Radford papers, Indochina papers/Geneva Conference
Memorandum for the Record by Captain George W. Anderson, Jr., Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford)
At 1200 this date, General Valluy, Head of the French Military Mission to the United States, accompanied by Captain Traub of his staff, and Lieutenant Colonel Cocke, interpreter, called on Admiral Radford. Also present was Captain Anderson.
General Valluy stated that he had received a most important cable from General Ely, which he (General Ely) desired passed to Admiral Radford at the earliest possible time. General Valluy read the cable which was interpreted as follows:
The following communication has been made to the U.S. Ambassador in France on the evening of 4 April.
Admiral Radford had stated to General Ely that if intervention should appear necessary to avoid a difficult situation at Dien Bien Phu, he would consider direct support of U.S. Air Forces, both carrier and land based, in Indo-China on request of the French Government.
The French Government requests this intervention for the benefit of Dien Bien Phu itself, and requests also that, should there be a reaction by the Chinese Air Forces, the necessary steps be taken to organize their interception.
Request that you (General Valluy) communicate this to Admiral Radford, and draw his attention to the urgent character of the requested intervention as General Navarre anticipates a resumption of the Viet Minh attack which could be decisive within the course of the coming week.
Admiral Radford informed General Valluy that he had already received this information from the U.S. Secretary of State, who had received the request from the U.S. Ambassador in Paris.
Admiral Radford informed General Valluy that he (Admiral Radford) had told General Ely during the course of his visit that no actual participation of U.S. forces could be expected unless it had been asked for by the French Government. He had explained to General Ely the problems which were involved in rendering such support in the light of U.S. constitutional processes. On the occasion when General Ely had called upon the Secretary of State, Admiral Radford had [Page 1248] brought to the attention of the Secretary of State the question that General Ely had posed to him relative to U.S. assistance. Mr. Dulles had further explained to General Ely the fact that such a request would require the most careful consideration by the United States Government.
Admiral Radford informed General Valluy that this matter was now being considered at the highest levels of the two governments, and that it was being handled for the U.S. by John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State, himself.