Editorial Note
In a memorandum of a conversation held August 4 with Pierre Pelletier, Second Secretary of the French Embassy, William T. Nunley, Public Affairs Adviser in the Office of European Regional Affairs, wrote:
“M. Pelletier said that his Ambassador has already expressed to the Under Secretary the French views on the relation of Laos, Cambodia and Southern Vietnam to a Southeast Asia security arrangement. The French government believes that Vietnam is definitely precluded from membership by the terms of the Geneva agreement. Membership by Laos and Cambodia, while perhaps possible on a strictly legal basis, would tend to violate the spirit of the armistice agreement and would be most unwise politically. However, he added, the French government strongly favors a security arrangement which will offer protection to these areas.” (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 355)