Office of the Historian

751G.00/10–2354

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)1

top secret
Paris, October 23, 1954.

Subject:

  • Indochina

Participants:

  • The Secretary
  • Sir Anthony Eden
  • Sir Harold Caccia
  • Mr. Denis Allen
  • Mr. Merchant

During the meeting of the Secretary with Eden on other subjects reported separately, he took occasion to inform Eden in detail on development our thinking and plans regarding Vietnam. The Secretary told him that he would be happy to have him join him at his meeting later in the day with Mendes-France on this subject. Eden accepted with appreciation and then read a cable from Sir Hubert Graves in Saigon which indicated that he fully shared Heath’s deep concern over the existing political situation in South Vietnam but in conclusion plumped for Tam as successor to Diem.2

In general Eden expressed full support for our position but the inference seemed clear that the UK is principally concerned with Laos and has little confidence that the position in South Vietnam can be saved.

  1. This meeting was held at the British Embassy.↩
  2. The source text is accompanied by a one-page summary not printed, of the position of Ambassador Graves. A handwritten notation by Merchant on that document states that Eden presented it to Dulles on Oct. 23 and also gave a copy to Premier Mendés-France.↩