851G.00/7–746: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 7—12:39 p.m.]
3323. Opening of Franco-Viet Nam conference at Fontainebleau yesterday brought to an apparent end pre-conference honeymoon period during which French and Indochinese officials had rivaled with each other in displays of Franco-Viet Nam friendship.
After long wait for Admiral Thierry d’Argenlieu supposed to preside over conference, unexpected announcement that “Admiral was indisposed” created uneasiness and rumors to effect Viet Nam delegates had vetoed presidency of Thierry d’Argenlieu who, in their eyes, “typified French imperialism”.
Max André, head of French delegation, assuming Presidency at last moment, delivered innocuous speech of welcome and declared conference open. Mr. Phan Van Dong, head of Viet Nam delegation, immediately protested against this unilateral assumption of the chair of the direction of the proceedings. In a fighting speech which contrasted sharply with platitudes of André’s address, he went immediately to the core of the worst difficulties which the conference will have to face. In sharp words, he protested against “the mutilation of the Viet Nam Motherland” through the creation of an independent state of Cochin China outside of the Viet Nam. He went on to accuse the French authorities in Indochina of having violated the accords of Dalat of March 6, 1946 and of having used these accords to penetrate peacefully in the north while military operations were being carried on in the south and in the interior.
This unexpected offensive of the Viet Nam delegation on the first day has created a sensation. Independent and impartial Combat, genuinely interested in colonial problems, headlines Viet Nam accusation across the entire first page and recognizes French mistakes made in Indochina. Communist Humanité frankly sides with Viet [Page 49] Nam. Socialists Populaire gives fair and impartial account in a vein sympathetic to Viet Nam. MRP. Aube regrets “that French goodwill did not find a corresponding echo”. In the conservative and Nationalist papers there is literally an explosion of wrath against Viet Nam delegation. Increasingly Leftist but always ultra-Nationalist Ordre terms Phan Van Dong’s statements “shocking” and already blames Viet Nam for any future breakdown in negotiations. All these papers play up violations of Dalat agreement by the Viet Nam and underline assassinations, kidnapping and rape of Europeans as justification of continued military operations by French expeditionary corps.
On the whole conference had gotten off to bad start. Viet Nam leaders also express their regret that conference “of such considerable importance” should be held outside of Paris.
Interesting to note that yesterday afternoon conversation held between Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam President, and Algerian deputies of friends of manifest group headed by Ferhat Abbas (my despatch 5571 of July 354) on similarity between problems facing Algeria and Viet Nam.
Sent Dept as 3323, repeated London as 509.
- Not printed; it reported an interview with the Algerian autonomist leader, Ferhat-Abbas. A delegation of eleven Algerian deputies, comprising the pro-independence group, “democratic union in favor of the Algerian Manifest”, was in Paris. (851R.00/7–346)↩