Office of the Historian

851G.00/2–2047: Telegram

The Vice Consul at Hanoi (O’Sullivan) to the Secretary of State

restricted
Hanoi, February 20, 1947—5 p.m.

64. By Viet Nam radio today and also letter of February 19, I with British, Chinese colleagues and Indian Vice Consul as well as International Red Cross representative, invited to attend meeting February 21 by Giam.58

I, of course, will not attend.59 Understand British Consul and Chinese Consul General probably will not attend although Indian Vice Consul has requested permission from Sainteny to keep rendezvous.

Giam gave no reason for meeting but from tone Viet Nam radio lately, he may wish protest against French “atrocities” in Cochin China and south Annam.

Repeat to Paris.

O’Sullivan
  1. Hoang Minh, Giam, Vietnamese Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs.↩
  2. In telegram 22, February 28, 3 p.m., to Hanoi, the Department replied: “Believe would be desirable for you whenever possible maintain contact Vietnam leaders provided French authorities not object.” The telegram added that discretion would need to be used to “prevent political abuse such contacts”. (851G.00/2–2047)↩