751G.00/6–1654
Memorandum for the Files by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Key)
confidential
[Washington,] June 16, 1954.
Subject:
- Conversation between The Secretary and Mr. Key re Vietnamese Appeal to the United Nations
In response to my request for guidance with respect to the position which I should take regarding the Vietnamese Ambassador’s desire to [Page 1710] obtain our views about bringing the Vietnamese case to the attention of the U.N., Secretary Dulles stated:
- 1)
- We should not attempt to reach any decision until after we have had an opportunity to consult with General Smith upon his return here next week, especially so in view of the fluid situation in Vietnam and the uncertainty about Bao Dai’s future. If Bao Dai is repudiated by the Vietnamese, we may wish to throw our support to another group.
- 2)
- The Secretary approved my receiving the Vietnamese Ambassador. There would be no objection to furnishing the Ambassador whatever technical information he requests and I should confine myself mainly to listening to what he may have to say.1
- 3)
- The Secretary agreed that the French should be informed about the Ambassador’s call.
David McK.
Key
- Assistant Secretary Key met with Tran Van Kha, the Vietnamese Ambassador, on the afternoon of June 16. Key’s memorandum of that conversation, dated June 17, read in part as follows: “I told the Ambassador that I thought such an approach [by Vietnam to the United Nations] was technically quite possible, but said that from the political standpoint we could not yet see clearly how or when it would be advisable to embark on it. I said we wanted to see General Smith on his return to Washington so that we might consider the matter in the light of the situation at Geneva.” (751G.00/6–1754)↩