Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Vietnam, Volume I

189. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State¹

Paris, May 13, 1955—6 p.m.

Polto 2308. For Acting Secretary and Reinhardt. Tripartite Ministerial Meeting.

1. At conclusion of tripartite ministerial meeting on Indochina May 11 (Secto 42²) I said that in my judgment, best manner to proceed would be for us to draft instructions³ to Ambassador Reinhardt which we would be glad to show to French and British before putting them in final form. French could at same time draft instructions to Ely. Pursuant to this understanding US and French advisers met afternoon May 12 with UK also represented. We presented our draft for their comments and French presented their draft instructions for ours. French instructions were in two parts: first consisted of résumé of tripartite discussions which did not correctly portray our position. Second consisted of their instructions to Ely. French sought our approval to their instructions indicating willingness discuss modification their language in effort obtain concurrence their instructions. US advisers refused to do this. I had pointed out to French my opinion that complicated nature Vietnamese problem did not lend itself to making firm and detailed agreements between us and any attempt to do so might well pave way for mutual recriminations later. Therefore, I have suggested and insisted upon this scheme of parallel but unagreed instructions as a substitute procedure.

2. Following yesterday’s meeting with French, I went over French suggestions on our draft instructions and put them in final form (see immediately preceding telegram⁴). Ambassador Dillon will show these final instructions May 13 to French informing them we have given full consideration to their suggestions and have taken them into account in preparing our final draft. In conveying substance our instructions to French, Ambassador Dillon will make clear that: (a) these are views of US Government taking into account French comments; (b) it is our earnest hope that French instructions to Ely will be along same lines; (c) in accordance with views I expressed to Faure, we feel French instructions should not include any reference to points made by either side at talks and should not purport to indicate any bipartite or tripartite “agreement”. They should merely be unilateral French instructions finalized after receiving US comments on their first draft.

3. After some discussion it was agreed that no communiqué on Vietnam would be issued at termination of tripartite meetings. However, each side has individually told the press that we have reached a common judgement as to correct approach to problem.

[

Dulles

]

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1/5–1355. Secret. Repeated for information to Vienna for MacArthur and Robertson.
2. Document 186.
3. The text of those instructions is in Secto 46, supra.
4. According to Polto 2315, May 14, this telegram was drafted and approved by Dulles and should have been sent in the Secto series. (Department of State, Central Files, 396.1/5–1455) Therefore, the immediately preceding telegram was Secto 46, supra.