Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 1

751G.00/6–752: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State

top secret
priority

Paris, June 7, 1952—6 p.m.

7652. Rptd info Saigon 433. From Heath.¹ I saw Letourneau today and communicated substance of paras 3 and 5 Deptel 7205, June 5.² Letourneau said that his assistants were already preparing specific info suggested by Dept and would telegraph it to Fr Emb Wash on Monday, June 9.

Letourneau said there were three subjects he wished to take up in Wash:

1. Whether it was possible for US to increase its mil assistance to the Fr Union Forces and Natl Armies of IC in calendar years 1952 and 1953 and the amount and nature of such assistance. By “nature” he wished to know whether the increased assistance would be applied only tech maintenance and equipment of the Natl Armies or whether it would be divided between Fr Union Forces and Natl Armies. Letourneau said that while it might have been agreed at Lisbon that Fr would ask no further assistance for its CY 1952 mil budget he hoped that nevertheless, some assistance could be given for that period. Fr had been obliged to cancel certain contracts for equipment of metropolitan forces for budgetary reasons and he asserted that it was to the general interest that development of metropolitan forces be accelerated.

2. The revival of the ad hoc comite with a meeting scheduled at a very early date, say in Paris, to endeavor to obtain agreement with US and Brit as to the action they would take in case of a Chinese invasion of IC; whether (a) they would merely cooperate in evacuating the Fr Expeditionary Force, (b) whether they would be prepared to furnish naval, ground or air forces to assist Fr Union Forces in repelling invasion, or (c) whether they would be prepared to counter invasion by action against Chinese forces elsewhere.

Closely following this meeting he thought there should be another meeting between mil reps of the three countries to implement plan [for?] the broad decisions resulting from the ad hoc meeting. In addition to periodic meetings of mil reps such as twice occurred at Singapore he, Letourneau, was in favor of establishing a permanent secretariat, say at Singapore or Honolulu, to follow and anticipate ments in the IC situation. He suggested that both in periodic meetings of mil reps or in the case of a standing mil study group, reps of Australia and New Zealand might be admitted as participants or observers.

3. He would like to learn in Wash whether the FY 1953 program of Amer aid for IC would be rapidly delivered.

Letourneau suggested the conversations might begin by his giving an exposé of the mil-polit situation and prospects in IC.

He said he would be authorized to discuss other aspects of Fr foreign and mil policy aside from those relating to IC. If it were desired that he give Fr version other questions he would appreciate it if he could be advised of the questions in advance.

He will send Monday³ a telegram along above lines to Fr Emb, Wash for communication to State Dept.

Dunn

1. Minister Heath was in Paris en route from his post to Washington for consultation.
2. Telegram 7205 to Paris, June 5, not printed, concerned preparations for the visit of Jean Letourneau, High Commissioner in Indochina and Minister for the Associated States, to Washington, June 16–17. In paragraphs 3 and 5, the Department requested that the French be asked to supply specific information regarding their budget and anticipated expenditures for Indochina. (601.5151G/6–452)
3. June 9.