396.1 GE/7–1554: Telegram
The United States
Delegation to the Department of
State
top secret
niact
Geneva, July 15, 1954—8
p.m.
Secto 615. Sent Paris 63, Saigon
35. Following is unofficial translation made by UK
del of Soviet counterproposal to
French draft declaration (Secto
5971) to be issued by
conference:
- “1. The participants of the Geneva conference on the
question of reestablishing peace in Indochina approve
the bilateral agreements which put an end to hostilities
in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and which establish an
international control and supervision over the
implementation of the said decisions.
- 2. The conference takes note with satisfaction of the
statement made by the French Government to the effect
that, when settling all problems connected with the
re-establishment and consolidation of peace in Vietnam,
Laos and Cambodia, it proceeds from the recognition of
the complete sovereignty and independence, unity and
territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia.
- 3. In its relations with Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia,
each participant of the Geneva conference, regardless of
its political, military,
[Page 1385]
diplomatic or other relations
with the said states, at the time of the signature of
the agreements on the cessation of hostilities,
undertakes to recognize and respect the sovereignty,
independence, unity and integrity of the said states and
to refrain from any interference in their internal
affairs.
- 4. The conference takes note of the agreement of the
parties that all foreign troops and foreign military
personnel will be withdrawn from the territories of
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia within time limits to be
determined by agreement between the parties.
- 5. The conference takes note of the agreement, reached
between the parties, that the transfer from abroad into
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, of new military units and
military personnel, of all kinds of arms and ammunition
will not be permitted and that the import of arms into
Laos and Cambodia will be limited in relation to the
established defense requirements of these
countries.
- 6. The conference takes note of the agreement reached
by the parties, that after the cessation of hostilities,
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia must not enter any military
alliances whatsoever, and that the establishment of
foreign bases on the territories of the said states must
not be permitted.
- 7. The conference notes that the agreements regarding
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have as their goal the
settlement of military questions in order to put an end
to hostilities in Indochina. As far as political
problems are concerned, these will be settled within the
shortest possible time by means of direct negotiations
between the interested parties in accordance with the
provisions contained in the present declaration.
- 8. The conference declares that, in respect of
Vietnam, the settlement of political problems effected
on the basis of respect for the principles of the
independence, unity and fundamental freedoms guaranteed
by democratic institutions established as a result of
free elections by secret ballot. These elections will be
conducted under the control of an International
Commission composed of representatives of the member
states of the commission for control and supervision
mentioned in the agreement on the cessation of
hostilities, when the agreed opinion, reached by
consultation between the competent representative
authorities of the northern and southern zones of
Vietnam, is that the re-establishment of peace in the
country shall have made sufficient progress and when all
the conditions necessary for a free expression of the
national will shall have been created, but not later
than June 1955.
- 9. The conference takes note of the declaration by the
Governments of Cambodia and Laos of their intention to
hold general free elections by secret ballot, and to
take all measures to enable all citizens to take their
place in the national community. These elections should
take place before June 1955. In order to conduct general
free elections, the Governments of Cambodia and Laos
must ensure individual rights and democratic freedoms
for the whole population of these states, in particular,
freedom of speech and press, freedom of meetings and
organizations, freedom of residence and of
movement.
- 10. The competent representative authorities of the
northern and southern zones of Vietnam as well as the
authorities of Laos and Cambodia
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must not permit
individual or collective collaboration in any way with
one or the other side during the war. These persons and
the members of their families should be afforded
individual freedom and freedom of political activity and
right to elect and be elected.
- 11. The provisions contained in the agreement on the
cessation of hostilities, aimed at protecting persons’
property, must be very strictly implemented, and should
in particular afford any person in Vietnam the right to
choose the zone in which he wishes to reside.
- 12. The members of the conference agree to hold
consultations among themselves on any question referred
to them by the International Commission on control and
supervision, in order to consider collective measures
which may prove to be necessary in order to ensure
observance of the agreement on the cessation of
hostilities in Indochina.
- 13. The members of the Geneva conference express their
confidence that, as a result of the implementation of
the provisions contained in the present declaration and
in the agreement on the cessation of hostilities, which
ensure the re-establishment of peace in Indochina,
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia will freely develop in
conditions of independence and sovereignty along the
road of improving their economy and raising the standard
of living of their people, and will make their useful
contribution to the common cause of consolidating peace
and cooperation among peoples.”
