Office of the Historian

851G.00/8–547: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority
Paris, August 5, 1947—1 p.m.

3103. In conversation with Baudet regarding situation Indochina, he said while recent reorganization of Ho Chi Minh’s government did not fundamentally make much change, nevertheless it was obviously conciliatory gesture and he “felt sure” it would be followed shortly by announcement either by Bollaert in Saigon or Ramadier in Paris redefining French policy regarding Indochina. Baudet hopes this will be followed by armistice and reopening of negotiations. Regarding reported appointment of Bao Dai as “Supreme Counselor”,46 Baudet pointed out this represents no change since Bao Dai held this position in theory since his abdication in 1945.

It is obvious from conversation with Baudet, as well as recent comment in press, French are following with great attention and some nervousness developments in Indonesia,47 since there are many parallels between situation there and that in Indochina.

Department please repeat to Saigon as Paris’ No. 21 and Hanoi as No. 9.

Caffery
  1. In the regime of Ho Chi Minh.↩
  2. For documentation on the situation in the Netherlands East Indies, see pp. 890 ff. In July the Netherlands resorted to force in the East Indies, and the matter was then brought up in the United Nations Security Council.↩