396.1 GB/5–1254: Telegram

Third Plenary Session on Indochina, Geneva, May 12, 3:05 p.m.: The United States Delegation to the Department of State

priority

Secto 190. Repeated information London 154, Tokyo 52, priority Paris 247, Saigon 61, Phnom Penh, Vientiane unnumbered, Moscow 64. Tokyo for CINCFE. Department pass Defense. Following is text Vietnamese proposals tabled Third Indochina Plenary:

The conference of Berlin recommended the restoration of peace in Indochina. This restoration implies:

  • —A military settlement, in order to end the hostilities, and,
  • —A political settlement, in order to establish peace on a real and durable basis.

A. Military Settlement

(1)
The delegation of the state of Vietnam declares itself ready to examine any working paper to this effect submitted to the conference. These documents must present a serious and positive effort, susceptible of leading in good faith to a satisfactory military settlement.
(2)
They must include guarantees sufficient to assure a real and durable peace, to prevent any possibility of a new aggression.
(3)
They must not lead to a partition, direct or indirect, definitive or provisional, in fact or in law, of the national territory.
(4)
They must provide for an international control of the execution of the conditions for cessation of hostilities.

B. Political Settlement

Concerning the relations between the state of Vietnam and France:

The relations will be settled on the base of the joint Franco-Vietnamese declaration of April 28, 1954, which foresees the signature of two fundamental treaties: The first of these treaties recognizes [Page 784] the total independence of the state of Vietnam and its full and entire sovereignty; the second establishes a Franco-Vietnamese association in the French Union, based on equality.

Concerning the internal political settlement in Vietnam:

(1)
Because of the territorial and political unity of Vietnam, recognition of the principle that the only state qualified legally to represent Vietnam is the state personified by His Majesty Bao Dai, Chief of State. This state is the only one invested with the powers flowing from the internal and external sovereignty of Vietnam.
(2)

Recognition of the principle of a single army in the entire territory. This army is the National Army, placed under the direction and the responsibility of the state of Vietnam.

Settlement of the status of the Viet Minh soldiers in the framework of the legal army of the state of Vietnam, in conformity with the above principle, and by modalities to be determined.

International control of the application of the above settlement:

(3)
In the framework and under the competence of the state of Vietnam, free elections throughout its territory, as soon as a determination is made by the Security Council that the authority of the state is established throughout its territory and that conditions of freedom are found to exist. In order to assure the liberty and sincerity of these elections, an international control functioning under the auspices of the United Nations.
(4)
Representative government formed under the aegis of His Majesty Bao Dai, Chief of State of Vietnam, following and according to the results of the elections.
(5)
Engagement by the state of Vietnam to refrain from any action against persons having collaborated with the Viet Minh during the hostilities.
(6)
International guarantee of the political and territorial integrity of the state of Vietnam.
(7)
Assistance by friendly nations to develop the national wealth and to raise the standard of living of the country.

Smith