396.1 BE/2–654: Telegram
No. 425
The Secretary of
State to the Department of
State
Dulte 40. Regarding Dulte 35.1 At meeting three Western Foreign Ministers noon today French proposed revised version as follows in translation of last two paragraphs regarding Indochina:
“Agree further that as soon as the conversations incident to the said political conference on Korea are favorably begun (favorablement engagees) and the Government of the French Republic deems that the attitude of the Chinese Popular [People’s] Republic provides the necessary guarantees for negotiations, the representatives of the four inviting powers will consult as to measures to be taken to convene another conference designed to restore peace in Indochina.
It is understood that neither the invitation to the political conference envisaged above nor the holding of such a conference will signify any change in the international status of China”.
When immediate US reaction to proposed change was negative French suggested minor change first paragraph their version as follows: [Page 965]
“Agree further that the representatives of the four inviting powers as soon as they consider that the said political conference on Korea has made a satisfactory beginning and the Government of the French Republic deems that the attitude of the Chinese Peoples Republic provides the necessary guarantee for negotiations, will consult to bring about a conference designed to restore peace in Indochina”.
French tentatively inquired if we would be willing to terminate our draft with the paragraph on the Korean political conference and allow them to introduce their paragraph on Indochina as an added amendment.
The British are adopting a rather passive attitude indicating that they believe they can accept any version which the French and ourselves may be able to agree to. They express some reservations about the use of quotation marks in connection with Chinese and Korean Communist regimes and do not like phrase “if the Chinese People’s Republic disassociates itself from warlike activities beyond the borders of China”. They also wanted last paragraph of US draft to read as follows:
“It is understood that neither the invitation to, nor the holding of, the above political conference should be deemed to imply any diplomatic recognition of the countries named which has not already been accorded to them”.
Urgent talks with French and British on item I slated for tomorrow in preparation for restricted meeting February 8.