Editorial Note
At 6:20 p.m., Washington time, July 20, Secretary Dulles and Under Secretary Smith held the following telephone conversation:
“Nothing is happening, said the Gen. Vietnam looks pretty good—the line is the 17th parallel. The wording prohibits their joining any alliance. Both are worried about that, and being able to aid these countries. The thing is until the documents which are referred to are available, we cannot decide what to do. They are on their way, said Smith. Smith said they can have an army of their own. We don’t have to commit ourselves tonight. Then Smith said he didn’t believe there [Page 1479] would be a meeting tonight, but if there is, he would read a prepared statement. He read it to the Sec. and the Sec. thought it good. He will hold off on a plenary session until the afternoon so we can get word over there. Tonight they will probably sign a military armistice—for Vietnam and probably Laos, but probably not Cambodia. Phleger got on and he is worried about the cross-references. He said the General’s statement is good. They agreed the countries must be able to develop a security force of their own.
“It was left that when we got the documents, we would communicate with them tomorrow.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, Telephone Conversations)
At 6:43 p.m., Washington time, July 20, Secretary Dulles and Senator H. Alexander Smith held a telephone conversation in which the “Sec. said the situation is at present that we believe the belligerents will be signing a cease-fire within 15 minutes. Political declarations etc. contain cross-references and we can’t understand what they mean because we haven’t had adequate word. We will decide in the morning—we won’t sign but it is a question of whether or not we totally disassociate ourselves of it or take notice. We have impressed this on the French. S. [Smith] will just say the US position won’t be formulated until tomorrow.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, Telephone Conversations)
There is some confusion as to exactly when the armistice agreements were signed. The United States Delegation reported in telegram Secto 699, July 21, page 1487, that the agreements for Vietnam and Laos were signed at 3:30 a.m., Geneva time, July 21, The delegation reported in telegram Secto 703, July 21, not printed, that these agreements were signed at 2400 hours (midnight), July 20. (751G.00/7–2154) The final approved texts of the agreements for Vietnam and Laos indicate that they were signed at 2400 hours, July 20. Although the delegation reported in telegram Secto 704, July 21, not printed, that the agreement for Cambodia was signed at 11 a.m., Geneva time, July 21, the final approved text of the agreement only indicates that it was signed on July 20. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 261)