751G.00/11–3053: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Achilles) to the Department of State
2110. Limit distribution. For the Secretary. Laniel asks me to assure you and the President that Ho Chi-Minh interview1 will not, of itself, and certainly not pending full consultation at Bermuda, be permitted to affect in any way Indochina policy which he has followed since he became Prime Minister. He and Vidal consider interview 98 percent propaganda and recognize that it has already had great effect both in France and Indochina and will make continuation of their policy considerably more difficult. Laniel is nevertheless confident that he can keep his governments support without going further in direction of negotiations than he did in his November 24 statement (Embassy’s telegram 2055, November 25).2 He did not speculate as to what situation might be under another government in January. Navarre has reported belief that in six months he should be able to achieve major improvement in military situation, including particularly cleaning up south. I reminded them of very long time which had elapsed between first hint and actual opening of Korean truce negotiations [Page 888] and of importance to any eventual negotiations of first obtaining best possible military position.
As indication of pressure here Vidal subsequently told me that President Auriol had summoned Laniel at 3:00 this morning and told him to consult representatives of three Associated States immediately with view to seeking earliest possible opening of negotiations with representatives of Ho Chi-Minh. Laniel had flatly refused and said that he had no intention of changing his policy, at least until he had consulted US and UK at Bermuda and then Associated States.
Despite Laniel’s unquestioned sincerity on this, his November 24 statement left considerable latitude for negotiations and we must remember both the very heavy pressure which the Ho interview will unquestionably stimulate and the fact that Laniel government must constitutionally resign in mid-January.
- On Nov. 29, the Swedish newspaper Expressen published an exchange of questions and answers with Ho Chi-Minh, President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi-Minh indicated willingness to negotiate an armistice with the French. For text of the interview, see Ho Chi-Minh, Selected Works, (4 vols.; Hanoi, Foreign Language Publishing House, 1961–1962), vol. III, pp. 408–410. The text as it appeared in Le Monde on Dec. 1, is in Documents on International Affairs, 1953, pp. 447–448.↩
- Telegram 2055 from Paris, Nov. 25, transmitted highlights of comments on Indochina delivered by Premier Laniel during debate in the National Assembly on EDC, November 23–24. The summary of Laniel’s remarks read in part as follows: “France today unanimous in wishing end as soon possible Indochina conflict which also stands in way enlargement our military role Europe. In this regard, government will draw its inspiration at Bermuda from wish expressed October 28 by Assembly ‘make use every possible means in order effect general pacification Asia through negotiation.’ Korean Armistice has proved it was possible stop armed conflict and it ought prove point departure for general examination dispute FE.” (751G.00/11–2553) For text of the Premier’s statement on Indochina, see France, Journal Officiel, Assemblée Nationale, 1953, Débats, p. 5485.↩