851G.01/12–749: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
4702. Dept officers immed concerned IC met informally Dec 2 and 3 at small social gatherings with Buu Loc and Nguyen Dac Khe2 in presence officials Fr Emb.
In course these mtgs Buu Loc made fol points:
- 1.
- Bao Dai in touch many non-Commie elements now supporting Ho Chi Minh. These elements give strong indications switching allegiance when “internal sovereignty” transferred Vietnam. Presumably such transfer will take place Dec 31.
- 2.
- Most important assistance Bao Dai cld receive wld be US support, even without Southern Asian nations, if necessary. He envisaged such support wld be based on consideration that China–Indochina border marked limit between Commie and anti-Commie blocs, although he did not expand upon measures he thought US shld take in this connection.
- 3.
- Purpose his visit Paris was to consult with Fr and to arrange for permanent Viet mission to France. In this connection, he mentioned several times his view that Mar 8 Agreement was only start in evolution Vietnam and concurrently rejected energetically view that Mar 8 Agreement set rigid limits upon Vietnam.
- 4.
- Stated that both he and Dac Khe planned return IC for interstate conference late Jan or early Feb. He emphasized that Bao Dai wld not allow central admin common services to evolve into new “Govt general”.
- 5.
-
He was evasive regarding replies Southern Asian nations to Bao Dai’s letter but pointed with obvious satisfaction to response from Vatican and “moral recognition” given by MacDonald in Bevin’s oral message to Bao Dai.
Buu Loc added that views he expressed were not necessarily firm position Bao Dai’s Govt, but did reflect thinking inner circles that regime.