751G.5 MSP/9–353: Telegram
The Ambassador in France ( Dillon ) to the Department of State
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902. In Bidault’s absence on vacation, Maurice Schumann handed me this afternoon official copy of Indochina memorandum which, at first glance, appears identical with information previously given us by Jacquet. Original document signed by Laniel under date September 1. Embassy will compare texts and advise promptly whether or not there are any differences.1
[Page 749]Schumann told me that reinforcements for Indochina will begin leaving France at the end of this month or the first of October, so that all will have arrived in Indochina by November 1. French Government, for planning purposes, requires definite commitment that the whole of $400 million will be made available. Possibility that part of this sum may be subject to congressional appropriation next January is still causing serious concern here. Therefore, it is important that after NSC meeting on September 10 I be authorized to confirm in as definite a form as possible that entire $400 million will be made available by United States in one way or another.
Prior to seeing Schumann, Bonnet called on me at Bidault’s request. He had been called back by Laniel to coordinate directly information Laniel had received from me and information Laniel had received from Department through French Embassy in Washington. Difference in emphasis two sources had borne upon question of whether commitment for entire 400 million would really be firm. Bonnet replied that Laniel felt it was most important that commitment for entire sum be definitely firm. Bonnet hoped that if decision of NSC on September 10 should be favorable, I be authorized to inform Laniel and Foreign Office the first thing Friday morning, the 11th. Laniel very anxious for earliest possible information because of consequences of decisions on his budget as outlined Embassy’s telegram 819.2
Bonnet further said that Bidault would like to sign whatever definite agreement is set up on this subject when he is in New York for General Assembly meeting. However, if it is necessary, for any reason, to sign an agreement sooner, Bidault would have no objection to it being signed here in Paris.
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On the evening of Sept. 1, French Secretary of State for the Associated States Jacquet handed Timmons and McGrew of the Mutual Security Agency Mission in France an “advance copy” of a memorandum dated Sept. 1 which was designed to answer the questions on the French program for Indochina which were contained in the memoranda submitted to the French Government on Aug. 26 and 27. (Regarding the United States memoranda of Aug. 26 and 27, see footnote 4, p. 739.)
An informal translation of the advance copy of the French memorandum of Sept. 1 and one of its five annexes (Annex 4, “Principles of Military Action in Indochina”) was transmitted to Washington by teleconference between Timmons and McGrew in Paris and Bonsal of PSA and Laurence C. Vass of RA on the same evening. The Paris participants stated that the memorandum had reportedly received the agreement of Premier Laniel, Foreign Minister Bidault, and Defense Minister Pleven, and thus represented the “position of the French Government.” They added that the memorandum seemed at first reading to go a “long way towards filling the bill.” (751G.5 MSP/9–153)
In telegram 910 from Paris, Sept. 3, Ambassador Dillon set forth the differences, which were not substantial, between the advance copy of Sept. 1, and the official copy of the French memorandum received Sept. 3. (751G.5 MSP/9–353) The Embassy transmitted copies of the memorandum and its five annexes to Washington in despatch 709 of Sept. 3. (751G.5/9–353) The official French text, signed by Premier Laniel, was transmitted to Washington with despatch 938 from Paris, Oct. 2. (751G.5 MSP/10–253) For a translation of the French memorandum and Annex 4 thereto, as well as additional information on the memorandum and its annexes, see memorandum prepared by the Department of State for the National Security Council, circulated on Sept. 8, p. 767.
↩ - Dated Aug. 29, p. 740.↩