751G.00/10–2554: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
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1719. Repeated information Saigon 219. Eyes only Acting Secretary. Saigon eyes only Ambassador. Re Deptel 1499.1La Chambre is due at 1:30 this afternoon and will be met by Gibson, who will give him revised final copy of note made during Secretary’s conversation [Page 2175] with Mendes and Eden.2 Copy being forwarded Washington by air pouch today.
Mendes was considerably excited when I spoke to him on telephone and stated that he was speaking from information which he had received from Ely and La Chambre. I do not believe he has any clear idea himself of what he meant by violation of France-US understandings of September 27–29, and I gather he was merely repeating language contained in telegrams from Ely and La Chambre, who apparently feel that agreement has been violated.
Based on statements by Mendes during meeting with Secretary on Saturday I feel that misunderstanding is primarily a question of timing and relates to para four of reftel. Mendes during conversation with Secretary stated agreement had been reached in Washington to set up tripartite commissions in each of three Associated States to coordinate distribution of aid and that this decision had not as yet been implemented and should be implemented promptly. I think that French feel that we should have completed arrangements with them for coordination of aid program before delivery of letter to Diem rather than after delivery of letter as is now the case. I feel that this is a primary element of misunderstanding. A secondary element may well be that French seem to feel that a bargain of sorts was struck in Washington by which they agreed to our furnishing military aid directly to Associated States in return for continuation of substantial U.S. support for French Expeditionary Corps. They feel that while U.S. made no commitment on this subject French suggestion was not rejected and its eventual acceptance was implicit in the overall negotiations. They may have felt that U.S. was unable to make specific proposal in September due to the atmosphere resulting from defeat of EDC, but they hoped and probably believed that negotiating regarding U.S. support for Expeditionary Corps should have been started simultaneously with the commencement of the direct aid program to the Associated States.
A rereading of minutes of Washington meetings also leads me to believe that La Chambre may have felt that he had an agreement from us not to proceed with delivery of letter to Diem prior to further consultation with him.
Reftel is very helpful and I hope I will be able on the basis of information contained therein to straighten matter out with La Chambre. I see no reason for Department sending anyone to Paris unless and until I am unsuccessful with La Chambre. Only if he continues to feel that there has been a serious violation of the September [Page 2176] understanding would I recommend that Department send someone who participated fully in September negotiations to Paris.
FonOff has just made tentative appointment for me to see La Chambre at 4 o’clock this afternoon.