751G.00/10–1954
Memorandum of Conversation, by Paul J. Sturm of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs
Subject:
- Call of Mr. Pierre Pelletier of French Embassy on Mr. Young
Participants:
- Mr. Pierre Pelletier, Second Secretary, French Embassy Washington
- Mr. Kenneth T. Young, Jr.,PSA
- Mr. P. J. Sturm, PSA
Mr. Pelletier called on Mr. Young today at his own request to say he had been instructed to inform the Department that Premier Mendes-France will take advantage of Mr. Eden’s presence in Paris1 to inform the British Foreign Secretary of the September Franco-American talks on Indochina. Mendes-France will see Eden on October 20, and talks will be continued the following day by British and French experts. (Similar information comes from Paris in the Embassy’s telegram 1644).2 Pelletier said the meeting would be concerned only with a general exchange of views.
Saying he wished to review with the Department current developments in Indochina, Pelletier said with regard to Laos that Crown Prince Savang remains suspicious that the U.S. had given aid and comfort to Prince Petsarath. High Commissioner Breal has already discussed this question with Minister Yost, and Pelletier said he alluded to it only because of Savang’s importance as an outstanding Lao leader whose views must be taken into account.
Mr. Young with reference to this issue said that the Thais are anxious to set their relations with Laos on a good basis, and that the U.S. is anxious to lend all practicable assistance. He went on to say that we are concerned with Viet Minh-Pathet Lao activities in the provinces of Phong Saly and Sam Neua and would be glad to have Mr. La Chambre’s comments following his recent visit to Laos. Mr. Young asked if the French Embassy was in touch with the Canadian Embassy regarding the work of the International Control Commission. Pelletier replied in the negative.
Referring to Cambodia, Pelletier said he had nothing in particular to discuss and no recent information. Mr. Young said we are preparing instructions for Ambassador McClintock to open negotiations on postment [Page 2144] Geneva economic and military assistance to Cambodia, and hope these negotiations may be under way shortly.
Pelletier continued by saying that the French are much concerned with the crisis in Viet-Nam, where affairs are going badly despite French hopes that it may be possible to carry out the terms of the latest Franco-American understanding on this country. It is becoming clear that if the situation is not soon improved, all may be lost in Viet-Nam. Pelletier recently received a personal letter from Jean Daridan in Saigon conveying a black impression of the political situation in Viet-Nam and expressing concern that French and U.S. advice to the protagonists has so far been fruitless.
Mr. Young replied that we are disturbed by the fact that Viet-Nam seems no nearer a unified national government than at the time of the September French-American talks. The present trouble is attributable to the three generals (Hinh, Xuan and Bay Vien). While we are pleased that latest advice indicates the Army is not now insisting on holding civil posts in the government, we note that the crisis continues to revolve about who will hold the Defense Ministry (and to a lesser extent the Interior Ministry).
Pelletier said the Embassy had been deeply impressed by the Mansfield Report and asked whether it was important in the sense of representing the views of Congress. The Embassy has sent it to Paris, calling attention to the conclusions.
Mr. Young replied that Senator Mansfield is particularly well informed on Indochina and that his views may be expected to be influential when the subject comes up in Congress.
Mr. Pelletier remarked that since Governor Stassen said Congress would have to be consulted regarding further support to FEC, the Mansfield Report will be important in this context.
Pelletier then inquired whether we thought it would be useful if the Thai petition for a POC were granted.3 Mr. Young said that we do think a POC in the area would be helpful, even though it did not operate in Indochina, and invited Pelletier to discuss a report on this subject from the French Embassy in Bangkok with Mr. Landon. He added that we think the Thai fears of infiltration and pressures from Communist China are valid.
Pelletier asked our view on moving Vietnamese residents in Thailand back to Viet-Nam.4 Mr. Young said we have asked Embassy Saigon’s comments; meanwhile our feeling is that such a population move effective [Page 2145] would be very burdensome to the already overtaxed government of Viet-Nam.
Mr. Young concluded the interview by saying that we remain anxious to carry out the memorandum of understanding which followed the Washington talks, and that we would be glad to have the views of Mr. La Chambre on his return from Indochina.
- Nine-Power, Four-Power, and North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meetings were held at Paris during the period Oct. 20–23. For documentation on these sessions, see volume v.↩
- Telegram 1644 from Paris, Oct. 19, is not printed. (751G.00/10–1954)↩
- Regarding a possible appeal by Thailand to the United Nations for Peace Observation Commission observers, see editorial note, p. 1635. In the autumn of 1954, Thailand again considered entering a request. Documentation on this subject is in file 320.2 AB.↩
- Documentation on Vietnamese refugees in Thailand is in file 892.411/8–1454.↩