Office of the Historian

751G.5/5–2353: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State

secret
Paris, May 23, 1953—6 p.m.

6087. Repeated information Saigon 273. I discussed Deptel 56931 with Pleven Friday.2 He was in a discouraged mood because of governmental crisis which he deplored saying that bulk of National Assembly deputies simply did not realize urgency of situation.3 On [Page 582] immediate air force personnel situation both in Indochina and elsewhere he said he simply did not know what the answer was. He reviewed the air force personnel situation along the lines of Embtel 6027.4 He stated that immediately after NATO meeting he had ordered a complete survey of French air force in light of US views that France could and should produce more modern first line squadrons for NATO by cutting back sharply on obsolescent squadrons now in service. Final report on this study due next week but preliminary indications are that study will show that very little can be done in way of eliminating obsolescent squadrons as they are necessary and useful for transportation and security purposes in North Africa and elsewhere in French Union.

He then said that French Government realized fully the importance of air in Indochina. Because of this General Bodet, a senior air General formerly at SHAPE, had been appointed as assistant CINC for Indochina to rank second to Navarre. Bodet leaving Sunday for Indochina and his views will carry considerably greater weight than previous French air force recommendations from Indochina. He also said new air force commander in Indochina General Lauzin was top man.

He did not raise question of NATO approval mentioned in last paragraph of reference telegram. I hope this question will not arise at all since any too ready indication that we were agreeable weakening NATO forces in Europe might have serious adverse repercussions on EDC prospects. Will telegraph further on political implications after consulting with USDel–SHAPE.

Dillon
  1. Dated May 21, p. 576.↩
  2. May 22.↩
  3. On May 21, the government of René Mayer fell when the National Assembly refused to grant its request for special powers to carry out its financial policies. No new government was formed for more than a month.↩
  4. Telegram 6027 from Paris, May 20, concerning French Air Force personnel difficulties, is not printed. (751G.5/5–2053)↩