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

73. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France¹

Washington, March 25, 1955—7:55 p.m.

3384. Paris 4107 repeated Saigon 600.² French Minister Millet called morning 25th to discuss reference telegram.

We told him had not yet heard from Collins and wished reserve our formal views until receiving his comments.

As preliminary reaction we felt proposed démarche had certain defects.

Seemed hardly necessary urge Diem get in contact with sects since he had repeatedly invited them to meet with him.

Tenor of démarche implied an equality of status between government and sects. Fact is sects are rebels motivated by selfish considerations acting against legal government.

We felt emphasis should be on a strong joint French-U.S. warning to sects by Collins and Ely. In such warning we should not give impression we would help them gain their objectives as implied in proposed text. Instead they should be informed bluntly that US and France opposed their threatened violent action.

French should inform sects that FEC at request Diem Government would prevent movement of sect forces into Saigon.³

Above points conveyed Millet as illustrative our initial reaction and we would reply more fully when Collins’ views known here.

Believe preferable above not be passed to French since already transmitted by Millet.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/3–2455. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Hoey and signed by Robertson. Also sent to Saigon.
2. In this telegram, March 24, Achilles reported on a meeting with French officials in which the French submitted for American consideration a proposed text of a Franco-American démarche to Diem and the sects. Ely and Collins were to encourage a meeting between the sects and Diem to work out a peaceful solution to the problem of integration of the sects into the National Government. (ibid.)
3. In telegram 4151 from Paris, March 26, Achilles reminded the Department that Ely had categorically stated several times that the FEC would not intervene on behalf of the Diem government or the sects in the current Saigon crisis. Ely and the French Government only envisioned intervention of the FEC to protect the lives and property of French and foreign nationals. (Ibid., 751G.00/3–2655)