751G.5622/4–654: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
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[Received 7:36 a.m.]
3738. Limit distribution. Bidault called me over at noon today and told me French Cabinet had taken news in Deptel 34821 better than he had expected. He said that in view of urgency of situation and fact that Navarre felt that even a relatively small additional intervention by air power might save the day at Dien Bien Phu, they were making following request in order to meet US necessities as outlined in reference telegram.
- 1.
- That US provide French immediately with 10 to 20 B–29s aircraft together with necessary personnel to maintain these aircraft in operation.
- 2.
- French have flight crews available in Indochina who can keep approximately 10 planes in operation. Number of planes to be supplied, therefore, depends on number required to keep 10 continually operative.
- 3.
- As runways in Indochina are probably too short to handle B–29s, French hope that we could arrange to base them on US facilities in Philippines. If this were the case US would also be expected to supply necessary bombs and ammunition.
General Valluy being informed simultaneously in order be prepared discuss technical details in Washington. French believe that prompt intervention of this nature in next few days might very well break up reinforcement columns moving on Dien Bien Phu and save the day.