751G.02/7–353: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
niact
28. Sent niact Paris 11; repeated Department 28. Re Paris niact 2, July 2, sent Department 22.1 View 24-hour release schedule planned French Government statement concerning full independence three [Page 633] Associated States,2 present message may come too late. Nevertheless, we wish state for record and for possible action Paris our opinion that French Government should not take impulsive action which may fail retrieve utmost from bad situation.
Delicate Cambodian situation clearly requires decisive, progressive move on part French and we extremely gratified France ready answer need by generous grant complete sovereignty. However, we feel France might inform heads three states privately before far-reaching decision made public in order ascertain what safe-guards Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians prepared offer France in return. This démarche would avoid appearance precipitate unilateral French move resulting from “blackmail” and would also permit Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos formulate reasoned policy vis-à-vis France and thus present world with agreement which might be expected be basis for mutually beneficial relations.
Indications here point to willingness Norodom Sihanouk come to terms with France, but example impetuous action New York, Bangkok, Battambang, Siemreap gives good cause anticipate further unorthodox moves, such as refusal remain in French Union following French Government announcement full independence as now planned, before consultation with three AS. Primary goal our policy IC continues be to keep French holding line against Commie aggressors. This French would hardly wish to do should Cambodian King withdraw from all obligations toward France. Detailed negotiations on new treaties or agreements before issuance of statement would probably be so time-consuming as to vitiate psychological benefit French generosity not only in Associated States but also before international opinion; prompt informal and general sounding-out of three AS, on other hand, seems to us to be both prudent and courteous.
We fully in accord Dillon belief US should not dictate modus operandi to French inasmuch as latter have already evolved program. We suggest, however, that at Dillon’s discretion, subject Department approval, above line of thinking might be communicated to French Government in interests avoiding hasty and wasteful action. This telegram supplements thoughts expressed my telegram 5 to Department July 1.3
- Ante, p. 630.↩
- For a translation of the French statement, see telegram 52 from Paris, July 3, infra.↩
- In telegram 5 from Saigon, July 1, not printed, Ambassador Heath suggested that Ambassador Dillon should make inquiry regarding French policy with respect to the Cambodian situation without recommending any specific course of action to French officials. (651.51J/7–153)↩