751G.00/6–3054: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France1
5. Reference Saigon’s 2932 and 2949, Hanoi’s 772, 774, 775 and 778.2 While we are aware of possibly insurmountable obstacles in way of any wholesale evacuation, especially in relation to problem of Tonkin as a whole, we should like to be reassured that what can be done to provide for safety of non-communist population of North Vietnam is in fact being done.
Ambassador Dillon should invite Mendes-France’s attention again to numbered paragraph 6 of note transmitted Deptel 48533 and refer to Diem’s protest to Chargé Saigon re current French evacuation south zone of Delta. He should say we are concerned with fate of population of Bui Chu and Phat Diem, and that their abandonment to Vietminh would have unfortunate repercussions here and direct bearing on whether we can respect any armistice achieved by Mendes-France. Dillon should inquire what precisely are French intentions for this area.
Chargé Saigon should inform Diem of our concern and say we have requested clarification from French.
Ambassador Johnson should refer to newspaper accounts of unmolested French military withdrawal this zone and ask Chauvel whether it results from Franco-Vietminh agreement or understanding.
- Drafted by Sturm of PSA. Also sent to Saigon as telegram 11 and to Geneva as Tosec 503. Repeated for information to Hanoi as telegram 7.↩
- The reference telegrams reported aspects of the French withdrawal from areas of northern Vietnam. For telegram 2932 from Saigon, June 29, see p. 1762; for telegram 775 from Hanoi, June 30, see p. 1765; telegrams 2949 from Saigon and 772, 774, and 778 from Hanoi, all June 30, are not printed.↩
- Dated June 28, p. 1757.↩