Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file
Memorandum for the Files by the President
The situation at Dien Bien Phu looks a bit brighter than it has for the last ten days. Apparently there has been some re-supply of ammunition and of food, but so far as I know, the difficult problem of the care of the wounded has not been alleviated.
There has likewise been some evidence of a resurgence of French courage and determination. We just received a request for some perforated steel plate for two airfields and for some additional supplies of P.O.L. (Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants).1 They want also a few experts in the laying of steel plate. In addition, they want a small quantity of earth-moving machines.
I have directed expeditious evaluation of our resources and of our legal authority also to comply with the requests at once. The Under Secretary of State is following this up and will let me know the result.
Latest reports from Foster Dulles indicate that the British have taken a very definite stand against any collective conversations looking toward the development of an anti-Communist coalition in South East Asia. Moreover, Eden has apparently gone to the Geneva Conference under strict instructions to press earnestly for a “cease fire” in Indo-China, possibly with complete indifference to the complex decisions that the French and the Viet Namese will have to make.2 [Page 1423] The only reason that we can visualize for such action is that the British are afraid that if the fighting continues we—and possibly other countries—might become involved and so tend to increase the danger, in the British opinion, of starting World War III.
The attitude of Britain in this respect is bitterly resented by Australia and New Zealand. It is entirely possible that these two countries will approach the United States separately to request that in company with them—and possibly with the Philippines, Thailand, France and Indo-China—we form a coalition to the complete exclusion of the British. This would be a very tough one for us, but I think that I would go along with the idea because I believe that the British government is showing a woeful unawareness of the risks we run in that region.
- See footnote 1, supra .↩
- For reports from Secretary Dulles regarding his discussions with Foreign Secretary Eden at Geneva, see vol. xvi, pp. 553 ff.↩