751G.00/12–1954
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)
Participants:
- The Secretary
- Mr. Lester Pearson, Canadian Minister of External Affairs
- Mr. Merchant
During a call on another subject Mr. Pearson discussed at some length the difficulties which the Canadians were finding in their membership [Page 2407] on the International Control Commission in Indochina. In the early days the Poles had been reasonably cooperative. They are now however bringing in people in additional numbers and they are getting very much more difficult. They are blocking action on complaints from our side and countering every complaint of a violation with additional complaints from the Viet Minh. The Indians on the whole have been fairly good but still lean over backwards to appear neutral.
He said that the Canadian military officers on the Commission had been secretly instructed to take advantage of every opportunity for observing military preparations or activities in Viet Minh territory. So far they have not seen any clear signs of a build-up for a resumption of hostilities. He is worried over their inability to supervise the whole length of the Chinese border but thought the French would be unreasonable if they complained too harshly. The region is so rough, transport so limited and the border so long it is really a physical impossibility to cover more than the three or four main ports of entry. Even on these, obstacles are placed in their way for effective observation. He expressed concern over the situation in the two northern provinces of Laos but said they are beginning to get Commission units in there now. He was critical of the French for not having made available helicopters and light aircraft facilities which he was inclined to feel they were using for other less important purposes.
[Here follows discussion of a subject other than Indochina.]