740.5/4–2354: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State
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Dulte 8. No distribution. Eyes only for Acting Secretary from Secretary. Please pass following message to The President:
“I am deeply touched by, and grateful for, your message.1 The situation here is tragic. France is almost visibly collapsing under our eyes. There is, of course, no military or logical reason why loss of Dien Bien Phu should lead to collapse of French will, in relation both to Indochina and EDC. It seems to me that Dien Bien Phu has become a symbol out of all proportion to its military importance. It does not seem possible to change this situation, although we are not giving up hope and are doing everything possible to keep their spirit up. The position today is a little better as regards EDC, but probably if Dien Bien Phu falls, the government will be taken over by defeatists.
[Page 1375]I shall talk to Eden about Winston’s message and give you my considered judgment shortly. My basic reaction is yours, namely, that a meeting should solemnize and publicize a major decision sufficiently explored and developed in advance to be sure that it is in hand. Faithfully yours, Foster.”