Office of the Historian

396.1 GE/7–1654: Telegram

The United States Delegation to the Department of State

secret
priority
Geneva, July 16, 1954—11 p.m.

Secto 628. Repeated information Paris 74, Saigon 46. Following is unofficial translation of French redraft of proposed conference declaration prepared following discussion of Soviet draft Secto 6151 and Secto 617:2

  • “1. The conference takes note of the agreements which terminate hostilities in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and which organize international control and supervision of the implementation of the provisions of these agreements.
  • 2. The conference is pleased to see peace re-established in Cambodia and Laos, which countries, following the placing in effect of the provisions contemplated in this declaration and in the agreements on the cessation of hostilities, will be able thereafter to take up, without obstacle, in full independence and sovereignty, their role in the peaceful community of nations.
  • 3. The conference takes note of the declarations made by the Governments of Cambodia and Laos with reference to their intent of adoptting [Page 1401] measures which will permit all citizens to take their place in the national community and, especially, re their intentions to proceed to general elections with secret ballot which will take place in accordance with the constitution of each of these countries, with respect for fundamental liberties.3
  • 4. The conference also takes note of the declarations of these governments according to which (text to be drafted on the basis of the declarations of the Governments of Laos and of Cambodia re their defense needs).
  • 5. The conference notes that the agreement concerning Vietnam has as its essential goal the settlement of military questions in order to put an end to hostilities, but does not prejudge the solution of other problems related to the definitive restoration of peace in Vietnam. It expresses the conviction that, following the placing in effect of the provisions contemplated in this declaration and in the agreement on the cessation of hostilities, Vietnam will be able to take up without obstacle, in full independence and sovereignty its role in the peaceful community of nations.
  • 6. The conference declares that the settlement of political problems in Vietnam must be carried out on the basis of respect for the principles of the independence, the unity, and the territorial integrity of Vietnam. This settlement must permit the Vietnamese people to enjoy the fundamental liberties guaranteed by democratic institutions formed following free elections by secret ballot which will take place under the control of an international commission, composed of representatives of the states’ members of the International Control Commission set up by the agreement on the cessation of hostilities, when, in the opinion of the competent representative authorities in each zone, the restoration of peace in the country has made sufficient progress and all the necessary conditions are present in order to permit the free expression of the national will.
  • 7. The provisions of the agreements on the cessation of hostilities meant to assure the protection of persons and property must be applied in the strictest fashion and particularly must permit everyone in Vietnam to decide freely as to the zone where he wishes to live.
  • 8. The conference notes the declaration of the Government of the French Republic according to which that government is prepared to withdraw its troops from the territories of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam at the request of the governments concerned.

  • 9. The conference takes note of the declarations of the French Government according to which the settlement of all the problems related [Page 1402] to the restoration and to the strengthening of peace in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam is based upon respect for the independence, the sovereignty, the unity and the territorial integrity of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

    In its relations with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, each of the members of the Geneva conference (without prejudice to its political, military, diplomatic or other relations with the states concerned at the time of the signature of the agreements on the cessation of hostilities) undertakes to respect the sovereignty, the independence, the unity and the territorial integrity of the said states and to refrain from any interference in their internal affairs.

  • 10. The members of the conference agree to consult together on any question which may be transmitted to them by the International Control Commissions, in order to study the measures which may appear necessary to insure observance of the agreements on the cessation of hostilities in Indochina.”

Immediately following telegram describes discussion of this draft at working level meeting today attended by France, US, UK and three Associated States.4

Johnson
  1. Dated July 15, p. 1384.↩
  2. Dated July 15, p. 1376.↩

  3. In telegram Secto 629, July 17, the U.S. Delegation transmitted to the Department of State a new redraft paragraph 3 that the delegation had received from the French. The text of paragraph 3 now read as follows:

    “The conference takes note of the declarations made by the Governments of Cambodia and Laos with reference to their intent of adopting measures which will permit all citizens to take their place in the national community, especially by participating in the next general elections which, in accordance with the constitution of each of these countries, will take place with secret ballot and with respect for fundamental liberties.” (396.1 GE/7–1754)

    ↩
  4. Telegram Secto 627, July 16, supra.↩