Reunion in Geneva

With all the world watching, the French were about to negotiate a surrender to the Communists in Indo-China. At the U.S. State Department and in the White House, a firm decision had been reached: the U.S. would not send a top-level representative back to the peace talks in Geneva. Behind the decision were three strongly held conclusions: 1) French Premier Pierre Mendes-France, who won his office on his promise to end the war in Indo-China. appeared to be a peace-at-any-price man; 2) high-level participation in Geneva might put the U.S. in the position of approving a sellout to the Reds; 3) the French would probably expect the U.S. to fight in Indo-China if the peace efforts failed. Nevertheless, last week the firm decision was dramatically reversed. With a Godspeed from Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and French Ambassador Henri Bonnet, Under Secretary of State Walter Bedell Smith flew off to Geneva.

The chain of events that led to the reversal began when Secretary of State John Foster Dulles received an urgent message from Mendes-France: Please come to Geneva for a clarifying talk about Franco-American differences. Dulles flatly refused. To come to Geneva only to "walk out" again after his conversations, he felt, would damage the already weakened French position and provide grist for the Red propagandists. But Mendes is a persistent man; he countered with a second invitation: Why not meet him in Paris? After 45 minutes of mulling it over with President Eisenhower. Dulles accepted, left that same evening without going home to change for the trip.

Conversation at Midnight. Next afternoon, Mendes-France and his good friend Anthony Eden flew in from Geneva, and Mendes hurried to the American embassy to greet Dulles. That night the bustling French Premier entertained the American and British Secretaries at dinner in the Premier's official residence. Hotel de Matignon. After coffee and liqueurs, Mendes snapped for a map and began to talk.

He talked until after midnight, explaining the military and political situation in Indo-China in minute detail. With eloquence he told Dulles exactly what he thought he could get at Geneva, and how much he was prepared to give. France, he declared, was not preparing to surrender everything for the sake of peace, would accept only a "reasonable"' armistice. He emphasized the importance of having the U.S. represented at Geneva "at the ministerial level." Without such representation, said Mendes-France bluntly, there was little hope for settlement.

If an armistice was signed, Mendes hoped for U.S. agreement if not approval. He entertained no illusions that the U.S. would automatically enter the Indo-Chinese war if the Geneva talks broke down. On the other hand, Mendes assured Dulles, France would not withdraw from IndoChina if the war continued, was ready to join the U.S. and other democracies in a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.

Synopsis at Bedtime. Throughout the conversation, Dulles interrupted Mendes only infrequently with questions. When Mendes had finished, Dulles had changed his views of the French Premier. He told Mendes that he would think the matter over. In pajamas that night at the embassy, John Foster Dulles, a man who likes to get his thoughts down in order, jotted down a synopsis of Mendes' frank talk on a yellow scratchpad, studied it, made up his mind, fell asleep.

Next morning, his mind unchanged, Secretary Dulles telephoned the White House. After hearing Dulles' summary of Mendes' talk, President Eisenhower agreed to send Under Secretary Smith back to Geneva, and to note, but not to guarantee, any agreement that might be reached on a pragmatic peace. In Washington, the prospects were viewed with skepticism. Neither John Foster Dulles nor Dwight Eisenhower, old hands at the Communists' floating diplomatic games, was confident that Mendes, for all his charm and resolution, could win an honorable peace. But they were willing to have "Beedle" Smith watching while he tried.

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