751G.5/5–1654: Telegram
The United States Delegation to the Department of State
Secto 229. Repeated information Paris 278, Saigon 83. Following is Heath’s account of his talk with Bao Dai at Paris Friday:1
“Bao Dai had planned to drive his family down to Cannes Friday morning but postponed his departure until afternoon to see me. I told him I had thought it a good thing to get his present views on conference. Bao Dai said that although he had seen a great many people [Page 824] during his stay in Paris he had been unable to obtain any clear view of what were intentions of French Government regarding Vietnam and Indochina, or how French attitude towards Indochina would develop. When he left Saigon he had not intended to remain long, but in this situation of complete uncertainty of French intention and actions which might gravely affect Vietnam, he thought it necessary to remain where he could consult with French Government and also keep in close touch with his own delegation to Geneva Conference. He believed or rather hoped that French were “so committed” (engagé) in this war that they could not withdraw their forces from Indochina, but he was far from sure of this.
“I then said that reports had reached us indicating a marked deterioration in political situation of Vietnam and that view had been expressed in Vietnam, with an echo in Washington that it was necessary for him to return to Vietnam now in order to take hold of things. Bao Dai said that there was some deterioration in Vietnam of which he was fully aware but it did not, he thought, present any immediate dangers and was in part caused by uncertainty regarding French intentions. He thought it better for him for moment to stay nearby in France. He indicated that he had thought to return to Saigon either with firm assurances that French would resist any Communist pressure for a phony peace settlement or that French had decided to give up and in which latter case he would return and head a national movement of resistance to Viet Minh. He was inclined to doubt that French would like him to return and issue an appeal for resistance to Viet Minh at very moment when French were still negotiating an armistice with latter at Geneva.
“He said that he had been disturbed by first press reports of Secretary’s press conference of May 11.2 I reassured him that in first press reports transmitted phrases taken out of their context and summarized complete statement for him.
“Bao Dai then said that he was deeply grateful for America’s support and conscious that we had political problems at home in connection with this support. He wanted to say he would welcome any suggestions on our part as to what he might do or say that would be helpful in furthering our policy toward Vietnam. I said I would report this to Washington, mentioned that the Under Secretary would be glad of chance to meet him and talk things over with him, and inquired whether he intended to come, as I had heard, to near-by Evian. He said he would come to Evian and asked when Under Secretary would be free to see him there. I replied that Under Secretary would be somewhat freer of conference duties on Sunday and if Bao Dai were planning to go to Evian then, Under Secretary would drive over to see him. Bao Dai said that he would be in Evian on Sunday next.”3
This has been cleared with French and I will make a short visit today. British also informed.
- May 14.↩
- For summary of the Secretary’s press conference, see footnote 1, p. 772.↩
- May 16.↩