751G.00/10–2454: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
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[Received 12:09 p.m.]
1718. Repeated information niact Saigon 218. Washington eyes only Acting Secretary; Saigon eyes only Ambassador. Mendes France telephoned me personally after lunch today. He said he was greatly perturbed by news he had just received from La Chambre and Ely.
According to them the text of President’s letter to Diem1 which Heath had shown them before he was to deliver it is clear cut violation of Franco-American agreements reached in Washington by La Chambre. Mendes said that La Chambre and Ely felt situation was so serious that La Chambre had cut short his stay in Indochina and was now en route Paris where he will arrive tomorrow. Mendes asked me to hold myself in readiness to see La Chambre tomorrow. Mendes also said that US action as reported by Ely and La Chambre and as indicated in text of President’s letter to Diem went far beyond anything he had understood Secretary to imply in conversation yesterday reported Embtel 1717.2
Mendes then specifically asked me to get in touch with Washington immediately to relay his urgent personal request that delivery of letter to Diem be held up until we had chance to discuss matter with La Chambre tomorrow. I told him that I did not know whether or not letter had already been delivered but that I would forward his message immediately and would hold myself ready to see La Chambre any time tomorrow.
Taking into consideration our overall relationship with French resulting from successful conclusion of European negotiations and fact that Mendes feels that contents of letter to Diem go far beyond his understanding of his talk with Secretary last night, I strongly recommend that delivery of letter to Diem be temporarily held up if it has not already taken place.
It also seems that there may be fundamental misunderstanding regarding agreements reached at Washington. Suggest serious consideration [Page 2169] be given to sending MacArthur or Robertson to Paris immediately so that matter can be straightened out with La Chambre as promptly as possible. I obviously am in no position to argue with La Chambre about detailed content of agreements which he feels he reached in Washington.