751G.00/7–854: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State
priority
[Received 2:46 p.m.]
124. Eyes only Secretary. Re Deptel 101.1 I saw Eden this afternoon. He will answer your message soonest.2 Meanwhile he asked me to say he is going to Geneva Monday,3 and will meet Mendes-France. Mendes-France wished him to come Paris over week-end but he is unable to do this. Eden will support French at Geneva in attempt to get most favorable possible settlement. He has no information or idea how matter may work out because Russians have not disclosed their hand and he is sure they will not do so until meetings take place in Geneva. Weakness of French position is of course fact that election would undoubtedly result in all Viet Nam going Communist and therefore division of country in all probability best solution. It is impossible to foresee how this trump card may be played by Communists. Eden [Page 1795] does not think it would be fair to you to expect you to attend Geneva Conference this juncture but thinks it would be very helpful to him and the French if Bedell could be there and hopes that if Bedell comes he will stop in London on way.
Comment: I am sure Eden is extremely anxious to have Bedell present because of Bedell’s intimate knowledge of personalities involved at Geneva and of manner in which situation has developed.