751G.5/2–1254: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
1437. Sent Paris 444. We are seriously disturbed at defeatist attitude displayed by certain members of the French Joint Chiefs of Staff. I have in mind in particular General Fay, head of French Air Force, and General le Blanc, Chief of Staff of French Army, both of whom are currently reviewing military situation in Indochina.
Early this week at a luncheon which I tendered General Weyland, and in presence of De Jean and Navarre, General Fay loudly proclaimed his belief that France could not stand her losses in officers more than one year more. Fay likewise has made no secret in his discussions with French High Command of his general disbelief [belief?] in futility of French continuing struggle in this theatre.
At a banquet given by De Jean in honor of Pleven two days ago, General le Blanc in a lengthy conversation, first with Deputy Chief of Mission and then with myself, almost eagerly summed up reasons to support his belief that war here could never be won. He likewise stated that France should use its officers and troops for NATO purposes; insisted that combat training learned here of no use in Europe; and even went to length of saying that young officers who learned initiative in Indochina were of no use to him in Europe because they showed too much initiative. Le Blanc seems a jocular five-star Colonel Blimp.
[Page 1044]General Navarre has enough to worry about in dealing with Viet Minh enemy, but if he must also fight this war with incubus of such chiefs as Le Blanc and Fay, he has a task requiring superhuman endurance and stoicism.
It seems to me that if we underwrite this war to the extent we have undertaken, we have right to query French Government at highest level as to attitude of France’s top soldiers toward this war. I trust that if Pleven and Ely accept invitation of Defense Secretary Wilson and Admiral Radford (Deptel unnumbered transmitting JCS 956829 DTG 101951Z February 10),1 they will take occasion explore this subject with these French officials.
- Not found in Department of State files, but see footnote 6, p. 1038.↩