651.51G/10–2153: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy at Saigon1
695. Department continues much concerned at repercussions in France and elsewhere of ill-considered action Vietnamese National Congress Oct 16. Although Department hopes and believes that statesmanlike action and utterances of Bao Dai, Tam on one hand and Laniel, Bidault on other will prevent damage from becoming irreparable, Department believes essential find ways revitalize concept mutuality of interest between France and Vietnam. Your continuing views and comments would be appreciated.
Department deplores atmosphere prevailing at National Congress, utterances and resolutions of which have jeopardized war effort upon successful outcome of which lives and property most members of Congress [Page 839] in effect depend. Failure of Congress to express appreciation of efforts and sacrifices of 300,000 Vietnamese fighting Viet Minh appears even more extraordinary than failure to express similar sentiments regarding essential French sacrifices and effort. Bao Dai statements have helped but insufficiently.
Mutuality of interest in outcome of struggle is major present factor which needs emphasis and Department confident everything possible being done Saigon and Paris.
In addition however there is problem of reconstruction which will arise when war is won (if it is lost, neither French nor we will have any such problem). That problem will include necessity for providing reconstruction of country devastated by eight years of war, restoration of communications and reintegration into national life of several hundred thousand soldiers. Vietnam will need French help for this purpose and France will perhaps continue to need our assistance. (There is obviously no commitment which can be made on our behalf at this time.) Department wonders however whether establishment of high level planning authority for purpose of laying foundations of reconstruction-rehabilitation effort might not be useful. Perhaps this authority should spring from Vietnamese initiative with French invited to participate. Prospect of fruitful cooperation in constructive work after war is won might have sobering effect on political dreamers and doctrinaires. It might divert attention from constitutional verbiage and empty demagoguery and start people thinking of and perhaps developing vested interest in the practical problems which will face the new Vietnam made possible by current expenditure of Franco-Vietnamese blood and US–French-Vietnamese treasure.
Department advances above purely tentatively and would appreciate your comment and comments derived your continuing discussion with French and Vietnamese contacts.2
- Drafted by Bonsal of PSA. Also sent to Paris as telegram 1526 and as Tomac 3.↩
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In telegram 745 from Saigon, Oct. 27, Ambassador Heath stated the following: “I desire to stress that were US to approach Vietnamese authorities with suggestion for high level planning agency to lay foundations for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Vietnam, it would most certainly imply in Vietnamese eyes at least a moral commitment for US to continue substantial aid through an indefinite future and to a Vietnamese Government the outlines of which can only at this juncture be dimly perceived.
“In our view US policy will be better served should we continue as in past to count on France as principal source of economic and other aid to these nascent independent states of Indochina.” (651.51G/10–2753)
In telegram 1601 from Paris, Oct. 23, Ambassador Dillon recommended against raising the matter of reconstruction with French authorities in view of the “present highly charged atmosphere overshadowed by forthcoming assembly IC debate.” (751G.00/10–2353)
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