751G.00/8–1654
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)
Participants:
- The Acting Secretary
- G—Mr. Murphy
- EUR—Mr. Merchant
- Ambassador Henri Bonnet
- Mr. Gontran de Juniac, French Minister
At the conclusion of a call on another subject the French Ambassador raised with the Acting Secretary the question of the position of the French cultural and commercial organizations in North Vietnam. He said that the French Government had decided to keep these institutions (such as the French-operated coal mines, the French hospital and probably the French high school in Hanoi) in operation notwithstanding the risk to which the French citizens employed would be subjected. The purpose was to avoid leaving the field in the Delta to the Vietminh and to attempt to keep hope alive in the North pending the elections in 1956. Consequently, the French Government hoped [Page 1951] that these individuals and organizations would not be placed on any embargo or black list by the United States Government.
The Acting Secretary replied that this was a difficult and involved subject which he would be happy to discuss with the Ambassador at another time. He also pointed out that it was essential that we reach an understanding with the French on a number of matters—political as well as economic—relating to Vietnam and the other two Associated States. He said we intended to do all in our power to preserve this area in freedom but that in order for us to proceed it was essential that the United States have a clear understanding of what French intentions and plans were. The Ambassador indicated that he was at the Acting Secretary’s disposal at any time for such a talk.1
- A memorandum of conversation by Tyler of WE indicates that Ambassador Bonnet and Secretary Dulles considered this subject in an inconclusive manner during a meeting of Aug. 18 which was devoted to various subjects of common concern. (611.51/8–1854)↩