751G.00/5–1154: Telegram
The Chargé at Saigon (McClintock) to the Department of State
[Received 1:53 p.m.]
2331. Repeated information Paris 811. Last night De Jean told me that he had it on absolute authority that it was on United States initiative that a carrier air strike was offered to relieve Dien Bien Phu. He said Bidault had not made a request for such aerial support until it had already been offered with some insistence by Admiral Radford.
If this is part of the mythology of our times, I feel I should be authorized to refute this statement, as otherwise it will contribute to increasing proportions of French fairy tale that US, by actions of commission or omission, is equally responsible for whatever happens in Indochina.