851G.00/4–546
The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Bonnet)29
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the French Ambassador and has the honor to refer to the Ambassador’s note no. 167 of March 7, 1946,30 enclosing a copy of the Franco-Chinese Agreement with regard to the relief of Chinese forces in northern Indo-China by French forces and requesting the approval of the Combined Chiefs of Staff thereto.
The Secretary of State is pleased to inform the Ambassador that the Combined Chiefs of Staff have no objection to the relief of Chinese [Page 35] troops in northern French Indo-China by French forces, since they consider that such arrangements are a matter for determination by the Governments of France and China.
Since the Franco-Chinese agreement completes the reversion of all Indo-China to French control, the Combined Chiefs of Staff consider that the French military commander in Indo-China should act as a medium for the French Government for coordination with the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers on matters relating to the repatriation of Japanese from Indo-China, and that the Chinese Supreme Commander31 and Admiral Mountbatten should be relieved of their duties and responsibilities for disarmament and evacuation of Japanese in Indo-China.
Current repatriation schedules envisage the completion of the evacuation of the Japanese from northern Indo-China by April 15. The Combined Chiefs of Staff consider that it is most desirable to have the French commander in Indo-China conform to present schedules.
Accordingly, Admiral Mountbatten has been directed to make the necessary arrangements with the French military commander in Indo-China regarding the transfer of his share of the above-mentioned responsibility at the earliest possible date.
The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and the appropriate Chinese authorities have been informed of the Combined Chiefs of Staff action on this matter.
It is understood that a memorandum has been addressed directly to the French Military Attache to the United States informing him of the above and requesting that appropriate instructions be issued to the French military commander in Indo-China.