Editorial Note
The following exchange occurred at the President’s news conference of February 17, 1954:
“Q. Louis Lautier, National Negro Press Association: Is there any way to distinguish between aid to the anti-Communist forces in Indochina and support of colonialism?
“The President. Well, of course. You have asked the very question that is the crux of this whole thing at this moment. There is no colonialism in this battle at all.
“France has announced several times, and most emphatically last July, that they are fighting to give the three associated states their freedom, their liberty; and I believe it has been agreed they would live inside the French Union, but as free and independent states.
“Now, as I see it, the Vietnamese are fighting for their own independence, and I have no trouble at all making the distinction that you speak of.
“We are not trying to help anybody support and maintain colonialism.”
“Q. Henry Pierre, Le Monde (Paris): Mr. President, there have been some reports that General O’Daniel will be sent back to Indochina with increased responsibilities. Does it imply, in your opinion, some criticism about the way the Vietnamese troops have been trained up to now?
“The President. No. I think, first of all, to get a real answer to your question why there should be a change in the head of that mission out there—Trapnell, I believe is there now—I believe you better go to the [Page 1057] Defense Department; but it merely means there would be a man to relieve Trapnell in Indochina.”
For the record of President Eisenhower’s news conference of February 17, 1954, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954, pages 269–278.