751G.5622/2–2454: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
[Received 10: 23 p.m.]
1537. Repeated information Paris 468. On receipt of Deptel 1476 (repeated information Paris 2861)1DCM called on General Lauzin, [Page 1074] Chief of French Air Force in Indochina, and General Gambiez, Navarre’s chief of staff. It is apparent that French still desire employ civilian pilots but do not desire to pay for them.
Following interviews with Lauzin and Gambiez, CAT representative has had series of talks with French military who have repeatedly promised that contract would be signed almost any day and meanwhile he importuned MAAG to request FEAF for immediate delivery of twelve C–119’s. However, when CAT representative refused to make crews available until contract was signed, French procrastinated and at last requested MAAG to ascertain if dollar funds could not be found through MDAP channels to finance contract at cost of approximately $100,000 per month for twelve crews.
Department will recall same reluctance to finance civilian crews with dollars was displayed by French last spring when six crews finally were contracted for. French, to whom we have given airplanes and utmost and immediate support, are attempting through procrastination to get US to foot bill for civilian crews which were so effectively trained by FEAF at their request. We see no reason for US to pick up this check and regret niggling attitude displayed by French authorities here and in Paris.2
- In telegram 1476 to Saigon, Feb. 16, the Embassy was instructed to report as to whether the French still desired to employ civilian pilots. (751G.5622/2–1654)↩
- In telegram 1546 to Saigon, Feb. 26, the Department of State indicated that it also was opposed to the United States paying for civilian pilots hired by the French. (751G.5622/2–2454)↩