The French Charge d'Affaires in Ottawa presented a Note on August 31,fi a copy of which is enclosed, informing us officially of the formation of the Govern­ment of Viet Nam in Indo‑China.

2. This Note has been interpreted in the Department as a request for recognition of the new state of Viet Nam.

3. We have been informed that Notes similar in substance have been handed to the United Kingdom and United States Governments. In both cases, their reaction was similar to our own and neither have interpreted the Note as a request for recog­nition. In discussions which Mr. Menzies had in Washington recently with officials of both the State Department and the Foreign Office on the subject of Viet Nam, it was intimated that in their view the only alternative to supporting Ban Dai appears to be the acceptance of Communist domination of the whole country. Both govern­ments, however, are reluctant to take the initiative in recognizing the Ban Dai regime until the March agreements, referred to in the French Note, have been rati­fied and until after recognition has been extended to the new government by some of the Asian States. Nor do they favour an application by Viet Nam for membership in the United Nations being put forward at this time.

4. Consequently, bearing in mind our interpretation of the Note, I consider that a simple non‑committal acknowledgement would be sufficient to fulfil the require­ments of diplomatic courtesy. I think, however, that in conjunction with the presen­tation of a Note of acknowledgement some indication, of a less formal nature, should be given, pointing out our interest in the establishment of the new state and expressing our hope that stable conditions will return to Indo‑China. This might usefully and properly take the form of an oral statement. Accordingly, the outline of a proposed oral communication has been drafted. This draft has been brought to the attention of our Ambassador in Paris, who has informed us that it appears to cover the situation very well and that he had no comments or suggestions to make.

5. I am, therefore, submitting for your consideration a Note to the French Ambas­sador, and the text of a proposed oral statement to accompany the presentation of the Note. If this course of action meets with your approval, would you sign the Note and signify your concurrence in the text of the proposed oral communication, and return both to us.²⁸

ARP. H[EENEY]

[PIÈCE JOINTF/ENCLOSURE]

Ébauche

Draft Text

PROPOSED ORAL STATEMENT TO BE DELIVERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NOTE TO
BE HANDED TO THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR

Canada, as a Pacific power, is interested in the re‑establishment of peaceful con­ditions in the whole Pacific Basin. We have been concerned about the long continu­ation of the disturbances in Indo‑China. We regard the settlement of these differences as important to the restoration of stability in the whole area. A settle­ment would

(a) help prevent possible Communist domination of all East Asia,

(b) ultimately promote conditions in which mutually beneficial commercial intercourse could be resumed,

(c) facilitate the activities of Canadian missionaries in Indo‑China, and

(d) lessen the present drain on the resources of metropolitan France.

We are conscious of the contribution which France can make toward the recon­struction and development of Indo‑China. We also have sympathy for the legiti­mate aspirations of the Annamese Nationalists for self‑government. For these reasons we approve the efforts made by the French Government to achieve a settle­ment of the difficulties in the March 8th agreement. We have insufficient informa­tion to permit us to comment on the details of the agreement and realize that its implementation will require continuing understanding statesmanship on both sides. We hope, however, that the conclusion of this agreement will result in the progres­sive resolution of the difficulties in Indo‑China so that Viet Nam and the other states of Indo‑China, in cooperation with France, may play their full part in the development of the Pacific area.

²⁸La note marginate suivante est inscrite sur la pièce jointe:
There is a marginal note on the enclosure a follows:
OK LB P[earson]