793.5851G/12–351: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation at Saigon
746. Dept increasingly preoccupied question disposition Chi Natls internees Vietnam. Recent reports from Saigon (tels 1083 and 1084 Nov 26)1 that many internees have escaped to VM has furthered our impression that Fr shld again be urged reconsider wisdom their present policy.
In the past we have appreciated Fr reasons for adhering to principles internatl law in disarming and interning refugees on grounds that any other course might provide provocation to Chi Commies. We have since had reason to revise this estimate and are now of the opinion that the Chi Commies future action re IC wld not be influenced one way or another by Fr policy toward internees.
Moreover we are influenced by two other considerations: (a)it wld be desirable to relieve already overburdened Fr treas of cost of maintenance; (b) recent unverified reports, largely of Chi Natls origin, claiming increasing desertions to VM. If these reports true and supposition accurate that internees join VM as means escaping camps conclusion that Fr policy had reached point of diminishing returns wld be justified.
We are not prepared to advocate repatriation to Formosa to Fr at this time for we appreciate the complications of such an operation and the Fr desire to draw as little attn to matter as possible. It is [Page 552] Depts opinion however that all practical means of liquidating internment camps and official obligation of Fr Govt to maintain internees shld be considered. Wld it not be possible to determine what if any portion of internees might wish to “volunteer” to join Franco-Viet units and then turn balance loose in Cholon, Haiphong or Hanoi where most part wld, as Gen de Lattre himself observed while in Wash, melt into the local Chi communities readily enough. Altho we wld not seek to oversimplify the feasibility such procedure we wld consider facing even its complexities preferable to present policy of supporting open sore which benefits no one but VM.
In considering above you are reminded that US not willing assume responsibility, in whole or in part, financially or otherwise, for internees.
Paris tel 3025, Nov 20,2 attesting to de Lattre’s expression “for time being” might indicate that alternatives to present policy are being considered.
Suggest appropriate official Emb Paris sound out de Lattre this subj and urge reconsideration upon him for decision wld appear rest with him personally.3 At same time Leg Saigon explore question locally with both mil civ auths and Chi Natls officials.
Sent to AmLegation Saigon 746, AmEmbassy Paris 3301.
- Neither printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Telegram 3176 from Paris, November 27, not printed, indicated that according to French Foreign Ministry sources, General de Lattre de Tassigny and Jean Letourneau, Minister for the Associated States, remained strongly opposed to repatriation of Chinese Nationalist troops in Indochina (751.551/11–2751).↩