396.1 BE/2–1154: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
1428. Repeated information Paris 437, Berlin 5. Reference Department telegram 1410 February 9. Ambassador De Jean told me yesterday that he had thought it wise to inform both Bao Dai and Buu Loc of proposal made at Berlin conference for conferences first on Korea and then on Indochina. De Jean told me, and, I understood, told Bao Dai and Buu Loc, that this proposal was merely a sop to section of French opinion calling for negotiated end to French fighting in Indochina. It was not to be understood as meaning that French Government believed that either Korea or Indochina conferences would necessarily take place or that, if they did, they would be successful in stopping hostilities. If Indochina conference occurred, France would insist on Associated States being fully represented, so that there would be no arrangement which would not fully meet their interests and need for security. De Jean told me that he thinks there is one chance in hundred that such a conference, even if it occurred, would result in any armistice; that there was no basis for armistice in this peculiar war. De-Jean said both Bao Dai and Buu Loc expressed understanding, and no alarm, with respect to French proposals at Berlin conference.
On military situation, while advanced detachments of Viet Minh had come within some 25 kilometers of Luang Prabang and Pak Hou main Viet Minh force was still believed to be 60 kilometers away. They could move very quickly and come up to Pak Hou but with the 6 battalion garrison, supported by artillery at Luang Prabang, and the [Page 1040] five Franco-Laotian battalions to the north of Luang Prabang, both De Jean and Navarre told me they were not worried about defending the town unless Viet Minh dispatched another division into Laos. It was true that French had lost contact with 312 division, but believed that it was still around Dien Bien Phu. In short, although they might well suffer reverses, French were unhappy but not worried about over-all military situation. They could always evacuate 6 of 12 battalions now at Dien Bien Phu and move them by air to reinforce any important point decisively threatened by Viet Minh.