751G.00/6–1954: Telegram

JohnsonChauvel Meeting, Geneva, June 19, Morning: The United States Delegation to the Department of State

secret
priority

Dulte 200. Repeated information Paris 462, Saigon 182. Paris and Saigon limit distribution. Chauvel asked to see Johnson this morning saying that he wished to tell him what French Del had in mind for today’s meeting.

Chauvel opened by saying most confidentially he was very anxious to “tie things up” as thoroughly as possible before Mendès-France came into office. Said French press reported Mendès-France was coming to Geneva Wednesday and Chauvel was trying prevent him as probably nobody here to talk to except Dong.

Chauvel then gave Johnson copy of the following French proposal on Laos (together with identical one on Cambodia except for change in name). Said he had discussed this last evening with Eden, also discussing it this morning with Chinese, Soviets, Laos and Cambodia.

“With a view to facilitating the rapid and simultaneous cessation of hostilities in Indochina, the following is proposed:

(a)
The representatives of the two commands will meet immediately at Geneva and contacts will likewise be established on the spot;
(b)
They will study at the outset the question of the withdrawal of foreign troops in Laos, taking into consideration the observations and proposals by the various Dels at the conference;
(c)
They will transmit as soon as possible to the conference their conclusions and their recommendations.”

He said that in discussions with Chinese and Viet Minh French had made it clear that insofar as Cambodian side was concerned Cambodian Command would carry on discussion but French officer might be on staff (Cambodia has not yet agreed to this) and on other side Command must be Viet Minh although if Viet Minh representative insisted on having Khmer Issarek member on staff, of course it could not be prevented. In case of Laos Command, on our side would be French while on other side it must be Viet Minh as in case of Cambodia but if Viet Minh had rather have Laos member of staff could not be prevented. However, in each case must be clearly understood principal representative would be Viet Minh.

Johnson expressed concern Commands not specifically named stating we considered it as minimum essential that Viet Minh Command be named and we would have to state our views on this. Chauvel stated that, just as in case of Eden’s proposal on Vietnamese conversations, he assumed that as mentioned in paragraph (b) of proposal each Del [Page 1196] would make various observations on the proposal which would be taken into account. Johnson said after stating our observations we would take same position we took re Eden’s proposal on Vietnam, that is, we had grave reservations but if others agreed we would not obstruct.

With respect Laos, Chauvel stated they were studying possibility of having international supervisory command acting as a fact-finding group with respect to widely divergent claims on areas held by insurgents and government.

With regard French proposal 9-nation committee (Secto 560 [460])1 Chauvel said French were considering general proposal to effect that if occasion arose, conference could establish appropriate technical committees. No reference will be made to size or composition of committees. Johnson said we would, of course, have no objection to this as a general proposition, it being understood that any such committees would be in the pattern of Franco-Viet Minh military talks that is normally composed of the principally interested parties.

Chauvel said they were anxious that meeting this afternoon not be repetition of previous time-wasting discussions; therefore, hoped not have meeting until general informal agreement reached on text proposals Cambodia and Laos. If agreement not reached this morning, would ask meeting be postponed to 5 p.m. or so in order give additional time informal discussion. Eden has obtained Molotov’s agreement to this.

Smith
  1. Dated June 17, p. 1164.