396.1 GE/4–1654: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
priority
3919. Repeated information Saigon 441. Following tripartite analysis participation question United States element working group Indochina phase Geneva conference recommends US adopt following position:
- 1.
- US, UK, France and USSR are inviting powers.
- 2.
- Communist China was designed [designated] by four powers as power to be invited at Berlin and will attend. Under no circumstances, however, will Peking be considered inviting power or take part deliberations at Geneva to discuss other participants.
- 3.
- France should invite formally Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos attend as full participants.
- 4.
- Formula restricting conference to adjoining countries should be adopted and accordingly France should convey invitations Burma and Thailand. France should convey these invitations same as United States has done in Korean phases.
- 5.
- We do not favor presence Viet Minh and presumably case against such presence will be made by French. However, if Soviets insist neither we nor French would presumably break on this point. If Soviets insist on presence Viet Minh, they should do the inviting.
- 6.
- If Soviets propose invitation to Pathet Laos and Khmer Issaraks we should strongly oppose on grounds they do not exist and have not been recognized even by Soviets.
- 7.
- Australia, Philippines and Ceylon who have expressed interest in attending should be informed (Australia and Ceylon by United Kingdom, Philippines by United States) participation limited to big four, Governments of Indochina and bordering states (of which Communist China of course one). Other inquiring states could be given same answer. From what British tell us they could probably explain this formula to satisfaction Commonwealth states.
- 8.
- Above would be conveyed by working group to French and British representatives Paris on Tuesday April 20 as United States position [Page 525] which we hope is acceptable to them as tripartite one to be taken by Foreign Ministers with Russians when question discussed with them at Geneva.
In reaching above recommendations working group feels position generally acceptable British and French though former would find it easier have Commonwealth nations present. On balance therefore it is probably good compromise. We feel it highly desirable have non-Communist Asian States other than Associated States present since then even if Communist propaganda attacks legitimacy these states and disparages their presence, conference would still have seven other participants including two Asian states whose legitimacy they can hardly question. In addition there are obvious psychological and other advantages accruing our side from presence Burma and Thailand. We would not favor other participants because there is no other formula which would prevent India, Indonesia and others from applying for membership. Therefore although we realize Australia for instance would be most helpful, we inclined attempt restrict participants to eleven indicated above.
We would appreciate Department’s comments above proposed position. We realize considerations Washington working party united action Southeast Asia may cause Department adopt position including ANZUS powers and Philippines as well, from viewpoint working group discussions, however above formula appears most easily acceptable on tripartite basis.