751G.00/7–2452: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Sturm) to the Department of State
74. Dept pass Saigon, Paris, DEPTAR G–2, ONI, AFOIN, info. Rptd info Saigon 56, Paris 42. About 100 Fr PWs were released 20th from VM prison camp near Langson presumably under auspices Red Cross. Fol account comes from Fr soldier who lunched yesterday with 27 repatriates who had been with 3rd paratroop battalion when Lang-son fell late 1950. VM sent one man with white flag to release point somehow arranged with Fr; this man then followed by his comrades, who had walked whole distance to Fr outpost. Of 100 men who started 80, incl 4 officers, managed cover 45-mile distance to freedom on foot over rough terrain along RC 4 to Phuco near Tienyen; some fell by wayside and were done in by VM guards. One PW considered traitor by others said have been killed by them on journey.
PWs released were presumed converts to Communism. They were segregated from others, given better rations during two-month indoctrination period, made sing Internationale, and in gen subjected to straight Commie-line without any irrelevant ref to VM. Camp fairly clean. Regular prisoners given daily rice and occasion fish, while those appearing cooperate with VM reed added rations in form bits of meat and small quantities of scarce salt. Recalcitrant prisoners either beaten, confined in buffalo cage or simply killed. Work details were mostly to repair roads damaged by air bombing.
PW report VM officers about them definitely first-class; no Chi officers seen, but one German major and a Sikh. Senegalese PWs treated like children: deprived of sweets when they misbehaved. Moroccans proved disappointment to Fr: at first offer special treatment, many turned informers. Legionnaires subjected special propaganda; according info given by VM guards, Eastern Europeans put through intensive indoctrination course if they showed signs of cooperation and shipped back Europe via China and Siberia.
[Page 223]Before release, PWs recd leaflets to distribute to Fr comrades and all sang Internationale on eve of turn-over. At release point VM guards shook hands all around and clapped PWs on back as if to indicate confidence in their conversion to Communism.
PWs said be amazed at finding Hanoi relatively intact, as VM had given them believe town on verge of falling and saved from capture only because Fr were about to evacuate and special VM effort therefore needless. They were told De Lattre had died of wounds recd “at disaster of Hoa Binh”. On one occasion Fr planes air-dropped canned goods on camp; PWs consumed food before VM cld intervene, so latter passed word Ho Chi Minh had arranged drop to prove he had no grudge against PWs personally. Two days later tune changed and PWs told if they picked up any more air-dropped food they wld be punished.
Paratrooper PWs still resentful re conditions of capture, claiming that a paratroop battalion dropped on air strip at Langson cld have released all 300 captured there, since strip at time guarded by only platoon VM. They feel that if commanders had had nerve and presence of mind, they cld have recovered without risk all men lost that spot.
Fr Command said be subjecting released PWs to thorough interrogation, but also to intelligent handling. Will be sent France for recuperation period about two months. Most paratroopers involved have enlisted again; most are in shaky physical condition.