751G.00/10–2154: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Corcoran) to the Department of State
priority
319. Sent Saigon 418, Paris 114. Following is translation of article appearing last page Nhandan of October 20:
“American imperialists, since their defeat at Geneva, have become stupid. The American imperialists are stupid—they don’t face facts. All the world knows that the Geneva agreement has clearly stated that all French troops must withdraw from Hanoi and many other cities in North Vietnam, and that the DRV will take over and manage these cities. Here, some days ago, the French High Command signed an agreement with DRV delegates handing over the city of Hanoi. On October 10 the Government and the army of the DRV triumphantly entered and took over Hanoi. The power of the DRV has superseded French and rebel (Bao Dai) powers. All these things have made the Americans angry, and they are in despair. Reactionary American journalists and the American radio are pessimistic about the DRV takeover of Hanoi. Then, the Americans stupidly tried to perpetrate a ruse. The Americans have not established diplomatic relations with us nevertheless they have kept the Hanoi Consulate open. The American State Department has declared: ‘The Geneva treaty has not settled the question of the establishment of a new government in zones evacuated by French troops. That is why the American Consulate has remained open.’ Only fools are ignorant of the fact that the present political power in Hanoi is the power of the Vietnamese people, which is led by the DRV Government.” End of Article.