751G.5/1–554: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Joyce) to the Department of State
2503. Repeated information Saigon 256. Embtel 2478 (Saigon 250) January 4. Embassy received this afternoon note from Foreign Office dated January 4, transmitting letter dated December 30 from Laniel to Dillon (as anticipated reftel) drawing attention latter to request for delivery 18 B–26 aircraft presented MAAG Saigon by French FE air command.
Free translation Laniel letter follows:
“At occasion Bermuda Conference where military situation Indochina expatiated in name French Government by Foreign Minister Bidault, I had honor of stating personally [to] President Eisenhower that the successful development of operations would be favored to a large extent if US Government agreed to extend to French Government swift aid in the fields where our matériel resources did not permit us to meet all the needs: I evoked, in particular, the insufficiency of certain of our aerial resources.1“It was particularly agreeable to me on that occasion to thank President Eisenhower for furnishing the group of C–47 transport aircraft recently loaned for Indochina by the US Government; I was appreciative on the other hand for the assurance given me that requests of this nature shown to be necessary would be examined from the point of view most favorable to the interests of which France assumes charge in Far East for defense free world.
“I would like today and in the same spirit to ask you to call attention US Government to the importance that would be assumed by the improvement of the potential of our expeditionary corps in bombardment aircraft.
“The fighters and bombers execute in Indochina the same direct and indirect missions in support ground troops; the difference of their possibilities of employment is measured solely in accordance with the radius of action of the planes and the fire power that they possess.
“In this regard, bombardment aircraft provide possibilities superior to pursuit aircraft, as much by means of fire power that they carry as by the importance of their radius of actions; they are the only kind in particular which permit accomplishing, starting from existing bases, effective missions in certain areas removed from operations.
“It is why the French air command in Far East has transmitted to MAAG Saigon, within framework of plans established by General Navarre, a request for assistance for the reinforcement of from 16 to 25 B–26 aircraft for each of the two bombardment groups in Indochina.
“I have the honor of asking you to point out especially to US Government this request of which the swift satisfaction would improve very markedly the operational potential of the troops engaged.
[Page 943]“I add that the necessary personnel, crews and ground mechanics, would be sent from France in sufficient time in order to assure putting in operation the supplementary aircraft requested, as soon as latter would have been delivered.”2
- The statement by Premier Laniel to President Eisenhower at the Bermuda Conference has not been identified.↩
- In Note No. 216 to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 6, the Embassy acknowledged receipt of the letter from Premier Laniel and indicated that it would be referred to Washington. The texts of the Laniel letter and the Embassy’s reply were transmitted as enclosures to despatch 1711 from Paris, Jan. 6. (751G.00/1–654)↩