751G.11/3–954: Despatch
The Chargé at Saigon (McClintock) to the Department of State
No. 383
Subject:
- Distaff Difficulties of Bao Dai
In the course of a conversation yesterday evening, Baroness Agnes Didelot, who is sister of the Empress of Vietnam, once more expressed her mounting concern at the do-nothing attitude of her brother-in-law and her anxiety lest the promising young Crown Prince be corrupted [Page 1100] by his father and particularly by the Empress Dowager at Hue, who she feels seeks to destroy the character of the young Prince in an effort to maintain her own ascendancy over Bao Dai. Baroness Didelot, as reported in the reference telegram, feels strongly that the young Prince should come back to Vietnam and do his military service, thus becoming a symbol of active leadership by the Imperial family at this time of national crisis.1 She likewise represents the young Prince as eager to return and to undertake military service.
Baroness Didelot is a not entirely disinterested observer of His Majesty’s activities. In particular, she is currently enraged because one of Bao Dai’s concubines recently gave birth in the American Hospital at Paris to a son by Bao Dai and passed the word at the American Hospital that she, the concubine, was in fact a “sister-in-law” of His Majesty. In consequence, Baroness Didelot, who is the only legitimate sister-in-law of Bao Dai, has been receiving congratulations from across the bar sinister, and has not relished the left-handed compliment.
According to Baroness Didelot, the concubine in question has been with Bao Dai since the days in Hanoi when he abdicated in favor of the Vietnamese People’s Republic headed by Ho Chi-Minh. Baroness Didelot last night made the flat assertion that the concubine was in fact planted in Bao Dai’s household by Ho Chi-Minh and that she has since continued to serve as a Vietminh spy. It might be worth discreet inquiry by Embassy Paris to ascertain the validity of this charge.
-
This despatch referred to telegram 1630 from Saigon, Mar. 9, in which the Embassy suggested that the advantages of the return of the Crown Prince to Vietnam might be pointed out to Bao Dai. (751G.11/3–954) In telegram 3304 from Paris, Mar. 11, the Embassy recommended against any intervention by the United States in the matter, since it would probably be offensive to the French. (751G.11/3–1154). Telegram 1690 to Saigon, Mar. 17, repeated to Paris as telegram 3203, read as follows:
“Department does not believe U.S. representatives should at this time take active role in matter Crown Prince’s early return Viet Nam but would be interested in learning of whatever views Vietnamese and French contacts may volunteer regarding what might be promising development.” (751G.11/3–1754)
↩