FRENCH INDOCHINA THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES IN NATIONALIST OPPOSI- TION TO THE RESTORATION OF FRENCH RULE IN INDOCHINA? 851G.00/1~1449 : Telegram The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State CONFIDENTIAL Panis, January 14, 1949—2 p. m. 164. Pignon* told me Wednesday night that he is well aware that government should take adequate measures to assure inhabitants of Indochina that government stands firmly on Bay D’Along agree- ments.* He hopes Assembly can be persuaded to ratify them formally. He remarked that he believes Communist successes in China will frighten a great many Vietnamese who have been apathetic or in- different and cause them to rally to Bao Dai Sent Department 164, repeated Saigon 5. CArFERY * Continued from Foreign Relations, 1948, volume vi. Additional documentation on French Indochina is included in the material on general U.S. policies with respect to Hast Asian-Pacific area, scheduled for publication in part 2 of the present volume. Documentation on U.S. policy toward Indochina during 1949 also appears in United States Department of Defense, United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945-1967, 12 vols. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1971), Books 1 and 8 * Léon Pignon, French High Commissioner in Indochina. * See telegram 5898, December 16, 1947, 6 p. m., from Paris, Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. v1, p. 150, and despatch 30, June 6, 1948, from Hanoi, ibid., 1948, vol. v1, p. 24, ‘Former Emperor of Annam negotiating with the French regarding a new régime for Indochina. 851G.00/1-1049 : Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France SECRET Wasnineton, January 17, 1949—6 p. m. 145. Daridan* has expressed to Dept same view contained penulti- mate para urtel 107 Jan 10* qualifying his remarks however with statement that he uninformed developments past ten days which might explain optimism Overseas France officials in urtel 106 Jan 10? re negotiations with Bao Dai, 2 Jean Daridan, Counselor of the French Embassy. * Not printed. 4FRENCH INDOCHINA 5 While Dept.desirous French coming to terms with Bao Dai or any truly nationalist group which has reasonable chance winning over preponderance of Vietnamese; we cannot at this. time irretrievably commit US to support of native goyt which by failing develop appeal among Vietnamese might become virtually puppet govt, separated from people and existing only by presence French military forces. Ac- cordingly, Emb should make no additional representations to French until and unless further instructed by Dept which does not believe it desirable go beyond position outlined Deptel 2637 Jul 14° its reftel 3621 Jul 9 from Paris ¢ and Embtel 5129 Sep 30.° Dept will inform Emb re possibility any common anti-Communist action Indochina (third para Embtel 107) after it has recd Brit views as Emb London reports Brit FonOff has instructed Brit Emb Wash discuss matter with Dept. Loverr 3 Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. VI, p. 33. ‘ Ibid, p. 81. Not printed. 851G.00/1-1949 : Telegram The Ambassadorin France (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State RESTRICTED Panis, January 19, 1949—9 p, m. 250. Pignon-Bao Dai conversations ended, yesterday. Pignon re- turned Paris, saw Coste-Floret * who this morning informed Cabinet results Cannes meetings. According communiqué, cabinet “took note atmosphere cordiality and reciprocal sympathy in which conversations, which will continue in Paris.at end of week, took place”. Upon termination final meeting Bao Dai spokesman stated: “We agreed on all questions examined. Only lack. of time ‘prevented us from concluding agreement here. Work will be pursued Friday in Paris of drafting definite agreements which will be incorporated in solemn act which will make Vietnam an associated state. We are opti- mistic as to final outcome.” Spokesman added Bao Dai might make announcement on January 29—Annamite. New Year’s day—of his plans re return Indochina. Pignon simply stated any. announcement would have to come from, Bao Dai, “I think he will make one soon”. Bao Dai will not come to Paris for meetings beginning Friday which apparently will be devoted to drafting by technicians. Press treatment of Cannes meetings on whole optimistic except for current Communist and fellow-traveler anti-Bao Dai pro-Ho* cam- —TPaul Coste-Floret, French Minister for Overseas France. 2Ho Ohi Minb, President of the Provisional Government of Vietnam Demo- cratic Republic”.6 FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1949, VOLUME VII paign. Minor disturbing element is motion adopted political affairs committee, Assembly French Union, calling for negotiations with all Viet elements including “groups associated with Ho Chi Minh”, Sent Department, repeated Saigon 9. Carvery 851G.01/1-2049 : Telegram The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Acting Secretary of State SECRET Pants, January 20, 1949—2 p. m. 260. Pignon informed us today in utmost confidence govt has made important decision to request Assembly approval outcome present negotiations, He stated Cannes conversations had resulted in agreement on funda- mentals and the parties were well along in drafting stage. Bao Dai had insisted and Pignon had agreed that because of present status of Cochin China previous parliamentary approval was essential if agree- ments were effectively to confer on Vietnam the attributes of unity and independence which are heart of Baie d’Along accord and repre- sent minimum to insure acceptance of Bao Dai solution by people. While measures might be taken in Saigon to transfer administrative functions to Vietnamese, the administration of justice can only be transferred by a positive legislative act. Sovereignty, he said, has two aspects—external and internal, for internal sovereignty it is jus- tice. Under Cochin China treaty justice is in hands of French. It cannot be transferred to Vietnamese without formal change in status of Cochin China which necessitates parliamentary approval. Govt is now studying timing of Bao Dai’s return and form of sub- mission to Parliament. Pignon (who professes no competence in poli- tics) stated any debate would have to take place before cantonal elections, ic. before March 15, and implied Bao Dai would not return before then. He recognized political difficulties which faced govt, but did not consider either Gaullist or Socialist leadership would actively oppose agreements. He thought however that there would undoubtedly be large number of abstentions, He was reservedly optimistic of favor- able vote but said if govt should reverse decision to present matter squarely to Parliament or if vote was negative he would resign. Embassy will watch carefully and report political evolution this decision to grasp nettle which, however sound in conception, will present govt with series very tricky political problems. Pignon leaves for Saigon January 24, Repeated Saigon 10, Carvery