751G.00/5–1854: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
4426. Sent Saigon 536 repeated information Geneva 253 Department 4426. Ranking official secretariat relations Associated States informs [Page 1581] us that request for piastre transfers to francs on part of Vietnamese officials particularly in Bao Dai’s immediate entourage have grown precipitously in recent days. Requests are camouflaged as “expense” (in vastly excessive amounts) for negotiating delegation or, on the part of one cabinet minister, as required to purchase property in France for “retirement”.
Although not surprised French deplore this evidence of Vietnamese “patriots” leaving sinking ship.