611.51/10–3054: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
1835. Rptd info Saigon 242. Following delivery of the Secretary’s message to Mendes-France this morning (Embtel [Deptel] 1565)1 Ambassador delivered copy to LaChambre.
LaChambre accepted text with little comment. He seemed particularly pleased at evidences our intention to have a full exchange of views and information with the French before taking action. He recalled how in his last talk with General Smith before leaving Washington, they had agreed that a means must be found to adjust Franco-US policy to changing circumstances. They agreed that it would be necessary to have periodic exchanges of views either in Paris or Washington. They considered that one way to coordinate action would be [Page 2197] to delegate a greater degree of authority to the top U.S. and French representatives in Saigon.
This constitutes suggestion which LaChambre is now making as a means of improving Franco-US coordination of policy and avoiding misunderstandings such as we have just encountered. He reiterated his own confidence in Ambassador Heath and his willingness to delegate full authority to General Ely so that he and Ambassador Heath, if the Dept saw fit to give him a similar authority, could study problems on the spot, make formal recommendations and take joint action on their own responsibility. He offered his personal opinion that in recent instances Heath had received instructions to take action which was not what he might have done on his own. LaChambre stated that under no circumstances would decisions be taken in Paris on Indochina policy without consulting Ely in advance.
The Minister then went on to make a series of other observations on Indochina affairs which are subject of immediately following telegram.2
- For telegram 1565 to Paris, Oct. 29, containing the text of the Secretary of State’s message to Premier Mendès-France, see p. 2193. Regarding delivery of the message by Dillon, see telegram 1839 from Paris, Oct. 30, infra.↩
- Telegram 1836 from Paris, Oct. 30, reporting La Chambre’s observations on the Diem–Hinh conflict in general, the intentions of Bao Dai, the possibility of including Tam in the government, and other aspects of the situation, is not printed. (751G.13/10–3054)↩