851G.00/4–1747: Telegram
The Ambassador in Siam (Stanton) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19—8:35 p.m.]
289. Embassy’s telegram 260, April 7.79 1. Colonel Law,80 who has been in informal contact with Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach who describes himself as Vietnam Undersecretary of State and who arrived Bangkok recently has received from latter two letters addressed to me. The first letter dated April 12 transmits memo regarding conflict in Indo-China and it is stated was sent to Vice Consul O’Sullivan at Hanoi in January this year for transmission Department.81 If Department hasn’t received memo, will forward same airmail. Attached memo are 76 documents consisting exchange correspondence between Vietnam Government and French authorities, instructions allegedly issued by French authorities to their military, an account the Haiphong incident and various recent communications addressed by Ho Chi Minh to French Government proposing cessation of hostilities and resumption of negotiations. These documents are of considerable interest but inasmuch as Embassy unable to reproduce them because of lack clerical help we propose forward them Department by courier and would appreciate receiving due course hectograph copies these documents. It is also requested hectograph copies be sent to War, Navy Departments.
2. Second letter dated April 13 encloses letter addressed General MacArthur82 and informs him that the Vietminh Government reserves all rights connection with question disposition Indo-China’s gold now held Tokyo and estimated amount $37,498,000. Rights also reserved [Page 88] connection Jap reparations which may be due to Indo-China. What disposition does Department wish made letter addressed MacArthur?
3. I am not acknowledging in writing these communications from Dr. Thach but have asked Colonel Law to inform him orally that I received them and that their substance will be communicated Department State.83
4. Department please repeat Paris and Saigon.
- Not printed.↩
- Lt. Col. William Law, Assistant Military Attaché in Siam.↩
- See telegram 13, January 11, 3 p.m., from Hanoi, p. 61.↩
- General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan.↩
- In telegram 220, April 25, 8 p.m., to Bangkok, the Department replied that the memorandum mentioned in paragraph 1 had been received and the letter mentioned in paragraph 2 should be returned and could be mailed to the addressee if desired (851G.00/4–1747). In despatch 366, April 24 (received May 29), the Embassy in Siam transmitted the documents referred to in this telegram and added that Dr. Thach deemed the United States to be the only power able to stop hostilities in Indochina (851G.00/4–2447).↩