NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
TOP SECRET
| Control: | 6668 |
| Rec'd: | MAY 15, 1954 |
| 6:39 P M |
| FROM: | PARIS |
| TO: | Secretary of State |
| NO: | 4383, MAY 14, 10 PM |
NIACT
SENT DEPARTMENT 4383, REPEATED INFORMATION NIACT GENEVA 237,
LIMIT DISTRIBUTION
EYES ONLY UNDER SECRETARY
I saw Laniel and Schumann this evening regarding DepTel 4023. Before discussion started on RefTel, Laniel made a number of observations and asked two additional questions. He said that he was sending General Ely to Indochina immediately. He will leave on Saturday or Sunday and will stay in Indochina only two to four days. Purpose of his visit is to check up on military situation on the spot and on physical and mental condition of General Navarre. Because of Ely's prospective absence from Paris, Laniel suggested that general Trapnell, or whoever else we plan to send to Paris in answer to Laniel's request for American military advice, arrive approximately Thursday of next week. General Ely will undertake such regrouping of French forces and shortening of lines as may be necessary. This will probably include withdrawal of portion, and maybe large portion, of the French forces now in Laos. Final decisions, however, will only be taken upon return of General Ely to Paris.
Laniel then posed following two questions: one, could the United States find a way to guarantee the borders and the independence of Laos and Cambodia. If such a guarantee could be made, he felt it would be of great help after the French forces had been withdrawn. Laniel's second question dealt with action United States will take in the case of intervention by MiG 15's aircraft. He said that for his own protection here he would like definite assurance, written if possible, that U.S. aviation would come instantly to the help of French forces in delta if they were attacked by MiG's. He said that he would have no defense before parliament or French public opinion if he was not able to obtain some such assurance as there were no adequate anti-aircraft defenses in the delta.
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