396.1 GE/6–2954: Telegram

The United States Delegation to the Department of State

secret

Secto 544. Repeated information Paris 519, Saigon 226. Paris and Saigon eyes only. Department limit distribution. Chauvel told me this afternoon that no progress whatever in military talks with Viet Minh and does not expect any progress for several days. He felt they were trying little war of nerves on French and advised Paris he felt it important that French “stand firm”.

UK have received report from UN and Swiss Security officers Molotov is due return Geneva July 8.

At recess, Kuznetsov referred to press reports I was being withdrawn from Geneva, saying he thought it “important” I not leave. I jocularly told him not to necessarily believe everything he reads in the press, but noted I had been absent from Prague since March.

Johnson