Telegram from David K. E. Bruce to Secrertary of State Dean Acheson

INCOMING TELEGRAM DEPARTMENT OF STATE-DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS TELEGRAPH BRANCH 10-R-1 PLAIN Action: EUR Info: Control 13102 SS G NIACT Rec'd January 31, 1950 P 3:57 p.m. SAM FE UNA FROM: Paris OLI CIA TO: Secretary of State AAN DCR NO: 468 January 31 SENT DEPARTMENT 468, REPEATED LONDON 156 DEPARTMENT PASS MOSCOW 29, SAIGON 35. Text in rough translation French note to Soviet Embassy follows: "French Government has learned through the publication of a Tass Agency release that the Government of URSS had decided to recognize the insurrectional movement led by Ho Chi-minh as the government of Vietnam. Such a decision violates the principles of international law since the only regular government of Vietnam is the government established by His Majesty Bao Dai to which French Government has transferred the rights of sovereignty which it previously held. By thus encouraging the insurrectional movement of Ho Chi~minh, which it is obviously the intention of the Soviet Government to do, this decision can only make the return to peace in Vietnam more difficult. In this way it is harmful to (il lese) the basic interests of the Vietnamese people. By taking the initiative which has just been announced, the Government of URSS commits an act toward France whose character and whose consequence cannot be underestimated. For all SERVICE to PLAIN INFORMATION COPY