751G.00/4–154: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
[Received March 31—11:30 p.m.]
3614. Reference Deptel 3353.1 Your speech on Indochina received very wide publicity here, and I feel that it has done much to clear French thinking. It made clear to all that there can be no settlement in Indochina bought by United States’ concessions to Communist China.
This aspect of your speech was, however, somewhat overshadowed by the interest in your statement regarding “united action” which has been editorially interpreted to mean that the United States, in the event of failure at Geneva, would be prepared to intervene in Indochina with military force.
We have had speech translated and distributed.
I am sure that Bidault fully comprehends the problem. The pressure for United States’ concessions comes mainly from those sources who all along have been in favor of French withdrawal. I have in mind the Socialists and such members of the government as Faure and Reynaud. I am afraid that this group will continue to push for United States’ concessions and if these are not forthcoming will attempt to blame the United States for the failure of the Geneva Conference and thereby open way for request that United States take over the burden of the fighting in Indochina.
- Telegram 3353 to Paris, Mar. 27, expressed the concern of the Department of State regarding “what appear to be growing expectations in France that Geneva will produce a settlement for Indochina as a result of US concessions to Communist China.” For text of telegram 3353, see vol. xvi, p. 485.↩