to Saigon, Sept 121 states de Lattre lacks means obtain favorable decision Indochina since not only impossible increase present Fr effort but also finances and personnel concerned make impossible maintain effort beyond a few months. Present strength regular Fr grd forces Indochina listed at 169,643, regular armies Assoc States at 63,385, total forces all categories at 340,763. One-fifth of officers and one-half of NCO’s of reg Fr Army now serving IC. Expenses borne by Fr budget for Indochina last seven years also listed; 1951 as 238 billion francs and estimated 1952 as 344 billion, plus 1951 aid by Fr to Assoc States for their milit expenditures as 42 billion and 1952 estimate of 79 billion or 86 billion depending whether US aid given natl armies. Total Fr investment Indochina listed at bit more than 1,000 billion francs.
Re future effort, note says de Lattre will present US his plans for intensifying milit operations. Rapid increase Size natl armies essential to pacification Indochina and to return Fr troops for defense Eur. By end 1951 natl armies shld comprise four divisions but will not due difficulties in forming Viet cadres and because rate arrival US equipment too slow. Only one-fourth tonnage 1950–51 US aid delivered to date. At this rate number two priority accorded to deliveries will not permit delivery before end of 1953 of supplies imperatively needed to resume active operations. Note continues that Fr cannot fulfill obligations Eur if must prolong excessive financial burden Indochina and suggests US furnish arms, pol, supplies Fr forces and a special contribution for Viet units in amount of 150 billion francs in 1952.
Sent to AmEmbassy Paris 1606, AmLegation Saigon 383.
- Neither the French note of September 11 (presented by Schuman to Acheson on September 12) nor telegram 1531 to Paris, September 12, is printed.↩