NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
Page 2 of telegram to Geneva TEDULPARISSAIGON
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4. Ho Chi Minh's objective is Tonkin, to be attained either by negotiation at Geneva or by assault on Hanoi.
5. Ho Chi Minh wishes to entangle us in negotiations by admitting now, for first time, that there is a Communist northern state and a non-Communist southern state and saying that both might be incorporated in French Union.
6. What Ho Chi Minh seeks is Tonkin and its political capital Hanoi from which he was driven in 1946. He wishes obtain Tonkin either by negotiation (Valluy admitted "among military men" that Ho Chi Minh finds across negotiating table receptive French ears) or by military action. To prepare for such action, he is drawing out negotiations to gain time for his battle corps to be in position and ready, if action is called for.
7. In course of negotiating toward a ceasefire (which is demanded by French public opinion) concept of partition appears, as Ho Chi Minh wants occupy all Tonkin. If conditions are too hard and talks are broken off he will strive to obtain Tonkin by force. In such a military action his chances of success are good.
8. It has been said at this Conference that if Tonkin is lost we will fight in south. However French will not rpt no fight nor will Vietnam. To man line in south, conferees will have to provide own men. Moreover it will be an artifical line for defense of which Laos, Cambodia and Thailand can do nothing.
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