NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
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in Haiphong. Vietnamese Govt had been breaking Geneva Agreements on this score as well. Viet Minh had complained and justifiably.
Another difficult problem with regard to Geneva was training of Vietnamese officers. He would be pleased to know US position on introducing new military advisers into Indochina and possible conflict with Geneva Agreement.
Secretary stated that although we were rotating MAAG personnel we were not RPT not increasing it. Radford confirmed. Ely stated that Collins-Ely agreement on training remained within framework Geneva Accords. Mendes stated that question was legal one; rotation permitted under terms Geneva but can training officers be substituted for administrative personnel? Was it violation of accords to substitute officers for non-coms, etc.? Mendes said that French Govt would have to study text of Collins-Ely agreement carefully from legal point of view to ensure that it fully accorded with armistice and requested US do same. He said this particularly important as VM had already officially protested to ICC re US assumption of training responsibility. Secretary expressed general agreement with principle that Geneva Accords should not RPT not be broken but stated that our interpretation of them must not RPT not be so refined that we refuse to substitute X for Y if Y is ill or less competent than X. Mendes agreed and said that in last analysis people who must be pleased are ICC. He asked that British maintain their contacts with Indians and Canadians, which Eden agreed to do. General discussion ensued on question Viet Minh protests on violation of Geneva Accords and Secretary concluded by saying that it would be unfortunate if we were to find ourselves on defensive in this matter in light of smuggling of military material into North Vietnam from China and persecution of Catholics by Viet Minh.
Mendes then proceeded to question about Cambodia stating that French had 500 officers in Cambodia as training mission and intended to keep them there. He asked secretary to look into matter and to give French US views on subject. Mendes added that French considered presence of their military mission there
