851G.00/12–1646: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Hanoi (O’Sullivan) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17—11:07 a.m.]
140. Giam, Undersecretary Foreign Affairs, told me today Vietnam Govt is considering appeal direct to French Govt to reduce present impasse. Giam said Vietnamese would offer: (1) to open Haiphong-Hanoi, Langson–Hanoi roads: (2) to reduce anti-French propaganda in press and radio; (3) to suppress barricades and “defensive works” (now reaching formidable proportions) in Hanoi and elsewhere; (4) to return civilian populations to cities.
In return, Giam said Govt would request establishment of status quo as before November 20 (possibly creating no-man’s-land between [Page 72] French and Vietnamese troops to prevent clashes) and of two mixed committees to handle Haiphong customs and military questions. He indicated final form of appeal, if made, might be somewhat changed in detail.
Appeal would offer means of starting conversations. However, if French authorities here consulted, they most certainly will be exceedingly reluctant to reestablish status quo before November 20 in Haiphong.76
Repeat to Paris.
- Telegram 142, December 18, 1946, noon, from Hanoi, reported two further requests were added to the appeal to Premier Leon Blum; namely, to cease “mopping-up” operations in Cochin China and south Annam and to withdraw 800 troops from the reinforced garrison at Tourane. A second message might also be sent to suggest that a French parliamentary commission visit Indochina to investigate the situation. (851G.00/12–1846)↩