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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
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| 14. | President Truman informs Hurley (China) that it was agreed at Potsdam to divide Indochina at latitude 16° north for operational purposes: the south going to Southeast Asia Command (SEAC) and the north going to the China theater. Hurley is urged to get Chiang Kai-shek's concurrence. Truman telegram to Hurley from Berlin, 3 August 1945 | 44 |
| 15. | William J. Donovan, Director of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), reports on the French attitude toward the Indochina Provisional Government to the Secretary of State. A French committee was to negotiate with Annamite leaders on terms favorable to Indochina; the French were to act as advisors to the Indochina Provisional Government with the power to sign treaties for France. Annamite leaders, however, expressed the desire to have status as an American protectorate, excluding both French and Chinese occupation. Threats of violence over a French reoccupation were made. Memorandum by Donovan for Secretary of State, 22 August 1945 | 45 |
| 16. | Dean Acheson, Acting Secretary of State, reasserts U.S. policy toward French control of Indochina to the Chargé in China (Robertson). The U.S. neither opposed nor assisted re-establishment of French control in Indochina, Robertson was told. The U.S. "willingness" to see French control is based on the future outcome of French claims of popular support. Acheson 1622 to Robertson, 5 October 1945 | 49 |
| 17. | Caffery (Paris) informs Secretary of State of the Franco-British agreement on Indochina which recognizes the French Civil Administration as sole authority in Indochina south of the 16th parallel. Caffery 6006 to Secretary of State, 12 October 1945 | 49 |
| 18. | Caffery reports that de Gaulle rejected announcing a far-reaching progressive policy designed to give Indochinese greater authority, representation, and responsibility in government under the pretext of the state of disorder which prevailed in Indochina. De Gaulle felt that "no such policy could be implemented pending restoration of French authority." Caffery 6857 to Secretary of State, 28 November 1945 | 50 |
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| 19. | Matthews requests direction from Acheson on transfer of Lend-Lease vehicles from the British to the French in Indochina. Acheson replies that President Truman thought the U.S. should agree to the transfer. Acheson-Matthews notes, 18 January 1946 | 52 |
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