Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 212: Telegram
No. 446
The Secretary of
State to the President1
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Dulte 54. For President, eyes only for Under Secretary, from Secretary. French political pressure for Indochina Conference is mounting, and Bidault believes Pleven’s return will increase the pressure. We here are working strongly against this, but believe it should be realized in Washington that this political exertion on our part against Conference carries moral obligation to continue to sustain military effort. We are proceeding here on that premise. I am somewhat disturbed by various indications that dissatisfaction with French military activity might lead Pentagon or Congress to lose interest in continuing financial and material support of French effort or to attach conditions which sensitive French would reject as inconsistent with their sovereignty.
If we succeed here in stopping French pressures for Conference—which is by no means certain—and should thereafter also stop financial support or attach to it impossible conditions, the anti-American reaction in France would be very severe and almost certainly defeat EDC. Obviously, we should, if at all possible, seek to assure success both in relation Indochina and EDC. But also, we must be on guard lest Indochina also carry EDC down the drain.
Would appreciate any guidance you see fit to give.
- Drafted by the Secretary of State.↩