Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Vietnam, Volume I

114. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, April 11, 1955¹

Washington, April 11, 1955

PARTICIPANTS

• The Secretary
• The French Ambassador
• Mr. Merchant

The French Ambassador called on the Secretary this afternoon at 4 p.m. at the latter’s request.² At the outset the Secretary spoke briefly of the current crisis in South Vietnam. He said that it was essential that the U.S. and the French should cooperate fully. He expressed his serious concern that if Diem were to go, it would be regarded in Vietnam as a victory for Binh Xuyen. He considered it essential that any central government have control over the National Police. Certainly this was a requirement for any new Cabinet. Secondly, the Secretary said he wished to emphasize that any successor to Diem must be a genuine nationalist and not a French puppet.

The Ambassador readily acknowledged the force of this statement. The Secretary referred to Mendes-France’s remark last December that he did not resent Diem being anti-French because it was necessary for success that the leader of Vietnam be anti-French.

The Secretary then went on to say that he expected difficulties with the Congress in securing the large appropriations which our continued support of the Government of Vietnam contemplated. Senator Mansfield, who was very influential in these matters, felt strongly that Diem should be backed to the limit and that there was no adequate substitute for him. The Secretary also said that the activities of Sainteny in North Vietnam would be closely scrutinized by the American Government. The Ambassador interjected that he understood that the original plan to form joint companies with the Vietminh had been dropped. The Secretary concluded by saying that we would do our very best to minimize the consequences of the departure of Diem if Collins and Ely should agree that such a change was necessary. He did not wish to disguise the fact, however, that we would have considerable difficulty.

The French Ambassador displayed but did not quote from a stack of telegrams he had received from Paris on the situation. He said that it was his understanding that the Government in France was forming its opinions and decisions on the basis of Ely’s recommendations and were inclined to follow whatever he suggested.

[Here follows discussion of European affairs unrelated to Vietnam.]

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1155. Secret. Drafted by Merchant.

2. A transcript of a telephone conversation between Dulles and Merchant on April 11, 10:45 a.m., prior to this conversation with Couve de Murville reads as follows:

   “The Sec. said if we are going along with a replacement of Diem, is there any asset in talking with de Murville and M. said yes so he and Paris feel he is being kept in the Sec’s confidence.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)