223. Telegram From the Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State1
69. Both Foreign Office and British Embassy have continued in last few days to express increasing concern at Diem’s attitude on making public declaration on elections before July 20. Both had report of first text proposed by Mau for delivery noon July 6 and found it unsatisfactory. They deplored negative approach and absence any reference to pre-July 20 consultations. They expressed opinion that if this text were made public it could only be interpreted by Vietnamese and rest of world as evidence government’s intention not carry out Geneva provisions and that this would have regrettable consequences for all of us.
We have informed both Foreign Office and British of efforts being made by Reinhardt to have text improved. Foreign Office reports that they have been instructing Jacquot to use maximum influence on Diem to make public declaration on consultations and hope this will contribute to desired result but state that they recognize fact that Reinhardt and British Ambassador Saigon undoubtedly wield more influence on Diem than they.
British Embassy confirmed again this morning that their position on elections remains that all signatories Geneva have equal responsibility to see that provisions are carried out. They agree with French position that France is only one of signatory powers and therefore has no more responsibility than others in seeing that Viet Minh and [Page 479] Vietnamese get together. They sympathize with French position that France is not to be considered as representative authority for South Vietnam for purposes of effecting pre-elections discussions. They share French concern that failure to make move toward consultations on or before July 20 may result in terrorist activities and even renewal of hostilities. Finally, they agree with French Foreign Office that if Vietnamese Government does not make satisfactory public declaration of intent or other move toward consultations before July 20 Viet Minh may be expected to file charge with ICC and/or Geneva powers accusing French of violating Geneva Agreement. Obvious French answer to this is that Vietnam is now independent country over which France has no control, which it can therefore not oblige to take action against its will and that, therefore, responsibility lies equally with all Geneva signatory powers.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/7–655. Secret. Repeated for information to Saigon, Ottawa, New Delhi, London, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.↩