851G.01/6–1749: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
684. Re final sentence Deptel 420.1 1. We have not yet received London’s 2301, June 15 but comment as follows on Deptel 4192 which expresses view that neighboring SEA countries particularly India should take length [lead?] supporting Bao Dai.
2. As was manifest last session UN General Assembly, GOI is still more interested in combating colonialism and racial discrimination than in actively opposing Communism outside of India. To ask India to take lead in supporting Bao Dai would be in effect to ask it to reverse [Page 58] a basic policy for sake combating Communism and to play active role in supporting efforts colonial power keep Asian people under its control.
3. Until such time as Bao Dai appears to GOI to have gained large measure national support and it is convinced that this experiment offers best prospect real independence for Indochinese people (see Embtel 575, May 21,3 paragraph 2), we feel that our efforts here can best be directed to explaining importance to Asia of success his regime and to expressing hope GOI will refrain from public statements which would prejudice chances success. It would be futile to expect at this time anything in nature of positive help. Such help would also cut across GOI policy of avoiding alignment with either of “power blocs” since it is certain to regard Bao Dai as mere creature of member of Western “bloc”.
4. It would be helpful if we could inform the GOI in advance of proposed public US statement and explain our views in some detail. Indian reaction would be more favorable if we could indicate that we regarded agreement between Bao Dai and French as not of permanent character and that we expected further progress in due course towards full independence.
Sent Department 684; repeated Saigon, Paris, London.