751G.00/9–1354: Telegram
The Ambassador in Vietnam (Heath) to the Department of State
990. Repeated information Paris 331, Hanoi unn. Department pass USIA. Re Deptel 943, sent Paris 811 and Paris telegram sent Department 1037, repeated Saigon 115, Hanoi 13.1 Following are excerpts of conversation between PAO Hellyer and press officer Simpson of USIS and French combat cameraman Pierre Schoendorffer.
Schoendorffer three year veteran numerous combat missions Indochina was captured when Dien Bien Phu fell. Recently released he has returned Saigon. Following comments regarding Dien Bien Phu and Viet Minh methods are his:
“De Castries was complete failure both as fighting man and decent officer. He badly organized defense after taking over from Gilles giving one of most important positions near airstrip to Algerian battalion (one of his favorites) with result that battalion collapsed under [Page 2022] first attacks and although Legionaries attempted several times to take back position, it was never again usable. Toward end when collapse Dien Bien Phu became inevitable, Colonels Bigeard and Langlais repeatedly requested that attempt be made to break out of fort and head for Laos, thus saving at least some of garrison. These requests refused both by De Castries and Navarre. When whole picture began to fall apart De Castries retired into himself and would spend long hours in headquarters bunker going over maps and playing bridge with some of his staff. Bigeard and Langlais carried burden, continually exposing themselves to heavy artillery bombardments as they moved from strong point to strong point. De Castries left shelter once during last days to visit wounded, but voyage was quick and for most part through communications trench from headquarters bunker to hospital. During last days Langlais in effect took complete operational command seldom bothering even consult De Castries.”
Questioned on possibility De Castries declaration to East German correspondent Schoendorffer said, “I would not doubt De Castries made such a statement knowing his character.” In regard De Castries treatment while prisoner Schoendorffer said Viet Minh treated De Castries with contempt but at same time showed great respect for Colonels Bigeard and Langlais.
Schoendorffer has always been what one could call liberal left wing Frenchman. Therefore, reactions after captivity particularly significant. Schoendorffer said never realized how serious threat the Viet Minh Communists were and expressed thought “these people are threat to all Asia.” He told of Communist indoctrination classes that he attended and described efforts young Viet Minh lieutenants to indoctrinate him as “pitifully inadequate.” He did state, however, that fact Viet Minh thought he was swallowing line and seemed content with indoctrination, was dangerous thing. He stated that he had never seen people so controlled and so persecuted as Viet Minh he had contact with. He also said that before capture he felt that Viet Minh were mostly Nationalists sprinkled with Communists, but now is certain that Communists have complete control of party. He said that strong anti-American campaign was carried out among men captured from Dien Bien Phu. Each day news from Geneva conference was read to prisoners and if conference had not accomplished much during day blame was laid on Americans.
Schoendorffer said he had fill of Russian and Chinese films. He said that movie showings were at least three times week, consisted mostly of heavy, tragic propaganda films shown with portable projection units. Schoendorffer’s over-all comment on Viet Minh is perhaps most significant: “they are people who have forgotten how to smile.”
[Page 2023]Schoendorffer plans return North Vietnam to film Viet Minh entry Hanoi. This plus the fact still employed by French makes necessary his name remain classified.
- Telegram 943 to Saigon, Sept. 8, not printed, concerned anti-American statements allegedly made by Colonel de Castries, the French commander at Dien Bien Phu, when interviewed by an East German correspondent prior to his release by the Viet Minh. (751G.00/9–854) In telegram 1037 from Paris, Sept. 10, the Embassy reported that according to the French Foreign Ministry, de Castries never made the statements attributed to him. (751G.00/9–1054)↩