Office of the Historian

751G.00/10–2154: Telegram

The Consul at Hanoi (Corcoran) to the Department of State

secret
priority
Hanoi, October 21, 1954—3 p.m.

318. Sent Saigon 416, Paris 113. Called on Sainteny this morning for brief exchange impressions recent developments.

He said he had long visit with Ho Chi Minh October 18 and found him looking better than ever and slightly stouter than before. All [Page 2148] rumors concerning Ho’s death or disappearance thus proved false. From “psychological” point of view he found Ho’s attitude “surprising”. Ho Chi Minh was disposed to retain French presence and culture in north Vietnam and to continue contact with France and other non-Communist countries. Sainteny said Ho Chi Minh indicated he was not only inclined to have relations with non-Communist nations but in a position to do so. That is, Ho was not a “slave” of other Viet Minh elements. Sainteny is not sure himself of just what real authority Ho Chi Minh possesses at this juncture.

Sainteny says he has no illusions about genuineness of Viet Minh brand of Communism. They are Communists but he is inclined to believe they are “moderate” Communists. He thinks the “moderation” may just be part of current Malenkov party line but feels it is further modified by strong unwillingness to be completely absorbed into Sino-Soviet bloc.

Viet Minh attitude towards French cultural presence is, he says, encouraging. Lycee Albert Sarraut has entrance applications from more Vietnamese students than it can handle. Sainteny is asking Saigon to send ten or twelve more teachers.

Sainteny has the impression that the present phase of Viet Minh occupation is a military one and that the Viet Minh civil government will remain out of the city for the time being.

Sainteny had an interesting conversation with Nehru. He thinks Nehru would like to be the great peacemaker of the Far East but found him very well informed on affairs in north Vietnam and possessed of an engaging personality and great popularity. He summarized his attitude towards the Viet Minh by saying: “You can be a colonizer or a slave trader (Negrier). If you are a colonizer you build the colonial peoples up and then when they are built up they no longer want to remain colonials. It is natural. It is better to make peace with them than to fight such a war as we have fought here.”

Sainteny will fly to Saigon tomorrow for another meeting with LaChambre.1

Corcoran

  1. Telegram 1583 from Ambassador Heath at Saigon, Oct. 26, read as follows:

    “Over week end Sainteny came to see me. While he professed scepticism that DRV would behave any differently than other Communist states, he nevertheless insisted there was a possibility DRV might follow policy of ‘peaceful co-existence’ with free world and might even be encouraged thereto by Communist China. He said he did not take as gospel Ho Chi Minh’s assurance to him ‘peaceful coexistence’ would be sought for but he thought it was possibility that should be explored. Altogether Sainteny gave me impression of still indulging in wishful thinking and I certainly had very definite impression he conceived of his position in Hanoi as much more than that of a consular protector of French interests.” (751G.00/10–2654)

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