851G.00/4–1147: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Hanoi (O’Sullivan) to the Secretary of State
124. According French monitoring service, Radio Vietnam March 10 [30?] reported that Ho Chi Minh, upon learning death of Colonels [Page 86] Debes and Gufflet77 (previously said by Radio Vietnam to have been shot down by VN anti-aircraft guns) declared:
“As French they were our friends, as soldiers they were brave, as colonialists they were our opponents. But before God and humanity everyone is a brother and equal. That is why I bow before their souls. I deeply regret that men of valor such as they are sacrificed in this fratricidal war. Otherwise they would have been very useful in common work between France and Vietnam.”
This declaration continues tenor of remarks attributed by Radio Vietnam to Ho since December 19. During that time remarks alleged to have originated with Ho have never been directed against France but when critical to “reactionary colonialists”.
Repeat to Paris.
- Colonel Gufflet, chief of staff to General Jean Valluy, was killed in the same plane crash as Colonel Debes on March 30.↩