751G.00/10–652: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
720. Rptd info Paris 144, Hanoi unn. Offroy, Dipl Counselor High Commissariat, informed Emb off Fr are concerned over possibility there emerging from Peiping Peace Conf1 peace offensive which might include proposal for negot “peace settlement” in AS. Offroy states such a proposal wld pose embarrassing problems both in AS and in Fr in view considerable sentiment in latter country for relief from burdens entailed by France’s milit and finan effort in IC. He felt that because of extensive propaganda build-up given Peiping Conf it would be psychological error for conf only to reiterate run of mill peace slogans and therefore almost incumbent on Commies to come up with spectacular proposal. Fr carefully watching for any indication such move on part Commies but Offroy implied Fr had not formulated plan on how to meet situation if it occurred.
Pres Tam last night also mentioned to me his concern over possibility Commie proposal for negots, said that it wld create considerable difficulty for his govt given wishful thinking prevailing in many quarters regarding practicability of negotiated settlement with VM.
- The Asian and Pacific Region Peace Conference met at Peking from Oct. 2 to Oct. 13, with representatives of 37 nations and numerous unofficial observers in attendance. An “Appeal to the Peoples of the World,” issued on Oct. 12, denounced the policies of the United States with respect to Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia; supported the views of the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China; and called for peace throughout the East Asian area. For text, see Denise Folliot, ed., Documents on International Affairs, 1952, Royal Institute of International Affairs (London, Oxford University Press, 1955), pp. 466–469.↩