Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Indochina, Volume XIII, Part 1

Eisenhower Library, James C. Hagerty papers

Hagerty Diary, April 1, 1954

[Washington, undated.]

[Extract]

. . . . . . .

Indo China situation getting really bad. French want more help from us, but want it at their terms—refuse to let us train locals or send in American troops on long term basis—feel that would hurt what they call “French prestige”—at luncheon at W. H. with Pres, Roy Howard¹ and Walker Stone,² Pres. expounded on problem—said US might have to make decision to send in squadrons from 2 aircraft carriers off coast to bomb Reds at Dien Bien Phu—”of course, if we did, we’d have to deny it forever.”—French very difficult to handle—almost impossible.

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1. Roy W. Howard, editor and president of the New York World Telegram and Sun; Chairman of the Executive Committee and Director of Scripps-Howard Newspapers.
2. Editor in Chief, Scripps-Howard Newspapers.