Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 1

851G.00/1–1049: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France

secret

Washington, January 17, 1949—6 p. m.

145. Daridan¹ has expressed to Dept same view contained penultimate para urtel 107 Jan 10² qualifying his remarks however with statement that he uninformed developments past ten days which might explain optimism Overseas France officials in urtel 106 Jan 10² re negotiations with Bao Dai.

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 govt which by failing develop appeal among Vietnamese might become virtually puppet govt, separated from people and existing only by presence French military forces. Accordingly, 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 14³ its reftel 3621 Jul 9 from Paris⁴ and Embtel 5129 Sep 30.⁵

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.

Lovett

1. Jean Daridan, Counselor of the French Embassy.
2. Not printed.
2. Not printed.
3. Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. vi, p. 33.
4. Ibid, p. 31.
5. Not printed.