Page 1 [1]
OCR
= ‘Ss SS ee ee ee eee Tp foe £3 THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF VIET NAM On June 3rd, Emperor Bao Dai by a surprise Decree Gestituted the Government of Premier Tran Van Huu and replaced it by a Cabinet presided over by Nguyen Van Tam. The implications of this move are of the greatest importence Akt and consequence, and must be put into the over-all Che Indo-Chinese affairs. At the beginning of this year, faced between Viet Nam and Viet Minh, the French and their Vietnamese allies started to think of the possibilities of discussing matters with the enemy. This was best expressed in a speech had delívered by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, who declared that France was ready to discuss the terms of a settlement if the Chinese were ready for such a talk, Vietnamese Premier Tran van Huu also made some peaceful overtures. In the week that followed. these declarations, the attitude of Viet Minh and of China was most discouraging 63 for those who dreamed of negotiation, They made it very clear in unofficial discussions that while. they were ready to discuss a French evacuation of Indo-China, they would keep entire freedom of action with regard to repression e against the Vietnamese, who had followed the French. a They made it amply clear, furthermore, that they would not új be ready to show any mercy to the two million people of ee ae minority races, like the Tais, the Catholics, etc., who had been relentless in fighting the Communists. Despite this attitude, powerful forces in France still favoured getting out of Indo-China. With the accession of Antoine Pinay, this trend was reversed. M. Robert Letourneau was sent as Minister Resident to Saigon. He is know to be a man absolutely dedicated to holding on in Indo-China, and unwilling to make any dishonourable compromise with the Communists, On his arrival, Letourneau made a speech which most clearly indicated that he was not coming to make peace, . = A
