751G.00/3–2552
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Allison) to the Secretary of State
Subject:
- Possible Interview with French Ambassador for Purpose of Obtaining Formal Assurances that the French Government is not (a) Contemplating a Withdrawal from Indochina or, (b) Negotiating with Ho Chi Minh.
The British Ambassador will call upon you during the week of March 24 in order to receive your preliminary comments on the British memorandum concerning Indochina. A separate memorandum has been prepared suggesting some observations you may care to make to Sir Oliver as “preliminary comments”1 Paragraph 2 of the British memorandum speaks of certain secret information available to the British which has led them to suspect that the French are seeking a way out in Indochina. We have no evidence that any of the British [Page 81] allegations are true and suggest that you ask the Ambassador whether they have proof of any or all of them.
If his answer is in the affirmative it is suggested that you call in the French Ambassador and that he be informed as follows:
During the last few months several prominent French personages have stated, both officially and privately, that a French withdrawal from Indochina would be desirable and that an attempt to negotiate with Ho Chi Minh should or is being made. We have on several recent occasions through our Embassy in Paris and Legation in Saigon as well as in our conversations with the Embassy in Washington received assurances that the present French Government does not intend to withdraw from Indochina and is neither negotiating nor attempting to negotiate with Ho Chi Minh or his representatives. We have noted the recent declarations made by Minister Letourneau in his official capacity as Minister of Associated States denying these allegations, most recently in his press conference on March 12.
While the U.S. Government understands that M. Letourneau as Minister of Associated States does speak for the French Government in the matter, it would be helpful if the Ambassador could reaffirm the assurances given by him to the press. We would specifically request that the Ambassador confirm that the French Government is not attempting to negotiate with Ho Chi Minh, either directly or indirectly. Moreover, we would remind the Ambassador that although we accept the assurances of the French Government that there is no intention of withdrawing from Indochina at the present time or in the foreseeable future, our special position as a contributor, both militarily and otherwise, to the defense of Indochina permits us to expect that we would be advised promptly of any change in the present policy of the French Government.