Office of the Historian

751J.5/4–2753: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State

top secret
priority
Paris, April 27, 1953—1 a.m.

5675. Repeated information Saigon 227. In talking with Secretary Dulles, Mayer expressed reluctance to take Laos case to United Nations Security Council as it might lead to prolonged debate on whole French overseas picture.1 Secretary pointed out that a unanimous vote in Security Council except for usual Soviet veto would lend international status to Indochina conflict and would enable US to press Soviets for a settlement in Indochina. Mayer agreed to re-study question.

Mayer repeated French request for temporary 30-day loan of four C–119 aircraft and crews to carry heavy equipment into Laos necessary for successful defense. He said project had approval of General Clark but had been turned down by Pentagon which had made counter-offer to loan aircraft and to train French crews to fly them. Crew training time of six weeks was too long according to Mayer. Need was for immediate assistance and six weeks could well be too late. He asked for reconsideration at top level in Washington on urgent basis and Secretary agreed to take matter up Monday while pointing out that use of US crews represented serious policy question for US Government.2

Dillon
  1. This conversation occurred in Paris on Sunday, Apr. 26.↩

  2. Telegram 5708 from Paris (repeated for information to Saigon as telegram 231), Apr. 28, read as follows:

    “At meeting Sunday afternoon with Secretary Wilson and Nash, Pleven again raised question re loan C119s and crews to carry heavy equipment to Laos. Nash replied United States military crews could not be used and said did not believe any United States civilian pilots available who could fly these planes. He stated United States would be prepared train French pilots on C119s now in Germany. On basis advice from USAFE officer, he estimated that best French transport pilots could be trained on C119s in 15 day period. Pleven accepted offer train crews in Germany and asked whether Wilson would request General Clark to make two or three C119s available when French pilots ready. Wilson replied in affirmative.” (751J.5/4–2853)

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