751G.00/6–1054: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France1
4508. Eyes only Ambassador. Following translation text message from Ely to Radford received evening June 9:
“I have not yet made a survey of the military situation, especially in Tonkin. However, it seems to me that the decision I will have to take regarding the operations will rest on the US intentions, in the present situation, as well as those they anticipate in the future.
“Therefore, I would very much like to have, either in Paris, where I expect to be possibly on the 19th June, or here in Saigon, as soon as possible, an exchange of views with a qualified representative of Admiral Radford, in order to know what I can expect on the part of the U.S.”
Prior to French decision to request internationalization, we consider undesirable to start yet another series conversations which would inevitably provoke on French side all kinds hopes and interpretations with regard basic issue US intervention which would only cause further confusion. In other words, it is our feeling that we should not be eased into a series of piecemeal commitments resulting from collateral military conversations in the absence of an understanding with the French Government based on our general proposal described in Tedul 54.2 Radford has accordingly informed General Valluy orally that US position was given to Ambassador Bonnet by Secretary June 9 and that he is not in position at this time to respond to Ely’s request for conversations on subject raised his message.
With regard to US training Vietnamese troops, we feel that situation Viet Nam has degenerated to point where any commitment at this time to send over US instructors in near future might expose us to being faced with situation in which it would be contrary to our interests to have to fulfill such commitment. Our position accordingly is that we do not wish to consider US training mission or program separately from over-all operational plan on assumption conditions fulfilled for US participation war Indochina.