751G.00/5–1854: Telegram
The Chargé at Saigon (McClintock) to the Department of State
2443. Repeated information Paris 863, London 67, Moscow 8, Geneva 128. Secto 197, repeated Paris 254, London 159, Saigon 64, Moscow 68,1 suggests that Vietnamese armistice proposals will be quite unacceptable to other side. I wonder if this is a safe conclusion. Essence of Vietnamese proposals as set out Secto 190, repeated London 154, Paris 247, Saigon 61,2 is recognition of principle that only state qualified legally to represent Vietnam is state personified by His Majesty Bao Dai and recognition of principle of single army in entire territory placed under direction and responsibility of State of Vietnam. Accordingly, Viet Minh soldiers are to be incorporated in Vietnamese National Army.
Bao Dai was once supreme counselor to Ho Chi-minh and he might possibly be willing contemplate a settlement along lines proposed which would in fact result in Ho Chi-minh taking over this country under aegis of His Majesty. So-called principle for incorporation of Viet Minh troops into Vietnamese National Army in light of parlous state of morale that army and its utter lack of cadres could only lead, in my judgment, to turning present Vietnamese National Army into a Viet Minh army, irrespective of by what name it might be called.3
- For text of telegram Secto 197 from Geneva, May 13, see vol. xvi, p. 789.↩
- Telegram Secto 190 from Geneva, May 12, contained the text of the Vietnamese proposals presented at the Third Plenary Session on Indochina. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 256) The proposals are documented in vol. xvi, pp. 783 ff.↩
- McClintock further discussed the possibility of an accommodation between the Vietnamese Government and the Viet Minh in telegram 2446 from Saigon, May 18. (751G.00/5–1854)↩