Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part-V-B-3b.djvu/110

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
OUTGOING
TELEGRAM
Department of State
01271
1954 APR 3 PM 8 54

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SENT TO: AMEMBASSY PARIS 3476
AMEMBASSY LONDON 57175

EYES ONLY DILLON AND ALDRICH


FYI Following are main points made by Secretary in long conversation with Bonnet this morning.


1) We see no prospect of negotiated settlement at Geneva which does not boil down to one of following alternatives: (a) Face-saving formula to cover surrender of French Union forces, or b) Face-saving formula to cover surrender of Viet Minh.

2) Division of Indochina impractical. QUOTE Mixed UNQUOTE government would be beginning of disaster. Both would lead to (a).

3) In addition to consequences in Southeast Asia solution (a) would create gravest difficulties for France in Europe and North Africa. Future of France as power is at stake.

4) If we are strong and resolute enough to make Chinese Communists see clearly that their conquest of

Southeast

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