Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 1

396.1 LO/10–1753: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Department of State¹

secret

London, October 17, 1953—1 a.m.

Secto 12. Repeated information Paris 252, Saigon 3. At Eden’s dinner this evening Bidault in highly emotional state told Secretary that he had just learned that Vietnamese Congress had passed resolution against membership in French Union. While we did not get full and clear picture from Bidault, we gathered Congress had specified that relationship with France would be established by negotiated treaties outside French Union framework. Bidault was emphatic in opinion this Vietnam action would add so much grist to mill of Reynaud, Mendes-France et al that pressure to withdraw from Indochina would become irresistible unless solution rectified in next few days.

In response to query, Bidault said he understood Bao Dai was behaving well about this but he was in France many thousand kilometers away whereas here were maneuvers in Indochina involving Tam.

Bidault mentioned telephone conversation with Paris this afternoon and said Auriol was reported in high state of emotion about this.

Dulles

1. Secretary Dulles was in London for talks with British Foreign Secretary Eden and French Foreign Minister Bidault, Oct. 16–18. For information on this conference, which was devoted in large measure to questions concerning Germany and Austria, see editorial note in volume v.