396.1 GE/5–1454: Telegram
The United States Delegation to the Department of State
priority
Secto 206. Repeated information Saigon 70, Paris 263, Hanoi 2. Delegation has been operating on assumption that situation in Indochina would not deteriorate radically during coming weeks and hence that time [was?] available required in order that efforts to reach common allied position defense Indochina and remainder southeast Asia might crystallize. Also indications here Communist bloc playing for time. In light of certain telegrams reaching delegation today indicating rapidly deteriorating political and military situation and persistent rumors Vietnamese-Viet Minh contacts we wonder if our assumption continues valid.
In view above, request Washington provide best coordinated military and political estimate on situation in Indochina we are likely to be facing (1) two weeks and (2) one month from now.1