751G.00/11–1654: Telegram
The Ambassador in Canada (Stuart) to the Department of State
priority
[Received November 17—1:59 a.m.]
102. Mendes-France met today with Prime Minister and Canadian officials to discuss Europe and Indochina.1 Expressed confidence he could obtain ratification agreements otherwise his comments European situation had no particular significance. In Mendes’ view given fairly satisfactory conditions the future of Laos and Cambodia as independent frail political entities (like Burma) can be assured. He [Page 2259] still has misgivings about two northern provinces of Laos where not even the spirit of the armistice has been observed but notes that they have long been in precarious condition contiguous to hostile territory. He commented also on the difficulty of surveying the situation in northern Laos.
Regarding Vietnam he said that any observer at the time of the armistice could have reached the conclusion that the situation four months later would be no better than it actually is. He is seriously worried over Vietnam although he said that given a more popular form of government there might be a faint hope of building up a solid democratic front.
Canadians surprised to hear him say that he had found Ho Chi-Minh not completely uncooperative. He gave various instances of cooperation such as supply of coal from Hanoi to Haiphong. Also French representative Hanoi while not officially recognized is being given VIP status by Viet Minh. Mendes believes that we will have real clue to Viet Minh intentions when Haiphong finally handed over.
In general Mendes felt that our best chance was through “Politique de Souplesse”.
Mendes indicated that he is particularly worried over Ngo Dinh Diem and intends to discuss that situation particularly with the Secretary. Will also discuss proposed SEATO meeting in Bangkok called to consider Vietnam elections and believes it unwise proceed too quickly with this. Canadians hitherto unaware of this project.
Canadians observed that Mendes seems fully aware of realities of US life and the situation of the administration vis-à-vis various shades of opinion. He also recognizes the importance of the US and welcomes American power in Southeast Asia but feels that France has had much more experience in that theater than we have.
- Premier Mendès-France visited Canada en route to Washington for conversations with U.S. officials, Nov. 18–20. On the afternoon of Nov. 17, Lester B. Pearson, Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs, briefed Secretary Dulles by telephone on the Canadian talks with Mendès-France. Dulles’ office record of that conversation read in part as follows: “P. is worried about Indochina and they told MF they would go along to try to work things out on the Commission without forcing the issue, but the time may come soon when unless there is some change on the part of Poland, they may have to force some issues. MF said the situation is not any worse than we might have expected 3–4 months ago. MF is worried most about Northern Laos and the weakness of the Government in the South. He was not too much of an alarmist and was full of determination to push things through.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, “Telephone Conversations”) Telegram 105 from Ottawa, Nov. 18, provided additional information on the Mendès-France talks in Canada. (751G.00/11–1854) Finally, in Washington on Nov. 18, Canadian Minister Glazebrook briefed William J. Galloway, Special Assistant to the Counselor, on the same subject. Galloway’s memorandum of that conversation is in file 751G.00/11–1854.↩