Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 242: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation1

secret
Washington, May 20, 1954—6:26 p.m.

Tedul 95. Defense informs us that Gen Valluy called on Admiral Radford this morning saying French were much upset over news report from London published yesterday about forthcoming five power military talks.2 General Valluy said French were completely uninformed about such talks.3 Radford replied that we had had a preliminary exchange of views with UK but no final decisions had been reached and that obviously as soon as matter was a little more concrete it would of course be discussed with French.

General Valluy also commented that French would be unable to reach any final decision about possible five power military talks until after Ely’s return to Paris from Indochina sometime next week.4

Dulles
  1. Drafted by MacArthur. Repeated to Paris as telegram 4187 and to London as telegram 6223.↩
  2. See telegram Tedul 88, May 19, p. 856.↩
  3. The U.S. Delegation in telegram Dulte 94, May 21, informed the Department of State with reference to Tedul 95 that the delegation “assume[d] Defense has advised General Valluy French were advised here on May 15 of impending talks. Bidault may not have advised Paris or Paris not advised Valluy.” (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 245)↩
  4. The Department of State in telegram Tedul 104, May 21, informed the U.S. Delegation that “Valluy informed Radford this morning that French agree to five-power military talks and indicated that Valluy will probably be French representative.” (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 242)↩