751G.00/7–2254: Telegram
The Ambassador in France ( Dillon ) to the Department of State
292. Repeated information Geneva 43, Saigon 21, London 68. Initial reaction of relief and satisfaction with Geneva settlement now being replaced by more sober realization of concessions which settlement entails. On Tuesday,1 when news broke feeling was that Mendes had pulled off major coup; now it is rather that he has done best job under circumstances and that circumstances were highly unfavorable.
No longer anticipated that today’s Assembly debate will be restricted to formal approval Mendes’ actions.2 Deputies had opportunity yesterday study and digest terms settlement and there are already rumblings on magnitude of concessions made (loss of Hanoi and Haiphong, sacrifice of 10,000,000 citizens of the French Union to Communism, effect on balance of Union, etc.) and reflection that someone, not Mendes, must be responsible for not having got better settlement earlier.
Many parliamentarians have made public statements ranging from references to “Munich” to sweeping eulogies of Mendes. Marc Jacquet, former Minister for Associated States, and some MRPs are quoted as saying that better terms would have been arrived at earlier under Bidault.
In keeping with tradition, only one interpellation (Valabregue, Radical, friendly to Mendes) has been filed for today’s debate but many speakers will comment on it. They include Bidault, whose intervention is most anxiously awaited. If he is highly critical of government, debate may lead to “opening of dossiers” but in our opinion Bidault is too astute a politician to attempt buck government at this moment when Mendes’ prestige is so high.
Although Communists will probably vote with government, anticipated they will do so quietly for speaker they have inscribed, Waldeckits [Page 1872] Rochet is second string. Today’s non-Communist press severely criticizes party for being only group in Paris to celebrate settlement, in form banners hung from party headquarters commending “popular victory of cease-fire”.
- July 20.↩
- The Geneva Conference settlement was debated in the National Assembly on July 22 and July 23. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Assembly approved a resolution expressing satisfaction with the cessation of hostilities in Indochina and supporting government policy. The vote was 471 to 14. For the record of these proceedings, including statements by Premier Mendès-France supporting the accords, an attack on the settlement by former Foreign Minister Bidault, and the text of the resolution adopted, see France, Journal Officiel, Assemblée Nationale, 1954, Débats, pp. 3533–3547 and 3573–3589. The Embassy in France commented at length on the debate in despatch 282 of Aug. 2. (751G.00/8–254)↩